CLINIC SUPERVISOR'S MANUAL - Management Sciences for Health

PREFACE
Many of the manual’s sections contain background explanations of what should happen and why,
enabling you to explain the logic behind a given checked item. For instance, definitions of reportable
data items on the monthly service statistics report are provided along with definitions of key
indicators that can be calculated. Jointly consider actions to take based on a rise or fall in these key
indicators. In this way, you can transform routine data into a useful guide to remedial activities
whose results may be reflected in the next months’ statistics.
Before you use the Clinic Supervisor’s Manual, work with a team to adapt it. Identify the checklists
and items most suited to the needs of your clinics at their current stage of development. The manual
is designed to facilitate adaptation. Old elements in the tools can be discarded as new elements are
inserted. The guidelines can be changed as circumstances change.
As you adapt and apply the tools, you will find necessary materials and information in the manual to
help you develop a consensus on needed improvements and to integrate recommendations for
improvements into your organization’s work plans.
WHO SHOULD USE THIS GUIDE
This manual is designed for clinic supervisors and clinic managers in clinics of all sizes within the
public and private sector. With more being asked of service providers and supervisors daily, the
manual can help you stay focused on the key elements of integrated primary health care while
simultaneously integrating new interventions for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. As you use
this manual:
• distinguish those areas of the clinic supervisory system that are within your scope to change
and improve;
• take the tools in the manual and fit them to each facility with input from staff;
• communicate with headquarters so that a database of all adaptations can be developed and
circulated to other regions;
• use patience - the application of tools within the manual takes time and guidance.
By adapting the tools within this manual to fit clinics’ changing needs and working together to make
improvements, you, clinic managers, and staff can achieve and sustain quality health care services.
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