Longitudinal evaluation practices of health workforce development programs: An incremental approach to evaluability assessment

- We sought to identify practices used by AHECs for tracking long-term outcomes (beyond one year) of Area Health Education Center −supported program participants once they have successfully completed a health professions training program.
- The study was a mixed-methods assessment designed to collect data on the description of activities, policies and/or programs used by AHECs or similar organizations to measure the extent to which AHEC alumni end up in health careers.
- In the spring of 2016, 30 AHEC representatives from 19 states completed the National AHEC Organization (NAO) evaluability assessment survey.
- The findings were synthesized into a reference guide with programs classified based on the level of evaluative evidence.
- The resulting evaluation practices guide now serves as a tool for the AHEC network to promote dialogue among stakeholders.