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Rational Theory of Planning

HIV infections have been known to lead to tremendous challenges within the healthcare system. This is despite the fact that the condition is manageable. The significance of the development of a community health centre that can particularly focus on providing care to HIV patients cannot be underestimated (Kitahata, et al., 2002). This health centre will assist in the provision of support to the already existent community health structures within the region. There are several procedural theories of planning that can be used in the process of the development of a grant proposal plan for the above-stated community development program (Levy, 2010). This paper will provide an analysis of the extent to which the rational theory of planning can be used in the development of a grant proposal for the development of a community health centre that focuses on the provision of care to HIV patients.

In preparing the grant, the first step that must be conducted entails a clear identification of the problem (Ortega, 2018). When the problem is clearly defined, all the involved stakeholders will have an appreciation for the need to consider the action plan that is being proposed. The problem is identified through providing a clear delineation of the number of HIV patients that are currently relying on the public health services within the region. The significance of the lack of development of a community health centre in treating HIV patients will also be clearly highlighted. This is, for instance, done by conducting a case study of other regions that have had the privilege of establishing such a program so as to ascertain the gains they have recorded vis-à-vis the prevailing situation within our respective region. It is important to note in this regard that in the years past, health centers have played a significant role in not only providing care to HIV patients but also in monitoring and implementing the national HIV/AIDS strategy (HIV.gov). Based on a report released by HIV.gov, the health centers that provide care to HIV patients have taken significant steps towards improving the health outcomes of individuals who are living with HIV (HIV.gov). They have done this by engaging in activities such as addressing HIV testing, care and treatment; conducting training sessions to the professionals who provide care; and “working to identify promising practices and strategies for addressing common challenges associated with expanding HIV service delivery” (HIV.gov). Essentially, health centers not only provide assistance in the short-term, but they also steer the implementation of a long-term strategy that can be relied upon in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. It is, therefore, vital that the first step of clearly delineating the problem is conducted. The problem is delineated by understanding the demographic scope of the individuals who are in need to the said services. It is also delineated through an analysis of the kind of services that a similar community health centre offers.

The second step in the development of a grant proposal plan entails the establishment of a decision criterion. During this decision-making stakeholders seek to make a determination with respect to the matters that a relevant to the decision that will be made. The relevant values, interests, and preferences of the stakeholders will be highlighted. The decision-makers will essentially need to choose the variables that will strongly influence the decision they will arrive at (Bryson, 2018). In the case of the development of a community health centre that specializes in the provision of care to HIV patients the stakeholders will need to determine what their values and beliefs are regarding the matter and from these, they will develop variables that they will use in arriving at a decision. If, for instance, there is belief in the provision of quality care at a reasonably low cost, and in a sustainable manner, the stakeholders will choose to be favorably inclined towards a decision if the outcome will result in the above stated variables. It is, therefore, highly imperative that a decision criterion is established during the initial stages and during the process of penning down a grant proposal plan.

The consequent step in the development of a grant proposal for the development of a community health centre that focuses on providing care to HIV patients entails weighing the decision criterion. This process is important because although the variables that are highlighted above (as being the ones that will guide the outcome of the decision-making process) may all be important, they may not all be equally important. Conducting the process of weighing the decision criterion will ensure that priority areas are duly highlighted (Levy, 2010). If, for instance, the variables listed above (quality care, reasonably low cost, and sustainability) are listed among several other variables that are relatively unimportant, the three stated variables will take precedence in the process of making the decision. This is because the weight apportioned on the three variables would be significantly higher as compared to the other unimportant variables. This crucial step will need to be considered in the process of developing the grant proposal plan.

The fourth step in the rational theory of planning entails developing alternatives (Levy, 2010). In this step, in-depth considerations need not be conducted. The general list of alternatives is highlighted for general decision making (Ortega, 2018). In this regard, once the problem has clearly been delineated and the relevant information in that regard has been presented, there will be a need to develop a list of potential options that will lead up to the intended results (Ortega, 2018). If, for instance, the physical infrastructure of the health centre is to be developed through the services of a particular contractor, quotations from other contractors can still be analyzed so as to ensure that the contractors are not bound to accept the services of the first contractor. Similarly, if medical supplies and equipment are to be received from a particular supplier, quotations from other suppliers can also be made available. All the available alternatives should be listed at this point. This aspect must be highlighted in the process of developing a grant proposal plan.

The fifth step in the process entails evaluating the available alternatives (Heracleous, 1994). Once a list of all the alternatives has been generated, it will consequently be important to evaluate those alternatives. Each of the alternatives on the list will need to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis so as to come to a decision with respect to the most viable option (Heracleous, 1994). The alternatives are measured so as to determine whether they are all equally feasible or there is a particular option that is most desirable. In the case of ascertaining the best company that can be charged with the task of supplying the medicines and medical equipments, the suppliers on the list will need to be evaluated one after the other and the evaluation can be conducted by taking into consideration any past success and any recommendations that can be provided by former customers. This will be a vital process in the present case since through the process; the stakeholders are better assured of arriving at the most desirable solution.

The next step in the development of a grant proposal plan entails making a selection of the best alternative (Levy, 2010). It is indeed apparent that the natural step that follows the evaluation of available alternatives is the selection of the best alternative. After all the options have been laid out and evaluated, the best decision is arrived at by taking into consideration the variables that were highlighted as being important in the process of decision making. The decision that is arrived at must be in line with the variables of quality care, reasonably low cost, and sustainability. This crucial step will need to be highlighted in the process of the development of a grant proposal plan.

The general management of HIV patients has posed a great challenge to healthcare systems. The significance of developing a community health centre that can serve the purpose of specifically providing care to HIV patients cannot be underestimated. In order to receive grant money for the implementation of this project proposal one of the initial steps entails the development of a grant proposal plan. There are a number of crucial processes that will need to be conducted in the process of developing the plan. The processes include; identification  of the problem, establishment of a decision criterion, weighing of the decision criterion, development of alternatives, evaluation of the available alternatives, and selection of the best alternative.