TABLE 1.

Health System Functions Drawn From the VSM, With Illustrative Assessment Areasa

Functions and Corresponding VSM SystemsIllustrative Assessment AreasNumber of Questions in VAT 
Service delivery (System 1)
  • Staffing levels

  • Motivation and skills of needed staff

  • Inclusion of approach in existing staff job descriptions

3
Coordination (System 2)
  • Coordination of services between SDPs to ensure a full package of care

  • How clients and information move between SDPs, within and outside the facility, and to community providers

7
Supervision, management, oversight, control (System 3)
  • Supervision tools for SDP and system managers

  • Clarity of supervision approaches and processes

  • Applicability of existing supervision procedures to the proposed approach

5
Higher-level management/planning; policy and governance (Systems 4 and 5)
  • Management structures in place (within SDPs, at the facility, and within the subnational unit) to ensure effective service provision

  • Operationalization of national-level policies and standards at subnational, facility, and SDP units

2
Support systems: Supply chain
  • Systems supporting commodity and supply management

3
Support systems: Information systems
  • Availability and accessibility of information on service delivery, support systems, and operations to SDP (and system) managers

  • How information is used in day-to-day and higher-level decisions

3
  • Abbreviations: SDP, service delivery point; VAT, Viability Assessment Tool; VSM, Viable Systems Model.

  • a See Supplement 2 for further detail about the adaptation of the VSM to the health system context.