DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/5B9C-WS74
Defense Date
2011
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Public Policy & Administration
First Advisor
Blue E. Wooldridge
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether being a church affiliated nursing home influences performance. Performance is measured based on criterion put in place by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The secondary purpose is, regardless of ownership type - religiously affiliated or secular- to investigate if more religiously involved nursing homes perform better than their less religiously involved counterparts. These two purposes are hypothesized with six different hypotheses each of which are tested by utilizing OLS regression analysis. This study extensively discusses the arguments surrounding the Charitable Choice Initiative, which allowed faith-based organizations (FBOs) to compete for federal and state grants and funds without altering their religious beliefs or practices while setting up a partnership with government in delivering social services. The subject has been part of serious debates among policy makers, practitioners and scholars after President George W. Bush's creation of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 2001. This study applied self regulation theory, which is originally an individual level theory, to organizations by using metaphors, as many newly developing fields of studies have done. The self regulation theory is tested through analyzing secondary data sets that are provided by CMS and through a religiosity survey data set that this researcher collected from 218 out of 287 CMS certified nursing homes in Virginia. The relationship between religious involvements of nursing homes and their patient outcomes and health inspection outcomes are tested. The statistical analyses supported only one hypothesis out of six. Since most of the hypotheses are not supported by the findings, the theory used to explain the role of religious motivation in performance of organizations requires further testing through additional rigorous studies.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
December 2011