Three Health Departments Achieve Accreditation Through the Public Health Accreditation Board

PHAB's Rigorous Accreditation Process Requires Commitment to Quality and Performance Improvement

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (PRWEB) May 23, 2018

Often called the "backbone" of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of their communities' efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. Through the efforts of a national accrediting program, many health departments are now having their work reviewed against national standards. Today, the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) announced it has awarded national accreditation status to three governmental health departments that placed their work for such a review.

PHAB, the nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that administers the national public health accreditation program, aims to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming the quality and performance of the nation's state, Tribal, local, and territorial public health departments. More than 220 health departments across the United States have achieved accreditation through PHAB since the organization launched in 2011 with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

"By putting their work out for peer review, these health departments are bringing new levels of transparency, credibility, and recognition to their mission," said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender, PhD, RN, FAAN. "The peer-review process provides valuable feedback to inform health departments of their strengths and areas for improvement so that they can better protect and promote the health of the people in the communities they serve."

On May 15, 2018, PHAB awarded five-year accreditation status to Fulton County General Health District in Wauseon, Ohio; Monterey County Health Department in Salinas, California; and Washington County Health Department in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

"Public health at the local level is focused on improving population health," said Fulton County Health Commissioner Kimberly A. Cupp, RS, MPH. "The work is usually done quietly, consistently, and without fanfare. This recognition of national accreditation is a fantastic honor and a tangible affirmation of the tremendous work accomplished through the Fulton County Health Department staff, our board of health, and community partners."

Commenting on the accreditation of Washington County Health Department, Larry Bergner, MPA, Regional Director of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, said the multi-year accreditation process has improved the professional growth of the agency's employees, provided greater opportunities for collaboration with community partners, and helped to improve internal procedures that have enhanced the services provided to communities in the county.

"I thank all of the hard-working employees of the Washington County Health Department who have shown such a strong commitment to public health and also the many community and agency partners who work with us daily to ensure the continued health and well-being of our county and beyond," Bergner said.

PHAB's national public health department accreditation standards address health departments' capacity to provide the broad range of public health services, including community health assessments, epidemiology, infectious disease control, health inspections, health education and promotion, and public health emergency preparedness.

"The accreditation process gave us a framework to build a strategic plan, set goals, and measure improvements to empower our community, enhance health and safety, ensure quality and culturally inclusive services, and engage our employees in meeting current and developing population health needs," said Elsa Jimenez, MPH, director of the newly accredited Monterey County Health Department in Salinas, California.

For more information, contact Teddi Nicolaus at (703) 778-4549, ext. 118, or email tnicolaus@phaboard.org. Learn more about PHAB and accreditation at http://www.phaboard.org. Subscribe to PHAB's e-newsletter by clicking here.

About the Public Health Accreditation Board
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) was created to serve as the national public health accrediting body and is jointly funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The development of national public health accreditation has involved, and is supported by, public health leaders and practitioners from the national, tribal, state, local, and territorial levels. For more information, contact Teddi Nicolaus at (703) 778-4549 ext. 118, or email tnicolaus@phaboard.org. Learn more about PHAB and accreditation at http://www.phaboard.org, and by signing up for the PHAB e-newsletter.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15513733.htm