The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #38840

Mark R. Emmerson, Food and Drug Branch, CA Department of Health Services, POB 942732 MS 357, 601 N 7th Street, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, (916) 324-4733, memmerso@dhs.ca.gov

The public expects a level of efficient and effective public health service in the regulation of the healthcare industry. Yet there is no uniform and generally recognized measure of quality to which government regulatory agencies are routinely assessed. How can regulatory agencies demonstrate a commitment to and implementation of systems designed to improve services for the utility of the regulated industry and the public? This presentation focuses on a process by which a regulatory agency can establish and improve its measures of quality through implementation of quality control systems.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) is an international organization that develops voluntary standards. ISO 9000:2000, the Quality Management System standard, defines a level of quality that any organization can aspire to through the establishment of control systems in areas of production, complaint investigation, management responsibility, document handling, etc. Assessed compliance demonstrates a generally recognized level of operational quality as being established and implemented within the organization, and that the organization aspires to constantly improve the level of service or product quality.

This presentation further explores the possibility of establishing an independent ISO accredited body within government. This body could assess and provide registration of programs within health departments, local and statewide, demonstrating through objective evidence the establishment and maintenance of a quality system. Implementing a recognized system of quality within public health organizations should contribute to the ultimate goal of efficient and effective healthcare delivery.

Learning Objectives: The information presented will allow the participant to

• Recognize the advantages of a quality control system in regulatory agencies.
• List the basic requirements of the ISO 9000 Quality System Standard.
• Construct a government structure and process map of quality system assessment and recognition.
• Define process characteristics for quality system assessment.

Keywords: Quality Improvement, Standards

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: International Standards Organization
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.