The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49362

Mary C. Soto, MSEd¹, Katrina Daniel, RN¹, Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH², Charles Bell, MD, MPH², Claudia Blackburn, MPH³, Rick Danko, DrPH⁴, and Rich Ann Baetz, MS⁵. (1) Office of Public Health Practice, Texas Department of Health, Tower Building, T405, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756, 512-458-7770, Mary.Soto@tdh.state.tx.us, (2) Office of the Commissioner, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756, (3) Dept of Public Health, City of Amarillo, PO Box 1971, Amarillo, TX 79107, (4) Office of Strategic Planning, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756, (5) Disease Control and Prevention, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756

During 2001, forty-seven Texas local health departments (LHDs) piloted a “Texas-ized version” of draft 5-c of the National Public Health Performance Standards (NPS). The Texas version was based on the CDC version but sorted performance evaluation questions of the local public health agency separately from that of the local public health system. The Texas version also incorporated language from Texas statute HB1444 addressing the Ten Public Health Essential Services.

The purpose of the Texas pilot was two-fold: 1. Gather baseline data on the performance of LHDs; 2. Evaluate the draft NPS instrument.

Cumulative survey results were posted on the Internet and a comparison of individual LHD results to the cumulative was reported to each LHD. Results will be used by LHDs to develop a local public health system improvement plan. Roundtable sessions are scheduled for spring of 2002 to assist LHDs in developing plans based on their NPS results.

LHDs were surveyed to identify themes to be incorporated into a Texas NPS Position Paper. A work session was held with the Texas Association of Local Health Officials to develop consensus statements for inclusion. Issues addressed in the position paper included:

* Appropriateness of the NPS as a potential review tool for accreditation;

* Significance of technical assistance as follow-up to performance measurement;

* Importance of delineating the performance of the agency versus the system;

* Need for objective, evidence-based, measurable minimum standards;

* Sensitivity to local health agency size;

* Need for continued testing to establish its reliability and validity.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants in this session will be able to

• To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the draft National Performance Standards as an instrument for possible accreditation of local health departments;
• Discuss priority issues brought forth by the State of Texas in their work to encourage improvements in the draft National Public Health Performance Standards instrument; and
• Articulate strategies that can be employed to use NPS results for the development of local public health system improvement plans.

Keywords: Performance Measurement, Health Departments

Related Web page: webtest.tdh.state.tx.us/ophp/2002nps/2002nps_post.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.