231968 Is Your Health Department Preparing for Accreditation??

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM

Kaye Bender, RN, PHD, FAAN , Executive Director, Public Health Accreditation Board, Alexandria, VA
William Riley, PhD , School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
SESSION OVERVIEW: Since 2005, serious work has occurred in the development of the national voluntary public health accreditation program through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). The purpose of the program is to promote quality improvement within governmental public health agencies, with a long-term goal of improving the health outcomes of the population the health departments serve. The underlying premise is that, no matter where an individual lives, they should be able to expect the same quality of services from their health departments. The accreditation program will be launched in 2011. The accreditation process, standards, measures, documentation requirements, and site visits are being tested in 30 health department sites throughout the country. Final changes in the program will occur as a result of the evaluation of the beta test so that a strong national program will be available for health departments when it launches. Public health departments interested in applying for accreditation in 2011 and beyond should be preparing now. This session will provide the latest update in the process: At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify the key elements of the public health accreditation process. 2. Describe the tools that health departments can use to prepare for accreditation. 3. Discuss the expected outcomes associated with an accredited health department.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Since 2005, serious work has occurred in the development of the national voluntary public health accreditation program through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). The purpose of the program is to promote quality improvement within governmental public health agencies, with a long-term goal of improving the health outcomes of the population the health departments serve. The underlying premise is that, no matter where an individual lives, they should be able to expect the same quality of services from their health departments. The accreditation program will be launched in 2011. The accreditation process, standards, measures, documentation requirements, and site visits are being tested in 30 health department sites throughout the country. Final changes in the program will occur as a result of the evaluation of the beta test so that a strong national program will be available for health departments when it launches. Public health departments interested in applying for accreditation in 2011 and beyond should be preparing now. This session will provide the latest update in the process: At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify the key elements of the public health accreditation process. 2. Describe the tools that health departments can use to prepare for accreditation. 3. Discuss the expected outcomes associated with an accredited health department.

Keywords: Accreditation, Quality Improvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have over 30 years experience in public health. I chaired the Exploring Accreditation Project. I am the President/CEO of the Public Health Accreditation Board, the organization responsible for the material being presented.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.