Oral

While concepts for quality in public health have lagged behind those of healthcare, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)has taken a leadership role in building concepts for quality in the public health system. Two reports produced by the HHS Public Health Quality Forum include the Consensus Statement on Quality in the Public Health System and Priority Areas for Improvement of Quality in Public Health. The concepts introduced in the reports include nine aims that serve as characteristics of quality in the public health system and six priority areas identified as needing improvement of quality. These concepts are particularly relevant given the focus in the Affordable Care Act on quality and improvement of population health. The focus of this session is to demonstrate how these quality concepts have applicability across the public health system. Illustrations will focus on activities of tax exempt hospitals and local public health agencies. The first discussions will focus on Community Benefit Programs and Community Building activities of tax exempt hospitals and how they can be aligned with the public health quality aims. The final discussion will center on the use of the HHS concepts to frame quality improvement projects in local health departments.

Session Objectives: Describe the Nine Public health quality aims List the Priority Areas for Improvement of Quality in Public Health Describe how community benefit programs, including community building activities, can help ensure that the system is characterized by the public health quality aims Describe the community benefit historical role of tax exempt hospitals

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)