142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

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Assessing the chronic disease capacity of a State Health Department using PHFAST

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 5:10 PM - 5:30 PM

Jeanne Alongi, MPH, DrPH , The Pump Handle Group, Sacramento, CA
Ginny Furshong, BS , Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Helena, MT
Heather Zimmerman, MPH , Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Helena, MT
Todd Harwell, MPH , Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Department of Public Health and Human Services, Helena, MT
John Robitscher, MPH
The Public Health Framework Assessment Tool (PHFAST) is an evidence-based chronic disease capacity assessment tool that draws upon the CDC’s “Promising Practices in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control: Public Health Framework for Action” and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors’ (NACDD) State Technical Assistance and Review Program (STAR).  Core components of effective chronic disease prevention programs assessed through the tool include:  Leadership, Epidemiology and Surveillance, Partnerships, State Plans, Interventions, Program Management and Administration, and Program Integration.  PHFAST touches on key points in each core component allowing for a general assessment of current standing with an opportunity to more deeply analyze where necessary.  PHFAST was designed as a qualitative instrument, there has been increasing interest in a quantitative application.

In May 2012, the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Branch within the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services used PHFAST to examine their organizational capacity and inform their work towards chronic disease coordination. Montana piloted PHFAST as a survey tool. This quantitative application allowed for broader input and documentation of strengths and weaknesses using a four point Likert scale.

The survey results informed strategic planning and continuous quality improvement for the Bureau.  48-50 staff responded.  Results demonstrated organizational strength in Epidemiology/Surveillance and Evaluation while the Coordination and State Plans categories were identified as the areas in most need of improvement.  A capacity building plan was developed based on the PHFAST results and a follow-up assessment wass conducted in the fall of 2013.

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership
Chronic disease management and prevention
Program planning
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe eight elements of the PHFAST framework. Compare the utility of quantitative versus qualitative applications of the PHFAST framework. Discuss the implications of PHFAST assessment on chronic disease capacity building within state health departments.

Keyword(s): Performance Measurement, Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have 17 years of public health practice experience, a Masters of Public Health and Doctorate of Public Health in Health Leadership and Administration, and primary responsibility for providing technical assistance from my organization to state health departments working in this area. My doctorate in public health focused on state health department effectiveness.
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.