Strategies for Success: Trainings to Help Oregon’s Health Departments in Their PHAB Accreditation Performance Management & Quality Improvement Efforts

Many local, state and tribal Oregon public health departments have been preparing to apply for Public Health Acreditation Board (PHAB) Accreditation.  In 2012 and 2013, the Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) received two grants from the American Public Health Association (APHA) to conduct trainings to address current identified needs and help them move forward in their accreditation efforts.    Conversations with accreditation experts at various health departments demonstrated the need for help in addressing Domain 9. Domain 0 focuses on using and integrating performance management quality improvement practices and processes to continuously improve the public health dpeartment’s practice, programs, and interventions.

In May 2012, a one day workshop was led by Marlene Mason, BSN, MBA, PMQI Consultant. The workshop consisted of a combination of didactic content exercises and application pertaining to performance management and quality improvement methods and tools. A survey was sent out to workshop participants, the results of which were used to inform two follow up one hour webinars. At the 2012 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting, a round table discusion sharing lessons learned from the trainings and follow up efforts was held.

We received funding for additional trainings from APHA in 2013. In May 2013, a one day workshop was again led by Ms. Mason. This workshop built off the first one, and incorporated newly identified challenges Oregon’s health departments were facing in their PHAB accreditation efforts. Domain 9 contintued to provide challenges, though mainly in respect to performance management; most attendees thought they had made significant progress on quality improvement. Between June and September, Ms. Mason provided one-on-one 30 minute techincal assistance sessions with counties requesting help.

In this session, we will share the analysis of the themes generated from these trainings and suggest how other organizations can support their health department’s efforts towards meeting Domain 9 of the PHAB accreditation requirements.