Public Health Accreditation:

Tribal Collaboration and Action

Robin Wilcox, MPA, Chief Program OfficerPublic Health Accreditation BoardJanuary 23, 2012

Voluntary Accreditation Goal

The goal of a voluntary national accreditation program is to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing the quality and performance of state ,local, tribal and territorial public health departments.

What is Public Health Accreditation?

• The measurement of health department performance against a set of nationally recognized, practice-focused and evidenced-based standards.

• The issuance of recognition of achievement of accreditation within a specified time frame by a nationally recognized entity.

• The continual development, revision, and distribution of public health standards.

Program Status

• PHAB incorporated May 2007• Standards Development & Process

Design• Beta Test 30 HDs; 3 Tribal• Launch: September 14, 2011• 49 health departments in system• Some site visits spring and summer• 1st Accredited health departments

Resources

Accreditation Support Materials

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PHAB Accreditation Materials

1. The Guide to National Public Health Department Accreditation, Version 1.0

2. Public Health Department Accreditation Standards and Measures, Version 1.0

3. Readiness Checklists, Version 1.0

4. Documentation Guidance, Version 1.0

5. Acronyms and Glossary of Terms, Version 1.0

6. PHAB Newsletter

7. 2011-2012 Educational Services Offered by PHAB

8. Accreditation Coordinators Handbook (under development)

www.phaboard.org

Standards and Measures Version 1.0

Principles of Standards and Measures

• Advance the collective public health practice

• Moderate level: not minimum, not maximum

• Be simple, reduce redundancy, minimize burden

• Apply to all sizes of HDs and all forms of governance structure

• Establish same or similar standards for state and local and Tribal health departments wherever possible

• Build quality improvement into standards

Twelve Domains1. Conduct assessments focused on population health status

and health issues facing the community 2. Investigate health problems and environmental public health

hazards to protect the community 3. Inform and educate about public health issues and functions 4. Engage with the community to identify and solve health

problems5. Develop public health policies and plans6. Enforce public health laws and regulations7. Promote strategies to improve access to healthcare services8. Maintain a competent public health workforce9. Evaluate and continuously improve processes, programs,

and interventions10. Contribute to and apply the evidence base of public health11. Maintain administrative and management capacity12. Build a strong and effective relationship with governing entity

Structural Framework

 Domain

  Standard

Measure  

Documentation

Guidance

Tribal Health Department Accreditation

Create a public health accreditation program that is relevant to Tribal public health systems• Tribal PH Accreditation Think Tank• Engage in a Tribal consultation process• Tribal Standards Development

Workgroup• Adopt recommendation

Tribal Standards Development Workgroup• 8 Tribal representatives & 4 Standards

Development Workgroup members• Sept 2010 – Feb 2011• Process

– Review standards– Develop first draft– National Call for Tribal input– Finalize recommendations (incorporate into

Standards and Measures, Version 1.0

The PHABAccreditationProcess

Seven Steps1. Pre-application

Applicant prepares and assesses readiness, informs PHAB of its intent to apply (SOI)

2. Application & TrainingSubmits application and pre-

requisites and receives training

3. Documentation Selection and Submission

4. Site Visit

Site visit and site visit report

5. Accreditation DecisionsPHAB Accreditation Committee

Accredited (5 years)

or Not Accredited

6. ReportsAnnual progress reports

7. Reaccreditation

1. Pre-App:Readiness Checklists

• Assists with health department preparation for accreditation– Initial Readiness– Prerequisites– Process– Organization

• Optional, but recommended• Not submitted to PHAB

Accreditation Information System

Site Visit Report• Score Each Measure

Not Demonstrated Slightly Demonstrated Largely Demonstrated Fully Demonstrated

• Comment on Score

• Areas of Excellence

• Opportunities for Improvement

Documentation Guidance

Types, reuse, multiple documents, timeframes, signing & dating, documentation developed by others, etc.

PHAB Acronyms and Glossary

Accreditation Related Terms

• News • Announcements• Word on the Street

PHAB Monthly Newsletter

Accreditation Coordinators Handbook

(to be released in February 2011)

- Statement of Intent - Application - Fees - Education Services - How to select HD Accreditation Coordinator (TBD) - Update Tribal Health Dept.

Fact Sheets

Various Webinarsincluding

Tribal Health Department webinar (spring)

Training Opportunities

Videos to Watch!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tae9Y7z_sA&feature=player_err

• Five questions with Jim Marks and with Kaye Bender –www.blog.rwjf.org/publichealth/20

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Transformation Through Accreditation and QI

• Set focus on a vital few priorities• Create a sense of urgency for measurable

results and a culture of quality• Engage every employee• Build QI time into daily workload• Adopt fact-based decision making• Ensures transparent accountability• Reward and celebrate progress

Accreditation Themes

• Quality Improvement • Community engagement• Planning• Leadership and governance• Partnerships• Customer focus• Workforce development

Moving Forward

PHAB & NIHB:Partners

• Webinar for Tribal health departments• Fact sheet • MOU

o Signed in 2009o Agreements around development of

programoRevise

Why Would My Health Department Want to be

Accredited?

Benefits of Accreditation(individually and collectively)• Increased credibility• Increased visibility and accountability• Potential access to new funds• Potential streamlined reporting• Access to knowledgeable peers for

review and comment on performance• Opportunity to leave the health

department better than you found it!

Beta Test Feedback

We've got a very clear roadmap to guide us in the months ahead….It's been such a wonderful journey, with greater awards than I imagined.”

“ . . .had a positive effect on those staff involved by providing opportunities to learn about the department in-depth and how much we do for the people who live and visit our state.”

“helped jumpstart the process to create a QI culture for the agency as a whole.”

Public Health

Accreditation Boardwww.phaboard.org1600 Duke Street, Suite 440

Alexandria, VA 22314

703.778.4549

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