The Oklahoma State Department of Health and Comanche County Health Department Chosen to Test the National Public Health Accreditation Program

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and the Comanche County Health Department (CCHD) are pleased to announce that we have been chosen by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) as one of the 30 public health departments across the country that will participate in testing the national voluntary public health accreditation program. We are proud to have been selected from a pool of over 145 candidates.  During the test, we will go through the accreditation process, review guidance documents, test forms, review the accreditation standards, and provide valuable feedback that will inform the program’s national launch in 2011. We are honored to be recognized for our leadership, commitment to quality improvement, and dedication to advancing our community’s health. This test of the national program is a crucial step toward establishing a national public health accreditation program that will advance the quality of public health nationwide.   

A total of 19 local, eight state and three tribal health departments will participate, and will receive technical assistance on accreditation and quality improvement, funding to support quality improvement projects and funding to cover the costs of providing detailed feedback to PHAB on the accreditation process. From the fall of 2009 through the end of 2010, the OSDH and CCHD will work with PHAB, the other 28 agencies and national public health leaders such as the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Association of Local Boards of Health, and the National Indian Health Board.

We look forward to this unique opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of our services and showcase our high quality programs and services.  We are proud to have a hand in shaping the national public health accreditation program and advancing the quality of public health nationally. 

For more information on the beta test and the importance of public health accreditation, please visit PHAB’s Web site at http://www.phaboard.org.  

Follow this link for the complete news release: OSDH Selected to Test National Accreditation Program