Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Catherine A. Brewton, MS and Dennis Cookro, MD. Office of Performance Improvement, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-24, Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850) 245-4007, cathy_brewton@doh.state.fl.us

In 2006, twenty of Florida's local health departments (LHD) completed pilot testing a new model Performance Improvement process that will help assess and measure organizational performance. A key tool in the new process is a Performance Report Card which links standards and measures to health outcomes, employee and customer satisfaction, business processes, strategic planning, partnerships, and policies. The tool will be used locally to track progress, and will also provide a statewide performance view that can be used to support requests for critical resources needed across the state. The new process was developed by a collaborative workgroup from Florida's LHD's and state office.

Ten of the pilot LHDs received on-site technical assistance visits from a Performance Improvement team. The visits focused on specific needs identified by each LHD after analysis of report card data. Performance Improvement teams consisted of Peer Reviewers who currently work in Florida LHDs and State Office experts.

The other ten LHDs in the pilot were provided off-site technical assistance through conference calls and shared resources.

The new model also actively seeks to find processes, systems or practices within the LHD that may be identified as best and promising practices and success stories which are shared through an online searchable database. Evaluation of the pilot was exceptionally positive. Revisions to the process will be made based on feedback from the pilot counties, and will be available to all 67 of Florida's LHDs.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand how the performance improvement process was developed and implemented.
• Participants will identify performance measures used by LHDs in the Performance Report Card.
• Participants will understand the process for on-site and off-site technical assistance visits and role of peer reviewers.

Keywords: Quality Improvement, Performance Measures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation