Oral

Public health department accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) has been a reality for health departments since September 2011. The first accreditation decisions were awarded in February 2012, and there are more decisions to follow. Current estimates indicate that, over the next few years, more than half of all health departments in the country will seek national accreditation. Health departments who embrace the accreditation journey demonstrate accountability, transparency, and a commitment to long-term quality improvement. Collectively these health departments will define various approaches to their paths toward excellence in public health that will move the entire field forward. In addition, the momentum of these accreditation activities is enhanced by strong connections with public health program and initiatives administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The gap that this session will addesss is to assist health departments in identifying activities that are suitable for supporting public health infrastructure improvement.

Session Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to: Describe the current status of the public health accreditation program Discuss the relationship between accreditation and quality improvement Describe the linkages with selected CDC public health programs and initiatives