Introduction
The American Public Health Association (APHA) has been advancing quality improvement in both health care delivery and public health and has been on the forefront of ensuring quality in public health systems through its standards setting texts, education programs, and policies that promote quality improvement in a range of public health systems. Most recently, APHA has participated with its key partners to promote the National Public Health Performance Standards Program(NPHPSP), the accreditation of public health agencies, and the certification of graduate trained public health workers.
APHA is committed to promoting quality improvements in public health systems in a comprehensive way across the nation. This effort is in keeping with the recent consensus statement developed by the Public Health Quality Forum (PHQF) under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS). View the Statement on Quality in the Public Health System.
- The Public Health Quality Forum (PHQF) defines quality as follows:
Quality in public health is the degree to which policies, programs, services and research for the population increase desired health outcomes and conditions in which the population can be healthy.
More recently, the Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, in support of these efforts remarked that: "A fundamental function of the public health system is to safeguard and improve the quality of health in America." Dr Koh released a statement on September 21, 2009 entitled "Quality in the Public Health System". Dr. Koh announced that a strategic partnership has been established with APHA to ensure that the public health leadership is actively engaged in quality improvement. Dr. Koh's complete statement can be viewed on www.hhs.gov/ophs/
Expanding on Dr. Koh's "Vision for Public Health Quality", "Priority Areas for Improvement of Quality in Public Health" was published by P. A. Honore and Wakina Scott, U.S. Department of Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health November 2010. View the complete publication (PDF)
A Certificate program in QI available for interested parties. Learn about the fundamentals of QI.
Quality Improvement (QI) Certificate in public health is being offered by the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. This is a distance learning certificate offered via the internet. For more information view this PDF
QI Brochures:-
APHA’s quality initiatives will include but are not limited to:
For more information about these initiatives, contact:
Karlene Baddy, MEd.
Director, Public Health Systems and Partnerships
Center for Professional Development Public Health Systems and Partnerships
202-777-2494
202-777-2530
Email: karlene.baddy@apha.org
Last updated: January 23, 2013