Quality Improvement Initiatives
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 embracing 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). Click here to view.
The 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 newly appointed 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 http://www.hhs.gov/ophs/.
APHA’s quality initiatives will include but not limited to:
- National Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP)
-
-
-
Accreditation of Public Health Agencies
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) recently established, is dedicated to raising the standard for public health across the nation. Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ), PHAB works with leading public health experts to develop a voluntary national accreditation program that will help public health agencies assess their current capacity and guide them to become better providers of quality public health service.
Several expert committees and workgroups were developed to address all aspects of the accreditation program. Public Health Accreditation Board released Draft Standards on February 2, 2009 for public comment.
WHAT'S NEW
Dr. Kaye Bender, President and CEO of PHAB recently announced the launch of PHAB's public health accreditation beta test. Dr. Bender states that "The beta test represents a new chapter in our work to transform public health and, ultimately, make us a healthier nation. Starting now and running through the end of 2010, the beta test will provide the on-the-ground critical feedback we need to develop a successful accreditation program that serves all public health departments and advances the quality of public health."
For additional information on PHAB, click here to view.
- Certification of graduate trained public health practitioners by the Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)
- Certification of schools and programs that educate public health students through the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH)
- Several specific evaluative programs such as Public Health Ready For more information about these initiatives, contact:
Karlene Baddy, MEd
Director, Public Health Systems and Partnerships
Center for Public Health Policy and Practice
202-777-2494
202-777-2530
Email: karlene.baddy@apha.org
Last updated October 7, 2009
More about Quality Improvements
|