County Health Department Awarded National Accreditation Through the Public Health Accreditation Board
PHAB-Accredited Health Departments Demonstrate the Capacity to Serve their Communities Well
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney announced today that the Onondaga County Health Department has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).
County Executive Mahoney said, “This achievement confirms what we already know, that the Onondaga County Health Department does excellent work in protecting and improving the health of the residents of our community. This achievement demonstrates the Health Department’s ability to meet the rigorous public health standards necessary to best serve the needs of our community.”
The national accreditation program works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming the quality and performance of the nation’s state, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments. The Onondaga County Health Department is one of fewer than 200 local health departments that have thus far achieved accreditation through PHAB since the organization launched in 2011.
“We are pleased and excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said Dr. Indu Gupta, Commissioner of the Onondaga County Health Department. “The accreditation process helps to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community. With accreditation, the Onondaga County Health Department is demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials and partner organizations with which we work.”
“Whenever you see our seal of accreditation, you will know that the Onondaga County Health Department has been rigorously examined and meets or exceeds national standards that promote continuous quality improvement for public health,” Dr. Gupta said. “By continuing to improve our services and performance, we can be sure we are meeting the public health needs of those we serve as effectively as possible.”
The Onondaga County Health Department plays a critical role in the health of people and communities, and conducts all of its work in alignment with the Department’s mission to protect and improve the health of all Onondaga County residents. The Department is guided by its vision of a community of partners working together for the physical, social, and emotional well-being of all and its values of respect, excellence, accountability, collaboration, and health equity (REACH), www.ongov.net/health.
The Department is also guided by the 2016-2018 Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan, with a particular focus on preventing chronic disease, promoting mental health, and preventing substance abuse. Additionally, the Department provides a range of services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; supporting healthy families; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, clean air, and life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.
“The Onondaga County Health Department joins the growing ranks of accredited health departments in a strong commitment to their public health mission,” said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The peer-review process provides valuable feedback to inform health departments of their strengths and areas for improvement, so that they can better protect and promote the health of the people they serve in their communities. Residents of a community served by a nationally accredited health department can be assured that their health department has demonstrated the capacity to protect and promote the health of that community.”
The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation’s nearly 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer- reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures. To learn more go to www.phaboard.org.