Washington County Public Health Awarded National Accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 23, 2017

Washington County Public Health has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). 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.

Washington County Public Health is one of fewer than 200 health departments that have thus far achieved accreditation through PHAB since the organization launched in 2011. However, hundreds of health departments across the country are preparing to seek accreditation through PHAB, the nonprofit organization that administers the national public health accreditation program.

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.

“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,” says PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender, PhD, RN, FAAN. “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.”

Washington County Public Health plays a critical role in protecting and improving the health and well-being of people and communities, providing a range of services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water and clean air; and preparing for and responding to emergencies.

“We are pleased and excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” says Public Health Division Manager Tricia Mortell. “With accreditation, we are demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials and partner organizations.”

Washington County Public Health improves and protects the public’s health across the lifespan through prevention, education, partnerships and healthy environments.

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