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NORC at the University Chicago

Assessing the Effects of the National Public Health Accreditation Program

Close up of a health care provider in scrubs grasping hands with a patient
A multi-year data collection effort on behalf of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
  • Client
    Public Health Accreditation Board
  • Dates
    September 2013 – Ongoing

Problem

The goal of the national public health accreditation program is to promote health department performance and quality.

The national public health department accreditation program, administered by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), is designed to advance the quality and performance of the governmental public health system and to support health departments’ delivery of programs and services. The accreditation process involves health departments being assessed against the PHAB Standards and Measures. The measures serve as the written guidelines and requirements for accreditation and align with the 10 Essential Public Health Services and Foundational Capabilities of the Foundational Public Health Services. Health departments may seek initial accreditation, which lasts for five years, followed by reaccreditation, to maintain their status as an accredited health department.

Solution

NORC conducted data collection to assess the effects of the PHAB accreditation program among health department applicants. 

Between April 2013 and June 2023, NORC conducted several independent evaluations to assess the national public health department accreditation program, including initial accreditation and reaccreditation. NORC implemented five surveys of all health departments that have applied for and achieved PHAB accreditation. The surveys explored the perceptions and benefits of accreditation among health departments at five points in time:

  • When they registered to apply for initial accreditation 
  • When they achieved initial accreditation
  • One year after initial accreditation
  • Four years after initial accreditation
  • When they achieved reaccreditation

NORC sent a survey invitation to every health department that met each milestone. During the nine-year data collection period, NORC sent each survey to the total population of health departments that reached each milestone. For each survey, NORC achieved a response rate of 83% or above.

Result

NORC has published research on findings from the evaluation, including multiple peer-reviewed articles.

NORC has published evaluation findings in six peer-reviewed articles and multiple other reports and briefs. The evaluation findings demonstrate the value, impact, and benefits of accreditation. Short-term outcomes include, but are not limited to:

  • Increased focus on quality improvement and performance management, including implementation of new quality improvement activities
  • Increased accountability of health departments
  • Strengthened workforce development activities and improvements in staff competencies
  • Improvements in community health and equity

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