Important Changes to PHAB Process
In June 2015, the Board of Directors of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) adopted a new Guide to National Public Health Department Initial Accreditation (Guide). While the overall process for accreditation has not changed, there are several new and revised policies that health departments working toward accreditation need to understand. PHAB believes the new Guide significantly improves the process for health departments seeking accreditation.
This blog post discusses selected, noteworthy changes to the requirements of the accreditation process. While a few of the changes were implemented on September 1, 2015, most take effect on February 1, 2016. The changes touch many parts of the accreditation process and include:
- Changes to the names of some process steps (e.g., “Statement of Intent” is now called “Registration”)
- Changes to the requirements of some process steps
- Timing changes for the first two steps in the process
- A few new provisions
Within the PHAB
Guide, Appendix 1 and 2 provide an overview of the revised process and Appendix 3 lists the process deadlines along with maximum potential extensions. Additionally, PHAB has provided
a table of effective dates of various policy and process changes, including revised and new elements.
- Revised: When health departments submit their applications (within six months after their registration is accepted), health department directors will now be required to state that the health department has adopted the three prerequisites (listed below). Health departments will no longer be required to upload these three documents at this point in the process.
New: Each health department director will also be required to assure that the following are in place or substantially developed when they submit the health department’s application:
Workforce Development Plan
Emergency Operations Plan
Quality Improvement (QI) Plan
Performance Management Policy/System
Organizational Branding Strategy
Documentation for the eight items above will be submitted with all other documentation—within one year following accreditation training; this remains unchanged.
Why Were the Changes Made?
In the initial years of accreditation, PHAB noticed that some health departments arrived at training unfamiliar with some requirements and key documents (e.g., a Performance Management Policy/System, a Workforce Development Plan, a QI Plan). Developing these items requires significant time and effort; if a health department waits until the middle of the accreditation process to begin creating these documents, it may not have sufficient time to complete them in conformity with the requirements of the Standards and Measures. These additional requirements were adopted in an effort to encourage health departments to be ready to successfully complete the process when they apply for accreditation.
Which Health Departments Are Affected by the Changes?
These changes apply to health departments whose applications are accepted by PHAB after January 30, 2016. Health departments whose applications are accepted prior to February 1, 2016 must comply with the old deadlines and application requirements.
What Do the Changes Mean for Health Departments?
Through these revisions, the Public Health Foundation (PHF) sees opportunities for health departments to incorporate QI principles throughout the accreditation preparation process.
The new PHAB
Guide requires health departments to be working on numerous plans and other documents required by PHAB prior to submitting their letters of intent. While this has always been advisable, most health departments have (understandably) focused first on the three prerequisites, since the documents associated with them had to be submitted prior to PHAB training. With the updated requirement that applicants 1) have adopted a current health assessment, health improvement plan, and strategic plan, and 2) have made significant progress toward completing other plans, systems, and policies prior to PHAB training, PHF believes the new PHAB
Guide encourages health departments to develop plans and other documents that are aligned with one another. This alignment is the focus of PHF’s tool
A Crosswalk for Aligning Accreditation Plans and the related workshop
Aligning Accreditation Plans.
The new PHAB
Guide requires health departments to have made progress on numerous aspects of accreditation preparation before the countdown begins for submitting documentation. Thus, Domain 9—which has been included in many Action Plans to date—can now play a more central role in the early stages of accreditation preparation. Performance management systems take time to build, refine, and meaningfully inform daily practice; the earlier the system gets underway, the better for the development of a lasting culture of quality. PHF offers
technical assistance and training in performance management to support health departments' adoption of a culture of quality and preparations for accreditation.
Seize the Opportunity
Consider how these changes impact your health department’s accreditation activities and timeline. PHF is in-step with PHAB’s changes and can provide expert assistance in helping health departments navigate them. Stay tuned for an announcement about an upcoming webinar that will explore these changes in greater detail. Meanwhile, seek technical assistance from PHF by contacting Margie Beaudry at mbeaudry@phf.org or (202)218-4415, or submit your information online.