Policy Statement
The Public Health Foundation calls on the Public Health Accreditation Board to adopt measurable health outcome standards for all health departments applying for accreditation.

 

Why this is Important
The public and policy makers are demanding and deserve improvements in the health status of our communities. They also are demanding that governmental agencies be held accountable for achieving results. For public health, the results typically conveyed are related to processes and outputs. There are few instances where the public health community has stated that it will achieve specific improvements in the health status of our communities and be held accountable for these improvements.

 

It is in our Nation’s interest for the public health community to take the leadership role in improving the health of the Nation. Leaving this to others for over a half century has resulted in unacceptably poor health status at unreasonably high costs for Americans. Before being able to lead, the public health profession must demonstrate its commitment to measure, report, and improve the health of individuals living in our Nation’s communities. With greater accountability, we can develop the trust of policy makers and the public. With a greater attention to improving health status, we can develop the necessary accountability.

 

The Evidence Exists to Improve the Health of our Communities
Knowledge exists to improve and commit to improving community health outcomes. Published and gray literature, expert opinion, and evidence-based quality and performance improvement methods are available to change the way we do business NOW. There are many resources in public health, such as the Guide to Community Preventive Services, the National Association of County and City Health Official’s model practices data base, the Public Health Foundation’s Public Health Infrastructure Resource Center, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Resources for Public Health, and Lean and Six Sigma approaches to quality and performance improvement. We also can do more to document many of the successful practices in public health that have led to improved outcomes and better use the expertise that exists in our current and past workforce.

 

The Timing is Right
The public health community already has committed to increased accountability with the advent of National voluntary accreditation. We also are witnessing public health agencies adopting quality improvement methods to help improve performance. Effective accreditation and quality improvement programs can be designed to hold public health agencies accountable for improving the health of our Nation’s communities. These are important opportunities to make real and lasting change that will improve the health of our entire Nation.