Public Health Accreditation Board designation recognizes high-performing health departments

For more information, contact Kim Papich, SRHD Public Information Officer (509) 324-1539

SPOKANE, Wash. – Feb 28, 2013 – Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) announced today that it 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 the quality and performance of the nation’s Tribal, state, local, and territorial public health departments.

“More than anything this accreditation is a testament to health district employees and the work they do each day to improve and protect the health of our community,” said Dr. Joel McCullough, SRHD health officer. “The accreditation process validates the responsiveness of our staff and programs in meeting the needs of residents. With accreditation, we’re demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials and partner organizations with which we work.”
 
Out of 130 health departments across the country seeking accreditation, SRHD is one of only eleven that earned first-ever accreditation through PHAB, the independent organization that administers the national public health accreditation program.
 
The program is jointly supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. These organizations worked to set standards against which the nation’s more than 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.
 
Public health is an essential set of services guaranteed to all citizens. It is a network of local, state and national professionals working together for a safer and healthier community. From restaurant inspections and drinking water safety, to health education, immunizations, and disease control and prevention, Spokane Regional Health District provides over 20 different programs and services to individuals, families and organizations across Spokane County. Despite an unstable funding environment year after year at the local, state and federal level, the health district still employs over 200 employees dedicated to bettering the lives of Spokane’s residents.
 
“Spokane Regional Health District is one of the first of many health departments that we look forward to being able to recognize as a high-performing public health department,” 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.”
 
More information can be found at www.srhd.org. SRHD’s Web site offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Become a fan of SRHD on Facebook to receive local safety and wellness tips. You can also follow us on Twitter @spokanehealth.