DAYTON, Ohio — Officials announced Public Health — Dayton & Montgomery County has maintained its national accreditation status for another five years. 

The department said a review process was completed for the accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), demonstrating that it meets quality standards, measures and capability to advance and improve the health of Montgomery County residents.

What You Need To Know

  • Public Health in Dayton has maintained its national accreditation for another five years

  • The accreditation comes through the Public Health Accreditation Board and is voluntary for health departments

  • Health departments undergo a peer-reviewed assessment process

  • Public Health undertook several key actions to maintain their accreditation

“We are proud to learn that our health department has once again met the standards for national accreditation. National accreditation demonstrates that we are a high-performing health department, and that we are committed to continually improving our services, value and accountability to our community. This designation was only possible due to the phenomenal efforts of our employees, and with support from our Board of Health and community partners,” said Jennifer Wentzel, Health Commissioner of the department, in a news release.

The program is voluntary, but its goal is to improve public health by advancing the quality of care at all health departments. The board uses nationally recognized, practice-focused and evidence-based standards to measure health departments across the country.

“We are extremely pleased to be at the point in the accreditation program where Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County, along with many others, are successfully maintaining their five-year accreditation status through PHAB,” said PHAB President and CEO Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN. “In so doing, these health departments are assuring their communities that the value of accreditation is long-term — not a one-time recognition — and that continual improvement is the hallmark of a 21st century organization.”

Departments undergo a peer-reviewed assessment process to determine if it meets or exceeds public health quality standards and measures in order to receive accreditation through PHAB. The standards cover services including community health assessments, improvement planning, epidemiology, infectious disease control, health inspections, health education and promotion and emergency preparedness.

The department took several key actions for the re-accreditation process, including:

  • “Ensured implementation, monitoring, and Quarterly reporting of agency-wide Strategic Work Plan

  • Implemented Clear Impact Scorecard as the designated Performance Management software for Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County

  • Prioritized Health Equity throughout all areas of Public Health, including Workforce Development, Emergency Preparedness, and Strategic Initiatives

  • Maintained 3-5 year reviews of all agency Plans, Policies, and Guideline documents

  • Conducted Program Reviews and Evaluations to continually advance a Culture of Quality

  • Routinely communicated important health information with the Public via website, social media, advertisements, and Program activities

  • Incorporated community voices in the development and review of Public Health messaging strategies

  • Advocated for evidence-based/best practice policies impacting our community

  • Maintained and developed internal committees to advance compliance with PHAB Standards & Measures (e.g. Ethics Committee; Performance Management & Quality Improvement Committee; Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Inclusion Committee)

  • 115 annotated documents submitted”

The benefits of accreditation include a push for a culture of quality and performance improvement and increasing the capability to respond to public health emergencies. It also promotes using equity as a lens when identifying priorities and strengthens health departments.