Carson City Health and Human Services awarded national accreditation

Carson City Health & Human Services announced Thursday that it has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board.

The national accreditation program works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming the quality and performance of the nation’s state, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments.

CCHHS is one of fewer than 200 health departments that have thus far achieved accreditation through PHAB since the organization launched in 2011. Carson City Health & Human Services is also the first health department in the state of Nevada to achieve public health accreditation.

“We are pleased and excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said Nicki Aaker, CCHHS Director. “The accreditation process helps to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community. With accreditation, Carson City Health & Human Services is demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials and partner organizations with which we work.”

The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation’s nearly 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.

“Whenever you see our seal of accreditation, you will know that Carson City Health & Human Services has been rigorously examined and meets or exceeds national standards that promote continuous quality improvement for public health,” Aaker said. “By continuing to improve our services and performance, we can be sure we are meeting the public health needs of those we serve as effectively as possible.”

Public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. In cities, towns, and states across the nation, health departments provide a range of services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, clean air, and life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.

CCHHS began the journey towards public health accreditation as a beta test site in 2010. Since the beta test, the Health Department has collaborated with community partners to complete projects necessary for national accreditation such as the Carson City Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan and the internal Health Department Strategic Plan.

“Carson City Health & Human Services joins the growing ranks of accredited health departments in a strong commitment to their public health mission,” 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. Residents of a community served by a nationally accredited health department can be assured that their health department has demonstrated the capacity to protect and promote the health of that community.”

The national accreditation program was created collaboratively over a 10-year period by hundreds of public health practitioners working at the national, Tribal, state, and local levels. Since the program’s launch in September 2011, hundreds of public health departments have applied to PHAB for accreditation, and hundreds of public health practitioners from across the nation have been trained to serve as volunteer peer site visitors for the program.

“Achieving accreditation indicates that CCHHS is dedicated to improving and protecting the health of the community by striving to continuously improve the quality of the services it delivers,” said Ray (Bud) Nicola, MD, MHSA, chair of PHAB’s Board of Directors and affiliate professor at the University of Washington, School of Public Health in Seattle.

“Accreditation also promotes consistency in meeting standards. With an ever-increasing number of health departments now applying for and becoming accredited, you will be able to expect to receive the same quality of public health services wherever you go in the United States.”

For more questions about public health accreditation or to schedule an interview with our Public Information Officer, call 775-283-7908. Information is also available at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org and www.facebook.com/CCHHS.