TULSA, OK – [November 26, 2019] – The Tulsa Health Department announced today that it has achieved national reaccreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), thereby extending its accreditation status for another five years. The agency is the first public health department in Oklahoma to be reaccredited.
“This is an organizational and team effort that we could not have achieved if we were not a high-functioning health department that is engaged and connected to our community,” said THD Executive Director Dr. Bruce Dart. “Our commitment to serve the residents of Tulsa County includes being accountable to our stakeholders and focusing on quality improvement in order to create a healthier community.”
The national accreditation program works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing the quality and performance of the nation’s state, local, Tribal and territorial public health departments. To be accredited, 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.
The requirements and process for reaccreditation were designed to encourage accredited health departments to continue to evolve, improve, and advance, thereby becoming increasingly effective at improving the health of the population they serve.
“The Public Health Accreditation Board’s stamp of approval is recognition of the superb work done every day by our health department associates to keep our city and county a safe place to live and work by promoting and maintaining healthy practices that directly benefit the residents of our community,” said Tulsa County Board of Health Chair Ann Paul. “While this work often occurs behind the scenes, their efforts prevent disease, ensure access to safe food, water, and immunizations, and prepare for and respond to health emergencies. Receiving a renewal of this accreditation demonstrates ongoing accountability to the public we serve.”
Public health department accreditation standards address a range of core public health programs and activities, including environmental public health, health education, health promotion, community health, chronic disease prevention and control, communicable disease, injury prevention, maternal and child health, public health emergency preparedness, access to clinical services, public health laboratory services, management/administration, and governance.
Public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. THD provides a broad range of services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, clean water, and life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies in Tulsa County.
“The Tulsa Health Department is among the growing ranks of accredited health departments with 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.”
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