Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Continuous quality improvement is a central tenet of the Public Health Accreditation Board's (PHAB) national voluntary public health accreditation program. Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the National Public Health Improvement Initiative (NPHII) in 2010 with the goal of advancing accreditation readiness, performance management, and quality improvement (QI).
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the extent to which NPHII awardees have achieved program goals.
DESIGN
NPHII awardees responded to an annual assessment and program monitoring data requests. Analysis included simple descriptive statistics.
SETTING
Seventy-four state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies receiving NPHII funds.
PARTICIPANTS
NPHII performance improvement managers or principal investigators.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Development of accreditation prerequisites, completion of an organizational self-assessment against the PHAB Standards and Measures, Version 1.0, establishment of a performance management system, and implementation of QI initiatives to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
RESULTS
Of the 73 responding NPHII awardees, 42.5% had a current health assessment, 26% had a current health improvement plan, and 48% had a current strategic plan in place at the end of the second program year. Approximately 26% of awardees had completed an organizational PHAB self-assessment, 72% had established at least 1 of the 4 components of a performance management system, and 90% had conducted QI activities focused on increasing efficiencies and/or effectiveness.
CONCLUSIONS
NPHII appears to be supporting awardees' initial achievement of program outcomes. As NPHII enters its third year, there will be additional opportunities to advance the work of NPHII, compile and disseminate results, and inform a vision of high-quality public health necessary to improve the health of the population.
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