Local Public Health System Assessment - Public Health Accreditation

A public health system is made up of all public, private and voluntary entities that contribute to the delivery of essential public health services within a jurisdiction, including governmental agencies, health care providers, human service organizations, schools, philanthropic organizations and many others.

System Assessment Surveys

To measure the performance of our local public health system we asked representatives from all organizations that are involved in our local public health system to complete a system assessment.

The CDC will analyze our completed assessment and provide a report that we will use to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in our region. This process will assist us in achieving national voluntary public health department accreditation.

The surveys use benchmarks for the 10 Essential Public Health Services using the following achievement rating scale:

No

Minimal (<25% of the time)

Moderate (26% - 50% of the time)

Significant (51% – 75% of the time)

Optimal (>75% of the time)

No knowledge

The surveys were completed in January, 2012 and open to everyone involved in the local public health system. A description of the 10 surveys is provided below:

Essential Services Survey One: Monitor health status to identify community health problems.

Essential Services Survey Two: Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.

Essential Services Survey Three: Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.

Essential Services Survey Four: Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems.

Essential Services Survey Five: Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.

Essential Services Survey Six: Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.

Essential Services Survey Seven: Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.

Essential Services Survey Eight: Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce.

Essential Services Survey Nine: Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.

Essential Services Survey Ten: Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.

Watch this video to learn more about the National Public Health Peformance Standards Program http://www.cdc.gov/nphpsp/video/index.html.