Olmsted County Public Health celebrates reaccreditation
Sep. 5—ROCHESTER — Olmsted County celebrated the reaccreditation of its public health department on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
"(It's) a measurement of how our health department measures up against other health departments across the nation, especially when we are looking at practice-focused and evidence-based standards that have been put out before us," Public Health Director Denise Daniels told county commissioners during their meeting Tuesday morning.
Olmsted County Public Health received its first accreditation from the national
Public Health Accreditation Board
in 2017, and agencies must be reviewed every five years to maintain the standing.
The local department is one of 10 county health departments in Minnesota that have been accredited, according to Daniels.
The accreditation process involves measuring the department's performance against a set of nationally recognized standards.
The review process started with a county application in April last year, with several areas of consideration, with a look at the department's efforts toward overall public health, as well as a thorough review of the agency's operations, policies and practices.
Daniels said the county department received a 100% rating on its required filings during a site review.
By achieving accreditation status for a second five-year period, Olmsted County Public Health demonstrates its capacity to:
* Address public health challenges proactively and effectively.
* Engage and collaborate with community partners to identify and address health disparities.
* Use a data-driven approach to assess community health needs and design targeted interventions.
* Maintain a competent and highly skilled workforce committed to public health excellence.
* Deliver comprehensive public health programs and services that adhere to best practices.
* Continuously improve processes and outcomes to enhance the health of the community.
Daniels said the extensive review process was beneficial to the department's ongoing efforts.
"It really allowed us to look at where our strengths and where our weaknesses are," she told county commissioners on Tuesday.
County Board Chairman Gregg Wright called the reaccreditation a significant achievement and a testament to the effectiveness and dedication of the public health staff.
"Our employees are committed to promoting and protecting the health of our community," he said. "This national reaccreditation reaffirms that Olmsted County is achieving our mission to provide the foundation of a vibrant community."
