TY - JOUR
T1 - Longitudinal evaluation of quality improvement and public health accreditation readiness in Nebraska local health departments, 2011-2016
AU - Chen, Li Wu
AU - Gregg, Abbey
AU - Palm, David
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the Nebraska local health departments for their participation and acknowledge Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, Niodita Gupta, Janelle Jacobson, and Anh Nguyen for their contributions to this research. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Portions of this research were funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the National Coordinating Center for the Public Health Practice-Based Research Network program and the National Network of Public Health Institutes Gaining Ground Initiative, Nebraska Coalition.
Funding Information:
Nebraska received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the National Public Health Improvement Initiative grant from 2011 through 2014. Funding from this grant was used to provide education and technical assistance to LHDs on both QI and PHAB accreditation preparation activities, QI, and performance management. These funds were also used to provide small multiyear grants to LHDs to support the completion of accreditation prerequisites (eg, the community health improvement plan) or to develop a workforce or QI plan. From May 2014 to May 2016, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services also received a Gaining Ground grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This grant, which is managed by the National Network of Public Health Institutes, was designed to advance QI and PHAB accreditation of health departments.4
Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Portions of this research were funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the National Coordinating Center for the Public Health Practice-Based Research Network program and the National Network of Public Health Institutes Gaining Ground Initiative, Nebraska Coalition.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Objectives: Public health accreditation is intended to improve the performance of public health departments, and quality improvement (QI) is an important component of the Public Health Accreditation Board process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the QI maturity and accreditation readiness of local health departments (LHDs) in Nebraska during a 6-year period that included several statewide initiatives to progress readiness, including funding and technical assistance. Methods:We used a mixed-methods approach that consisted of both online surveys and key informant interviews to assess QI maturity and accreditation readiness. Nineteen of Nebraska’s 21 LHDs completed the survey in 2011 and 2013, 20 of 20 LHDs completed the survey in 2015, and 19 of 20 LHDs completed the survey in 2016.We facilitated a large group discussion with staff members from 16 LHDs in 2011, and we conducted key informant interviews with staff members from 4 LHDs in 2015. Results: Both QI maturity and accreditation readiness improved from 2011 to 2016. In 2011, of 19 LHDs, only 6 LHD directors agreed that their LHD had a culture that focused on QI, but this number increased every year up to 12 in 2016. The number of LHDs that had a high capacity to engage in QI efforts improved from 3 in 2011 to 8 in 2016. The number of LHDs with a QI plan increased from 3 in 2011 to 10 in 2016. The number of LHDs that were confident in their ability to obtain Public Health Accreditation Board accreditation improved from 6 in 2011 to 13 in 2016. Although their QI maturity generally increased over time, LHDs interviewed in 2015 still faced challenges adopting a formal QI system. External financial and technical support helped LHDs build their QI maturity and accreditation readiness. Conclusion: Funding and technical assistance can improve LHDs’ QI maturity and accreditation readiness. Improvement takes time and sustained efforts by LHDs, and support from external partners (eg, state health departments) helps build LHDs’ QI maturity and accreditation readiness.
AB - Objectives: Public health accreditation is intended to improve the performance of public health departments, and quality improvement (QI) is an important component of the Public Health Accreditation Board process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the QI maturity and accreditation readiness of local health departments (LHDs) in Nebraska during a 6-year period that included several statewide initiatives to progress readiness, including funding and technical assistance. Methods:We used a mixed-methods approach that consisted of both online surveys and key informant interviews to assess QI maturity and accreditation readiness. Nineteen of Nebraska’s 21 LHDs completed the survey in 2011 and 2013, 20 of 20 LHDs completed the survey in 2015, and 19 of 20 LHDs completed the survey in 2016.We facilitated a large group discussion with staff members from 16 LHDs in 2011, and we conducted key informant interviews with staff members from 4 LHDs in 2015. Results: Both QI maturity and accreditation readiness improved from 2011 to 2016. In 2011, of 19 LHDs, only 6 LHD directors agreed that their LHD had a culture that focused on QI, but this number increased every year up to 12 in 2016. The number of LHDs that had a high capacity to engage in QI efforts improved from 3 in 2011 to 8 in 2016. The number of LHDs with a QI plan increased from 3 in 2011 to 10 in 2016. The number of LHDs that were confident in their ability to obtain Public Health Accreditation Board accreditation improved from 6 in 2011 to 13 in 2016. Although their QI maturity generally increased over time, LHDs interviewed in 2015 still faced challenges adopting a formal QI system. External financial and technical support helped LHDs build their QI maturity and accreditation readiness. Conclusion: Funding and technical assistance can improve LHDs’ QI maturity and accreditation readiness. Improvement takes time and sustained efforts by LHDs, and support from external partners (eg, state health departments) helps build LHDs’ QI maturity and accreditation readiness.
KW - Accreditation
KW - Local health departments analysis
KW - Public health practice
KW - Quality improvement
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U2 - 10.1177/0033354918754542
DO - 10.1177/0033354918754542
M3 - Article
C2 - 29653064
AN - SCOPUS:85045346133
SN - 0033-3549
VL - 133
SP - 250
EP - 256
JO - Public Health Reports
JF - Public Health Reports
IS - 3
ER -