"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Selected As Accreditation Test Site

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - The Cherokee Nation has been selected as one of only 30 public health departments that will participate in a test of a national voluntary public health accreditation program to be licensed through the Public Health Accreditation Board.

From fall 2009 through the end of 2010, the 30 sites, which include 19 local, eight state, and three tribal health departments, will complete the accreditation process and provide valuable feedback that will be used to make improvements in the accreditation program prior to its national launch in 2011.

“We are honored to be selected as one of the test sites,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Our involvement will help the accreditation board know and understand the needs of Native Americans and the health systems that serve them and their communities. This will help all of the groups improve and protect the health of all people in our communities by advancing the quality of services.”

The goal of the public health accreditation program is to improve and protect the health of every community by advancing the quality and performance of public health departments. The Board received over 145 applications from state, local and tribal health departments. To ensure that the test sites represented a diverse cross-section of the population, the Board carefully selected health departments that vary in size, structure, population served, governance, geographic region, and degree of preparedness for accreditation.

“The test of the program is a critical step that moves us closer to a national voluntary accreditation program that is practical and promotes continuous quality improvement in health departments,” said Kaye Bender, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Public Health Accreditation Board. “The overwhelming response of applications signals that public health departments recognize the need for national standards and see their value.”