Quality Improvement

The goal of Public Health Accreditation Board's (PHAB) accreditation program is to improve and protect the health of every community by advancing the quality and performance of public health departments.

QI in public health is the use of a deliberate and defined improvement process, such as Plan-Do-Check-Act, which is focused on activities that are responsive to community needs and improving population health. It refers to a continuous and ongoing effort to achieve measurable improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability, outcomes, and other indicators of quality in services or processes which achieve equity and improve the health of the community.*

This section is divided into four sections: "LHDs Using QI," "QI Resources," "Storyboards," and "QI Training Materials." For additional information about getting ready for accreditation, visit the Accreditation Preparation page.

»	LHDs using QI
	With the launch of the much anticipated national accreditation program steadily approaching, states across the country have taken great strides in improving agency wide performance through QI activities. NACCHO has developed an interactive map that can be utilized to view a wealth of QI tools, resources and practices from LHDs around the country. More »

»	Quality Improvement Culture
	Quality improvement (QI) is increasingly being embraced as a means to achieve efficiencies and other improvements with limited resources. Beyond discrete QI efforts, a comprehensive approach to QI – one in which the concepts of QI are ingrained in the shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices of all individuals in the agency – will ensure that QI is institutionalized and becomes part of the way that LHDs do business. More »

»	Quality Improvement Resources
	Many resources exist to help LHDs begin or hone their QI activities. These tools and materials are developed by many organizations interested in Quality Improvement in public health. More »

»	Storyboards
	A storyboard is a one-page, graphic representation of a completed QI project. Storyboards reflect the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle implemented by participants. NACCHO has resources for LHDs interested in using storyboards to display their QI efforts. More »

»	Quality Improvement Training Materials
	NACCHO has developed QI training for LHDs interested in the topic. More »

^* “Quality Improvement in Public Health Definition.” Accreditation Coalition Quality Improvement Subgroup Consensus, March 26, 2009.