Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board: Indian Leadership for Indian Health

Questions about Public Health Accreditation

1. How does PHAB differ from JCAHO and AAAHC accreditation?

All three types of accreditation aim to promote quality of services and performance, based on a national set of standards; where they differ are the types of entities that are eligible to apply for accreditation and the types of services that the standards are designed to improve. Each accrediting body is a unique entity that has different policies, procedures, standards, methodology for revising its standards, length of awarding accreditation, etc.  A little about the three organizations is listed below for a quick comparison.

  • Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO): an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs in the United States. JCAHO currently accredits over 19,000 health care organizations.  Over the years, the Joint Commission transitioned from accrediting hospitals only to an organization that accredits a variety of healthcare organizations, including ambulatory care, home care, hospice care, and laboratories in hospitals.  Learn more about JCAHO at their website.
  • The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC): a private, non-profit organization that accredits organizations that promotes patient safety and quality, and value for ambulatory health care.  AAAHC currently accredits almost 5,000 organizations that provide services in the ambulatory health care setting.  The types of organizations that become accredited include ambulatory and surgery centers, community health centers, medical and dental group practices, medical homes, and managed care organizations, as well as tribal and student health centers.  They are also the official accrediting organization for the US Air Force and the US Coast Guard. Learn more about AAAHC at their website.
  • The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB): a national non-profit organization that awards accreditation to tribal, state, local, and territorial health departments. Currently, there are no nationally accredited governmental public health departments because PHAB’s accreditation program will launch in fall 2011. The goal of national public health accreditation is to improve and protect the public’s health by advancing the quality and performance of public health departments. Learn more about PHAB at their website.

2. My health department wants to apply for accreditation, should we write an official letter of interest or application letter to PHAB?

PHAB is pleased that so many health departments are interested in applying for accreditation and want to start using the official PHAB standards and measures to begin to gather supporting documentation, but you do not need to submit a letter to PHAB.  The PHAB Board of Directors met May 24-26, 2011, to approve the materials necessary for the launch of accreditation this fall. Be on the look-out in early summer for the following critical documents:

  • PHAB Guide to Standards and Measures Version 1.0 (this includes the official first set of the standards, measures, and documentation guidance).
  • PHAB Guide to National Voluntary Accreditation.
  • Fee Schedule for 2011/2012.
  • A List of Education Services to be provided by PHAB.

Just because the official documents are not released yet does not mean you have to sit and wait!  It is too early to submit your letter of intent, but health departments can still be engaged in a variety of preparatory activities as described in the “Word on the Street” from the September 2010 issue of the PHAB e-newsletter. Click here to view PHAB’s “What’s Next” flyer that includes the mentioned excerpt.

3. I understand that the IRS will require hospitals to develop a Community Health Assessment. Should my health department seek to collaborate with the local hospital to develop one assessment that addresses both the health department’s and the hospital’s Community Health Assessment needs?

PHAB strongly encourages health departments to develop partnerships with hospitals and other community members in order to collaborate on a variety of efforts, as indicated throughout the PHAB standards and measures.  Hospitals are critical partners and can contribute primary and secondary data, planning expertise, community meeting facilities, as well as community health education and health promotion programs and services.
The IRS requirement that non-profit hospitals report on the development of a Community Health Assessment provides a perfect opportunity for your health department to initiate or further develop your partnership with local non-profit hospitals.  Collaboration on the development of a Community Health Assessment that addresses both of your information needs can be one element of your partnership.  PHAB encourages you to review the IRS reporting form for hospitals (Schedule H, Form 990, OMB No. 1545-0047).  Part V, Section B, sets forth the details that are to be reported including the hospital’s process for consultation with others who represent the community’s interest, the process for identifying and prioritizing health needs, and how the hospital addressed those identified health needs.  In addition to the Community Health Assessment, non-profit hospitals are required to report their “community benefit” and “community building” activities, including coalition building and community health improvement advocacy.  All of these IRS requirements provide an excellent opportunity and incentive for health departments and non-profit hospitals to work together to improve health of the population for the benefit of the community.  For more information, please visit this IRS website.