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MICH E-NEWS
Winter 2010/2011 Edition

In This Issue
Missouri's Voluntary Accreditation Program
Quality Improvement Initiatives
Missouri Public Health Practice Based Reserach Network
Multi-State Learning Collaborative
PHAB Update
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Over the past few years,  MICH has focused on our voluntary accreditation for local public health agencies and developing quality improvement training programs designed for the public health community. To plan our activities for the coming year, we need to hear from you!

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Greetings!

Dalen color pictureIn this time of year we tend to see THE GOOD, THE BAD and THE UGLY.  The good can be seen in the giving, caring and others-centered attitude that is more prevalent at this time of the year than any other.  The bad is when we are swept away by the "holiday spirit" and there is full frontal assault on our bank accounts.  The ugly happens when we see two people wrestling for the same gift or parking space or when that eccentric relative, who is let out for the holidays, exhibits some embarrassing behavior around an otherwise festive family dinner.  If you have rigid plans and specific expectations for the holidays you are likely to not have as good a time as those who sit back and let the holidays unfold in all their weirdness.

This last MICH newsletter for 2010 details some of MICH's impressive initiatives and resources.  Please check out the articles on MICH's Practice Based Research Network, Multi-State Learning Collaborative and Quality Improvement Initiatives.  Personally, I am very excited about 2011 and what lies ahead for MICH, its partners and for Public Health in general.  We are on the cusp of a paradigm shift that will be a historical mile marker on how Public Health operates.  The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) plans to implement the national accreditation process in 2011.  I am confident that MICH will have a significant role in that process.  What that will be exactly is still being negotiated.  For all of you who have contributed your time and energy to MICH, and all of you who have gone through the Voluntary Accreditation Process, you have played a key role in positioning MICH to be a major contributor to the national PHAB accreditation process!  Now THAT is exciting and I am truly honored and proud to have worked together with all of you to get to where we are today.  So rest up, enjoy the weirdness, and get ready for an awesome 2011!

Dalen's signature 3

Dalen Duitsman, President of the Board
Missouri's Voluntary Accreditation Program


Washington County Celebration

On November 19, 2010, Washington County Health Department celebrated their achievement of Primary Accreditation by the Missouri Institute for Community Health.  Dennis Diehl, MICH Secretary/Treasurer presented Judith Wright their plaque in recognition of this major achievement.  A best practice noted by the reviewers was their City Readiness Initiative.  They ranked the highest in the state for readiness in emergency response for three consecutive years. 

The Washington County Health Department serves its residents well by providing comprehensive public health services. Staff members within the agency have gone above and beyond in demonstrating their competencies and dedication to the residents they serve. The agency collaborates with a variety of community partners to address public health concerns and acknowledges their partnership in its communication with the public.

By being accredited, Washington County Health Department shows their dedication to the quality improvement process.   Thank you for your participation in the Missouri Voluntary Accreditation Program. Best wishes for continued success with your performance excellence journey.  


 Ozark County HD Site VisitSite Visitors Stephen Njenga and Debra Dorshorst visited Ozark County Health Department on December 14, 2010.  After a full day doing interviews with selected staff and reviewing the required documentation, the staff of Ozark County Health Department are anxiously awaiting their ac creditation decision which will be made in January, 2011.  Ozark County Health Department are currently one of 12 local public health agencies working with MICH on their Multi-Learning Collaborative on quality improvement initiatives.
Quality Improvement Initiatives

Recently, Columbia-Boone Department of Public Health and Social Services staff began a quality improvement training program and started an agency wide project on timekeeping.  Their goal is to have quality improvement become part of their agency culture.  In order to do this, there will be divisional and cross-divisional quality projects, their strategic plan is going to be updated, and they will design a balanced scorecard unique to their agency.  Missouri Institute for Community Health is helping in their journey by providing QI training and facilitating some initial group projects.  This is a pilot to help MICH decide whether to establish a public health technical assistance/education arm of MICH.

Please weigh in on the technical assistance issue by completing the survey on our web site.  Click here to take the survey
Missouri Public Health Practice Based Research Network
The Missouri Public Health Practice Based Research Network will be meeting again in the new year with the Dr. Glen Mays, Executive Director for the National Public Health Practice Based Research Network on Friday, February 25th.  Dr. Mays will share with the Missouri Network initiatives that are taking place across the country.

Missouri's PBRN will be concentrating on two priority issues in the coming years: 

1.  Develop a classification of 114 counties using natural history; look at performance, governance, funding, etc.  What elements lead to higher performance?  Of those counties that have been accredited, has accreditation made an impact on health outcomes or disparities?

2.  Regionalization - how are counties organized? Study the different structures; provide incentives to illustrate different models.  Look at communication and how it occurs in different regions. Document/evaluate Region G structure and effectiveness.
MICH's Multi-State Learning Collaborative

The Multi-State Learning Collaborative-3 is in the final stages.  The 12 participating agencies had their last webinar this December.  Because of Heartland Centers for Public Health Workforce Capacity agencies were able to meet monthly to discuss quality improvement tools, update each other on individual projects and work on large group projects.  The webinars helped a pretty impossible project become much more manageable.  People no longer had to travel several hours to meet and several staff from each agency could participate and not affect client services.  The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services did a webinar in October on data mining helping agencies to go to the next level in using data to shape their programs.  Beverly Tremain will do a quality improvement readiness evaluation of participating agencies.


PHAB logo   Word on the Street

1. What is the relationship between accreditation and quality improvement (QI) in public health?

 
PHAB is using the definition of quality improvement in public health that was developed by the Accreditation Coalition and published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (January/February, 2010). Specifically, that definition states that quality improvement in public health is:                  

 

In that same article, the differences between "small QI" and "large QI" are described. "Small" quality improvement efforts are often focused at the program or activity level, and are a great way to learn a specific model. "Large" quality improvement efforts are conducted organization-wide and are system focused. Public health can be transformed through the adoption of a comprehensive approach to QI where it becomes incorporated into everything the health department does rather than a separate set of activities. Adopting a quality improvement culture allows a health department to:

 PHAB recognizes that learning about quality improvement models and language is new for many health departments. And yet, it is the cornerstone upon which accreditation is based. It's not about the accreditation certificate; it's about the focus on learning to do what we do better and sharing that knowledge with others.

 

2. We are working on our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and we want to make sure that the process we choose to get this work done is acceptable to PHAB. Is there one model that PHAB endorses?

 

No. The model that you choose should be the one that works for your health department to engage partners and the community as a whole in reviewing the health assessment information and determining the best course of action to work collaboratively to improve the health of the community you serve. Some health departments have used the MAPP process (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) while others have found other equally useful models. The required elements in linking the community health assessment and the community health improvement planning process to the agency strategic plan are what PHAB will be looking for in our reviews. MAPP and other similar models should all have those elements. Select the one that does mobilize the community to work on the issue.

 

3. How much will it cost to apply for PHAB accreditation?

 

PHAB understands that the field would like to know the accreditation fees in order to plan their budget cycle. However, this is totally new territory for PHAB to develop. We have no history or track record for determining these fees.  PHAB's Fee Development Committee has met twice in the last two months and has developed a work plan approved at the December Board of Directors meeting. The committee is actively developing the model and criteria that will be used in determining the fee structure for the accreditation program. The committee requested that a market survey be developed, distributed, and analyzed over the next 60 days. The information from the survey, being distributed in early January, will help better inform the fee development process. The committee hopes to conclude their work in the spring of 2011 and publish the fees soon thereafter.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!