Approaching accreditation health departments

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)

Form Approved
OMB No. XXXX-XXXX
Expiration Date XX/XX/XXXX
Welcome
NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is asking health departments that are approaching reaccreditation to
participate in a survey about the national public health accreditation program. The survey includes questions about
the benefits, short-term outcomes, and other effects of accreditation, as well as your intentions to apply for
reaccreditation. NORC is conducting this survey on behalf of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate the outcomes of the national public health
accreditation program. The questions and topics in this survey are intended for the Director of your health
department, or a designee, if the Director is unable to complete the survey. Thank you for participating in this
survey.
Directions
Use your mouse to click on the circle or box to indicate your answer. Click “Next” to advance to the next page, and
scroll to the bottom of each page and click “Previous” to return to the previous page. On the last page of the
questionnaire, click “Done” to complete the questionnaire. Note: once you click “Done,” you will not be able to edit
or return to your questionnaire responses.
If you have technical difficulties, contact Megan Heffernan at heffernan-megan@norc.org or 301-634-9412. Thank
you again for your participation.
Background
The survey is estimated to take 20 minutes or less to complete. Your open and honest feedback is appreciated.
Findings from this assessment will be included in a report to PHAB and CDC and may be publicly available. All data
will be presented in the aggregate. Report findings will not be linked to the organization that completed the survey.
For more information about this assessment, please contact Project Director Michael Meit at meitmichael@norc.org.

CDC estimates the average public reporting burden for this collection of information as 20 minutes per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data/information sources, gathering and
maintaining the data/information needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing burden to CDC/ATSDR Reports Clearance Officer;
1600 Clifton Road NE MS H21-8, Atlanta GA 30333 (ATTN: PRA (0920-xxxx).

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Information About Your Health Department

* 1. Name of Health Department:

Note: This information will be used to analyze findings by health department structure, size, and geographic
region; responses will not be linked to any specific health department.

* 2. Respondent Role:
Director of Health Department
Accreditation Coordinator
Other, please describe:

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Annual Reporting Process

3. These questions ask you to reflect on your experiences completing the PHAB Annual
Report forms. Please select the appropriate column to indicate whether you Strongly Agree,
Agree, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree with each of the following statements. If you are
unsure, please select Don’t Know.
Strongly
Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Completing the Annual Report forms has
provided our health department an
opportunity to reflect on quality and
performance improvement activities.
Completing the Annual Report forms has
helped our health department consider how
to address emerging public health issues.

4. Please provide additional clarification for any of your responses, if desired.

Don’t Know

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Benefits and Outcomes

5. For each statement below, consider the benefits or outcomes your health department may
have experienced since becoming accredited.
Strongly
Agree

Accreditation has improved our health
department’s overall capacity to provide
high quality programs and services.
Accreditation has increased the extent to
which our health department uses evidencebased practices for public health programs
and/or business practices.
As a result of accreditation, our health
department has applied health equity to
internal planning, policies, or processes.
Accreditation has improved our health
department’s ability to identify and address
gaps in employee training and workforce
development.
Since becoming accredited, our health
department has used the PHAB Standards
and Measures for ongoing improvement
efforts.
Accreditation has improved the credibility
of our health department within our
community and/or state.
Accreditation has improved our health
department’s visibility or reputation to
external stakeholders.
Since becoming accredited, our health
department has had new opportunities for
partnerships and/or collaborations.
Since becoming accredited, our health
department has strengthened its
relationship with key partners in other
sectors (e.g., health care, social services,
education).
Accreditation has helped us to build
relationships with new partners across
sectors (e.g., health care, social services,
education).
Accreditation has led to increased
collaboration with other health
departments.
Since becoming accredited, our health
department has compared our programs,
processes, and/or outcomes against other
similar health departments as a benchmark
for performance.

Agree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Don't Know

Accreditation has strengthened the culture
of QI in our health department.
Accreditation has helped our health
department use health equity as a lens for
identifying and addressing health priorities.
Health department activities implemented
as a result of being accredited have led to
improved health outcomes in our
community.

6. Please provide additional clarification for any of your responses, if desired.

7. Since becoming accredited, what has been the most important positive outcome or benefit
your health department has experienced as a result of accreditation?

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Quality Improvement and Performance Management

Please describe the current quality improvement (QI) and performance
management culture in your agency.
8. Indicate the level of familiarity your health department staff members have with QI.
Have no knowledge of QI
Subset of staff have familiarity with QI
Majority of staff have familiarity with QI
Subset of staff are knowledgeable and practice QI
Majority of staff are knowledgeable and practice QI
Majority of staff routinely practice/use QI
Don’t know

9. Currently, QI in my agency is…
Not practiced anywhere in the agency
Talked about, but not required
Conducted informally; sporadic program efforts
Conducted formally in specific areas
Conducted formally and agency-wide
Our culture
Don’t know

10. Approximately what percentage of staff in your organization have received training in
performance management and/or QI?
0–5%
6–25%
26–50%
51–75%
76–95%
96–100%
Don't Know

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Workforce Development and Training

Please answer the following question about your health department’s
workforce development and training.
11. Select all workforce development and training activities currently implemented by your
health department. Select all that apply.
Include education and training objectives in performance reviews
Allow participation in training during working hours
Pay travel/registration fees for trainings
Provide on-site training
Have staff position(s) whose responsibilities include coordinating internal training for employees
Provide employee reward and recognition programs
Other, please describe:

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Financial Status

12. For each statement below, consider the financial benefits or outcomes your health
department may have experienced since becoming accredited.
Strongly
Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Don't
Know

N/A

Accreditation has improved our health
department’s competitiveness for funding
opportunities.
Accreditation has improved the utilization
of resources within our health department.
Accreditation has had a positive impact on
our health department budget (i.e., helped
us demonstrate our value and needs in
budget discussions, or protected the health
department against budget cuts).
Our health department leadership team
views the PHAB annual services fee as a
good value.
Accreditation has resulted in new funding
for our health department.

13. If you strongly agree or agree with any of the previous statements about financial status,
please provide specific examples.

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Reaccreditation

Please answer the following questions regarding your agency's intent to apply
for reaccreditation through PHAB.
14. Does your health department intend to apply for reaccreditation?
Yes, we intend to apply for reaccreditation
No, we do not intend to apply for reaccreditation
Undecided

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Reaccreditation

Please answer the following questions about why your agency has decided to
apply for reaccreditation.
* 15. What are the reasons your health department has decided to apply for reaccreditation?
Please select up to five reasons.
Maintain our status as an accredited health department
Maintain our visibility or reputation within the community as a high-performing health department
Continue to demonstrate conformity with PHAB Standards and Measures
Engage in continuous QI
Support and/or to meet expectations from health department leadership
Support and/or to meet expectations from elected officials
Support and/or to meet expectations from partners
Potential for future funding opportunities to be tied to accreditation status
New opportunity to complete a self-study for improvement
Improve the health of our population served
Other, please describe:

16. Has your health department experienced any of the following challenges that might be
considered barriers to reaccreditation?
Select all that apply.
Leadership changes
Staff turnover or loss of key staff
Limited staff time or other schedule limitations
Reduced funding available to support accreditation activities
Decreased perceived value or benefit of accreditation
Decreased priority for our health department
Decreased support from board of health or governing entity
Decreased support from other elected leaders
Decreased support from health department leadership team
None
Other, please describe:

17. Please provide additional clarification for your response, if desired.

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Thank You

Thank you for your participation!

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Reaccreditation

Please answer the following questions regarding the reasons your agency has
decided not to apply for reaccreditation.
18. What factors contributed to your decision to not apply for reaccreditation?
Select all that apply.
Loss of key staff who support accreditation
Limited staff time or other schedule limitations
Reduced funding available to support accreditation activities
Lack of perceived value or benefit of reaccreditation
Limited return on investment of accreditation
Fees for reaccreditation
Low priority for our health department
Limited support from board of health or governing entity
Limited support from other elected leaders
Limited support from health department leadership team
Other, please describe:

19. Do you anticipate any of the following negative effects on your health department as a
result of not undergoing reaccreditation?
Select all that apply.
We do not anticipate any negative effects
Decreased emphasis on QI and/or performance management
Reduced documentation of public health programs, processes, and policies
Decreased capacity to provide high quality programs and services
Decreased competitiveness for funding opportunities
Decreased visibility or reputation to community stakeholders
Other, please describe:

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Thank You

Thank you for your participation!

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Reaccreditation

20. Please describe the factors that will influence your health department’s decision to
participate in reaccreditation.

Year 4 Accreditation Survey (Survey 4)
Thank You

Thank you for your participation!