The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) announced it has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

Public Health is one of fewer than 200 health departments nationwide that have achieved accreditation through PHAB since the organization launched in 2011. The national accreditation program works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming the quality and performance of the nation’s state, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments.

“The accreditation process helps to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Achieving this status is a distinct honor. We are pleased and excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement.”

Public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving the health of people and communities they serve. The accreditation process includes a rigorous review of systems, policies and practices at the public health department, focused on ensuring the capacity of the public health department to implement core public health functions such as disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, community engagement and planning, and assurance.

For more information about the accreditation process, visit the PHAB website at http://www.phaboard.org/.