Maintaining Accreditation through PHAB Ensures Florida Department of Health in Seminole County’s Capacity to Continue to Evolve, Improve and Advance

Contact:

Mirna Chamorro

Mirna.Chamorro@flhealth.gov

(407) 665-3374

Sanford, Florida. — The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) reaccredited the Florida Department of Health, which includes the Seminole County Health Department, as an integrated health department for another five years. This seal of accreditation signifies that the unified Florida Department of Health, which includes the State Health Office and the 67 county health departments, meets or exceeds national standards for public health performance management and continuous quality improvement. The Department demonstrated a focus on accountability and performance to improve the health of communities throughout the state.

"We are pleased to again be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement," said Donna Walsh, health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County. “By improving our services and performance, we become increasingly effective at improving the health in Seminole County."

The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole) provides core public health services beneficial to Seminole County residents. Clinical services include Immunizations, Dental Care, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS and Family Planning. Several programs focus on wellbeing such as the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP), Office of Health Promotion and Education, Environment Health and the Women, Infants, and Children Program.

Seminole County is ranked among the healthiest counties in Florida per the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings report. The report also helps identify areas where there is a need to focus such as improving health behaviors including adult obesity, food environment index, and excessive drinking.

A recent Community Health Needs Assessment identified three priority areas in Seminole County - Health Equity, Behavioral Health (mental health and substance abuse) and Healthy Weight, Nutrition and Physical Activity. DOH-Seminole continues to work to improve clinical.

care which impacts uninsured, primary care physicians, mental health providers, preventable hospitals stays, mammography screening and flu vaccinations.

DOH-Seminole services are enhanced by partnerships. The hospital systems community grants (Orlando Health and AdventHealth) have funded programs such as Diabetes, Dental Sealants, BCCEDP and Community Integrated Mobile Health Services.

PHAB praised the Department for operating as a collaborative and effective integrated system noting that the inter-county collaboration is evident through shared programs and positions across the state. PHAB applauded staff across the integrated system for being highly dedicated, passionate, and proud of their work around improving the health of the communities they serve. PHAB also commended the Department for maintaining a continued commitment to accreditation.

PHAB, the nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that administers the national accrediting program, works to improve and protect the public's health by advancing and transforming the quality and performance of governmental public health departments in the United States.

About the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County

The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County nationally accredited as part of an Integrated Local Public Health Department System by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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