Public Health Accreditation

Mission

To adhere to the measures and standards outlined by the Public Health Accreditation Board to further advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.

What we do

• Demonstrate transparency and trust in public health so that Rhode Island communities can feel confident that their health department is providing Foundational Capabilities and meeting national standards for performance and quality.
• Promoteevidence and innovation to support the Rhode Island Department of Health’s (RIDOH’s) delivery of programs and services to drive performance improvement and strong infrastructure.

2023/2024 Reaccreditation Updates

We are thrilled to announce that the Rhode Island Department of Health was successfully re-accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) in 2024, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to excellence in public health. This rigorous process spanned 18 months and involved collaboration across multiple divisions and units and over 70 staff-members within our organization.

RIDOH has been an accredited public health department since 2015. Achieving re-accreditation underscores our dedication to upholding the highest standards of advancing public health performance and commitment to continuous quality improvement to meet our communities' needs as effectively as possible.

This accreditation status, which lasts for five years, serves as a testament to our ongoing efforts to continuously enhance our services and operations to improve the health of Rhode Island residents . Thank you to all RIDOH staff whose dedication and teamwork made this achievement possible.

What you should know

The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is a national performance recognition program designed for public health agencies throughout the United States. Public health department accreditation was launched by PHAB in 2011 and now accredits over 350 state, local, and tribal health departments.

Accreditation is the official recognition that a Department of Health has met rigorous standards established by PHAB, a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose goal is to, "advance public health performance." Being accredited means that RIDOH is committed to continuous quality improvement and utilization of best practices so that we meet our communities' needs as effectively as possible. PHAB accreditation demonstrates our accountability and credibility to everyone with whom we work.

PHAB accreditation standards are based on the 10 Essential Public Health Services, the guiding framework in the United States for the responsibilities of local public health systems. These 10 essential services were transformed into 12 Domains, and RIDOH has provided substantial documentation to show compliance with each of the 12 PHAB Domains, which are listed below.

Domain 1. Assessment: Conduct and disseminate assessments focused on population health status and public health issues facing the community.

Domain 2. Investigation: Investigate health problems and environmental public health hazards to protect the community.

Domain 3. Inform and Education: Inform and educate about public health issues and functions.

Domain 4. Community Engagement: Engage with the community to identify and address health problems

Domain 5. Policies and Plans: Develop policies and plans.

Domain 6. Legal and Regulatory Actions: Enforce public health laws.

Domain 7. Access to Care: Identify and implement strategies to improve access to healthcare services

Domain 8. Diverse and Skilled Workforce: Maintain a competent workforce.

Domain 9. Quality Improvement: Evaluate and continuously improve processes, programs, and interventions.

Domain 10. Evidence-Based Practices: Contribute to, and apply the evidence base of public health.

Domain 11. Administration and Management: Maintain administrative and management capacity.

Domain 12. Governance: Inform and engage the public health governing entity with the health department.