Illinois Department of Public Health Achieves PHABulous Accreditation

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D., announced today that IDPH has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).  To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.

“The accreditation process helps ensure the programs and services we provide are responsive to the needs of our communities,” said Director Shah.  “Achieving accreditation demonstrates our accountability and credibility to the public and our partners, and our commitment to continuously strive to improve the health of all Illinois citizens.”

IDPH’s mission is to promote the health of the people of Illinois through the prevention and control of disease and injury.  IDPH is guided by the following principles:

• Preventing disease and injury
• Protecting food, water, air, and environment
• Promoting safe and healthy communities
• Utilizing scientific methods to analyze and solve problems
• Fostering partnerships to achieve coordinated response to community health issues
• Using population-based strategies to address public health issues
• Advocating for public health policies to improve the health of populations
• Recognizing the values and needs of diverse populations
• Encouraging innovation as an essential part of the practice of public health

“IDPH joins the growing ranks of accredited health departments in a strong commitment to their public health mission,” said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The peer-review process provides valuable feedback to inform health departments of their strengths and areas for improvement, so they can better protect and promote the health of the people they serve in their communities.”

The national accreditation program is jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.