Public Health Department Accreditation and Innovation: A Brief Report of the Approaches Used to Promote Innovation

Abstract

To examine the relationship between public health accreditation and innovation, we analyzed accredited health departments' self-reported responses to a prompt within the Public Health Accreditation Board's (PHAB's) Annual Report regarding any approaches to pursuing innovation within their health department. We found that of the 205 health departments examined, 75 (37%) described elements of the health department's approach to fostering innovation. The most common approaches to innovation included partnerships (59% of those health departments that described their innovation approaches) and leadership (27%). Other common elements, mentioned by at least 20% of health departments that provided their innovation approach, include funding, internal collaboration, training, and devoting time to innovation. Both larger health departments and state health departments were more likely than smaller health departments and local health departments to describe elements of their approach in fostering innovation, suggesting that those types of health departments may have access to resources and flexibility in staffing, both integral elements for promoting innovation.

Challenges and opportunities for improvement in the management and financing system of Health Promotion Offices in Hungary

“…Following the best international examples there are numerous examples of organizations at national or regional level responsible for formulating professional guidelines or standards for the provision of public health services (38,41,44,(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54). These national organizations often provide professional support, monitor local providers' operations, and evaluate based on transparent indicators.…”