On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the Bear River Health Department was awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). PHAB aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation. To receive accreditation the Bear River Health Department underwent a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-review assessment to ensure it meets or exceeds a specific set of quality standards and measures. This accreditation status demonstrates the Bear River Health Department’s commitment to excellence in serving the community.
Many community partners contributed to the effort to become nationally accredited. Bear River Health District residents, partners, coalitions, and stakeholders helped identify the most pressing public health issues. The identification of these public health issues allowed for the Department to create measurable goals that will continue to drive progress towards a healthier community.
“We are honored to be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement. Receiving this recognition now, while we have simultaneously been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, reflects the tireless dedication not just to the crisis of the moment, but to improving the health and well being of our community every day. We hope this announcement assures the community, our partner organizations, our funders, and our elected officials that the services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community. By continuing to improve our services and performance, we can be sure we are meeting the public health needs of those we serve as effectively as possible.”
Jordan Mathis, Health Officer of the Bear River Health Department
National accreditation is not a forever stamp of approval. The Bear River Health Department will keep reviewing its programs and processes in order to improve them continuously.