A new timeline!

Earlier, PHAB had announced that vetting would commence on August 1, 2008. Recognizing the critical nature of the standards and measures for voluntary national accreditation, the board of PHAB has directed that an expedited alpha test be conducted during the month of October. This alpha test is a desk review to provide a reality check in order to test the readiness of the standards and measures for vetting.

The Research and Evaluation Committee of PHAB recommended that there be eight sites for the alpha test: 1 centralized state, 1 decentralized state, 2 small local health departments, 2 medium local health departments, and 2 large local health departments. ASTHO and NACCHO proposed health departments to invite to participate in the alpha test, and NALBOH reviewed the list to ensure that health departments with boards of health were represented. All of the sites were contacted personally by PHAB via a phone call to invite their participation. All agreed enthusiastically.

On October 6, 2008, PHAB distributed materials to eight health departments for their participation in the alpha test of draft standards and measures. The departments have been requested to complete and return the alpha test to PHAB by October 31, 2008.

A small task force will meet in November to compile the results. The Standards Development Workgroup will review the results and revise the standards, measures and documentation guidance during a November meeting.

Revised standards and measures will be submitted to the PHAB Board of Directors for their consideration during their January, 2009 meeting. It is anticipated that the standards and measures will be released for vetting in February, 2009. Vetting will provide a three month period for review and comment by the public health community.

PHAB is dedicated to an accreditation process that will allow departments in different types of state structures for governmental public health to apply. This includes centralized, mixed and decentralized states, as well as tribal health departments, and also for departments where there is a fair amount of contracting out of public health service delivery. The additional review time will ensure the accreditation process reflects flexible standards, measures and scoring to accommodate all of these different types of structures. This also allows PHAB to include draft guidance on evidence to satisfy measures and scoring — a crucial aspect to get public health community response and recommendations.

To ensure that options for providing feedback on the Standards and Measures are as accessible as possible, vetting will be available both online at phaboard.org and in print. PHAB, ASTHO, NACCHO and NALBOH will be available to present to groups to obtain feedback in person or via teleconference. Many of our public health partner organizations will also be holding sessions to obtain feedback from practitioners.