The Ohio Department of Health and five of Ohio’s local health departments have achieved national recognition status for demonstrating commitment to building and maintaining a stronger infrastructure to better serve Ohioans. ODH was awarded reaccreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), while the following local health departments were awarded initial accreditation from PHAB:

• Ashtabula County Health Department
• City of Middletown Health Department
• Morrow County Health District
• Noble County Health Department
• Washington County Health Department

“Accreditation establishes ODH and local health departments among the nation’s leaders in public health planning and action,” said Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, ODH director. “It’s an important demonstration of our commitment to delivering the highest quality of public health service to the people of Ohio.”

Health departments throughout the country complete a systematic review process against national standards established by the Public Health Accreditation Board that demonstrate commitment to building and maintaining a strong infrastructure to better serve their communities. To demonstrate accountability, promote transparency, and adopt cultures that promote continuous performance improvement, many health departments strive to achieve this national accreditation. 

"Achieving accreditation is a reflection of our commitment to our Washington County community and is the result of years of dedication and extraordinary effort on behalf of our staff, our partners, and our volunteers,” said John Jackson, director of Washington County Health Department.  “While becoming an accredited health department was our goal, it is the process of gaining accreditation that will lead to improved health outcomes within our county."  

More information is available on the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) website.