Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation

Promoting accountability and excellence in Public Health programs and services throughout Ontario since 1981

The Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation (OCCHA) is an independent agency directed by a Board whose members are appointed by professional associations to promote accountability and excellence in public health.

May 2008

OCCHA ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS AND STANDARDS

In consideration of OCCHA’s work to support continuous quality improvement, through the development and implementation of a quality framework for public health units, the OCCHA Board of Directors has formally approved a standardized accreditation process and award, to be implemented in January 2009. The standardized accreditation process will be based on a three year cycle, will include an annual review component, and will be linked to the OCCHA quality framework for public health units. The resulting accreditation process will also be streamlined to facilitate ongoing participation in the process, through the development of documentation checklists and enhanced web pages for accredited health units. An accreditation process working group has been organized to develop the protocols and tools for the standardized accreditation process, including updates to the on-site survey review. Their recommendations will be presented to the OCCHA Board of Directors for approval in July of this year. It is anticipated that updates to the accreditation process and documents will be available in late Fall of 2008.

To further support this new accreditation process, the OCCHA Board of Directors, through the Principles and Standards Committee, recently completed a formal review of the accreditation standards. The standards were revised and updated to incorporate the Ontario Public Health Standards and to more clearly reflect the quality components within the quality framework. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation (OCCHA), I am pleased to provide you with a copy of our proposed 2008 OCCHA Principles, Standards, Components and Definitions.

We invite you to review this draft document and provide OCCHA with any comments and/or suggestions you may have regarding the content, clarity and focus of the standards, components and/or the definitions contained therein. To facilitate your response, we have created an evaluation form. In addition, please review the Quality framework for public health units, May 2008,the Quality Framework Overview, May 2008 and a table entitled Changes to the OCCHA Accreditation Standards, May 2008. outlining all changes made to the standards. Your completed response is requested by June 30, 2008.

For further information, please contact us at info@occha.org.

OCCHA’s Mandate

To establish, review and revise accreditation standards related to governance, administration and program planning, implementation monitoring and evaluation.
To enhance knowledge through consultation and shared experience.
To measure agency performance against peer-set standards, provide comprehensive reports and confer accreditation awards.
To promote and facilitate continuous quality improvement in public health units through consultation across Ontario health units.
To work in partnership with other community health organizations and relevant provincial ministries, to promote excellence in public health programs and services.

Through the accreditation process, OCCHA provides an independent, voluntary, peer evaluation of the administrative and operational aspects of local public health agencies, including a review of program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.