Public Health Quality

What Is Public Health Quality?

"Quality in public health is the degree to which policies, programs, services, and research for the population increase desired health outcomes and conditions in which the population can be healthy."

Public Health Quality Forum, 2008

Background Information

For background information on public health quality, see the following publications and Web sites:

Publications

• Statement from Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, on Quality in the Public Health System (PDF - 20 KB)
• Consensus Statement on Quality in the Public Health System (PDF - 119.83 KB) [En Español]

Web Sites

• American Public Health Association (APHA)
  The American Public Health Association is committed to embracing quality improvements in public health systems across the nation. See http://www.apha.org/programs/standards/
  
• Public Health Foundation (PHF)
  The Public Health Foundation provides resources for performance management and quality improvement. This site can be accessed at http://www.phf.org/infrastructure/phfpage.php?page_id=55&pp_id=52.
  
• National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO)
  NACCHO provides a site where users can find useful public health related tools. The site can be accessed at http://www.naccho.org/toolbox/veritysearch/search.cfm?keywords=Quality+Improvement&p=ALL&st=ALL&x=79&y=10.
  
• Institute of Medicine (IOM)
  The Institute of Medicine’s Forum on the Science of Health Care Quality Improvement and Implementation brings together leaders in quality improvement research; foundations; federal agencies sponsoring and conducting such research; the academic community; medical journals; and implementers of quality improvement to provide a structured opportunity to address these issues. For more information, go to http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3809/38607.aspx.