title: Public health accreditation: rubber stamp or roadmap for improvement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We identified the characteristics of local health departments (LHDs) that intended to seek accreditation, and also examined the association between that intent and a complete community health assessment (CHA), community health improvement plan, agency strategic plan, or other specific accreditation requirements.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the 2010 profile survey of LHDs conducted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (n = 267).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those LHDs that conducted a CHA (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38, 1.00; P = .05) and developed a strategic plan (AOR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.12, 0.74; P = .01) were less likely to have an intent to pursue accreditation in the first 2 years of the program. By contrast, those LHDs that were engaged in quality improvement (QI) activities were approximately 2.6 times more likely to pursue accreditation compared with those LHDs that did not have any QI activities (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our findings, national public health accreditation might be the vehicle LHDs could use to improve their operating environments, better manage their resources, and reap the rewards associated with meeting national industry standards.
authors.affiliation: Angela L. Carman is with the University of Kentucky, College of Public Health, Lexington. Both authors are with the National Coordinating Center for Public Health Services and Systems Research and Practice-Based Research Networks, Lexington.
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Carman
authors.forename: Lava
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Timsina
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000592:standards*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement