CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An expert schooled local health department leaders on preparing for accreditation.
David Stone, an Accreditation Education Specialist, for the National Public Health Accreditation Board, lead a workshop at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department Tuesday sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Health and Human Services.
Health departments have to meet local, state and federal standards. Stone said accreditation takes effort.
“Making sure we have the best use of resources. That we can be accountable for those resources and that we can truly function and work on the health issues that matter to our communities,” explained Stone.
But meeting accreditation in some small West Virginia Counties is downright difficult. There’s staffing to consider, resources and preparing for accreditation while still doing everyday work. Stone told the group those health agencies that are truly successful don’t see it as a road block but take it on as a challenge.
“Sometimes, with our staff and funds, we can just get by doing what we have to versus taking some real needs we see in our community and being able to address those in some way,” according to Stone.
He said the tougher it is to spread those dollars and workers, the more ways you find to better use them.
“If we’re in times of stressed levels of funding and staffing, then accreditation can help pull us to the best way we can use those.”
More than 45 people from around the state participated in the one-day workshop.