Illinois health department releases 5-year road map

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois agency responsible for public health issues ranging from nursing home regulation to infectious disease control has released a five-year strategic plan in an effort to improve its performance.

The Department of Public Health released the plan Tuesday. It outlines the department’s strengths and weaknesses, while identifying steps toward achieving goals. Among the goals is increasing the effectiveness of the department’s regulatory functions.

The department also plans to create a Division of Public Affairs to increase awareness about the department, its programs and its actions.

Other goals deal with improving the quality of health data, reducing health disparities and developing partnerships.

The department’s director, Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, will speak about his vision for the agency at the City Club of Chicago on Dec. 10.