Lake County Health Department earns accreditation

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center has announced that it has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board.

The national accreditation program works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing the quality and performance of the nation's tribal, state, local, and territorial public health departments.

Lake County is the 10th of 97 certified local health departments in Illinois and among the first 117 of more than 3,000 health departments nationwide to receive accreditation through PHAB, the independent organization that administers the national public health accreditation program.

"We are pleased and excited to achieve national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement," said Tony Beltran, executive director of LCHD/CHC. "The accreditation process helps to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community. Thank you to our staff, our board of health, our county board, and our community partners for making this happen."

With accreditation, LCHD/CHC is demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials and partner organizations with which they work. The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation's more than 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance.

To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a rigorous, multifaceted, peer reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.

"Whenever you see our seal of accreditation, you will know that LCHD/CHC has been rigorously examined and meets or exceeds national standards that promote continuous quality improvement for public health," Beltran said.

"By continuing to improve our services and performance, we can be sure we are meeting the public health needs of those we serve as effectively as possible."

Established in 1956, the Lake County Health Department is a state-certified public health department responsible for the prevention of disease and disability, the promotion of health and assuring a healthful environment.

Headquartered at 3010 Grand Ave. in Waukegan, the department and its Community Health Center provide a variety of services at sites throughout the county. For more information on PHAB, contact skidder@lakecountyil.gov.