DEFIANCE, OHIO — The Defiance County Health Department today announced it has successfully completed a review process to maintain national accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). In maintaining its accreditation status for another five years, the Defiance County Health Department has demonstrated that it meets PHAB’s quality standards and measures and has the capacity to continue to evolve, improve and advance to continue improving the health of the residents of the City of Defiance and all Defiance County.
The non-profit PHAB works to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation. PHAB’s accreditation program, which receives support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sets standards against which the nation’s governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance.
“Our Board of Health and I am incredibly proud of our staff and the work they do every day to protect and improve the health of Defiance County,” said Jamie Gerken, Health Commissioner. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and our commitment to continually improving how we serve our community. While achieving national standards is an important accomplishment, what matters most is knowing that we are doing everything we can to provide high-quality, responsive services that make a meaningful difference in the lives of the communities we serve.”
The Defiance County Health Department achieved national initial accreditation status through PHAB in 2019 after undergoing a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it met a set of quality standards and measures. Today’s announcement goes a step further by demonstrating that the Defiance County Health Department has the capacity to become increasingly effective at improving the health of the community.
The Defiance County Health Department works every day to promote and protect the health and well-being of all people and places in Defiance County. Our team provides a wide range of services, including community health nursing, WIC, environmental health services, emergency preparedness, health education and promotion, disease prevention, and community-based programs and partnerships. We recognize that the health of our community is shaped by many factors, and we are committed to working alongside residents, community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, businesses, and local leaders to address emerging needs and create opportunities for everyone to live healthier, safer lives.
“We are pleased to see the Defiance County Health Department along with many others, successfully maintaining their five-year PHAB accreditation,” said PHAB President and CEO Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP. “This demonstrates that accreditation is not just a one-time achievement but an ongoing commitment to excellence. By maintaining accreditation, these health departments reaffirm their dedication to continuous improvement and community health.”
Often called the “backbone” of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. PHAB-accredited health departments demonstrate great leadership by placing their work for peer review, with the goal of using the feedback obtained during the process to improve the services they provide to their communities.
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About the Defiance County Health Department
The Defiance County Health Department works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in the City of Defiance and Defiance County. Learn more about the Defiance County Health Department at defiancecohealth.org For more information, please contact Jessica West, Public Information Officer at jessica.west@defiancecohealth.org at via phone at 419-784-3818.
About the Public Health Accreditation Board
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) was created to serve as the national public health accrediting body and is jointly funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Vital Records/Health Statistics accreditation is funded, in part, by the National Center for Health Statistics. The development of national public health department accreditation has involved, and is supported by, public health leaders and practitioners from the national, state, local, Tribal, and territorial levels. For more information, contact PHAB Communications at communications@phaboard.org. Learn more about PHAB and accreditation at www.phaboard.org.
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Contact: Jessica West, PIO
1300 E. Second St., Ste. 100
Defiance, OH. 43512
419-784-3818
jessica.west@defiancecohealth.org
