Watseka, IL – An anxiously awaited letter was received by the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department this past week. The letter contained information regarding the results of an extensive review of the agency and its services by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). “We were confident that our review would be favorable but written confirmation was certainly welcomed,” said Doug Corbett, Public Health Administrator.
Corbett said the letter informed the agency that they had met the accreditation standards and that accreditation was awarded through March 15, 2011. “Our staff, Board of Health members and volunteers serving the agency through coalitions, advisory boards, etc. all are to be commended for earning this level of accreditation,” said Corbett. “When the site reviewer visited our agency in the fall, she already had a good perspective of how we do business based on our past review performances. During the reviewer’s visit, she spent time out in the field with staff members in our environmental, home health and maternal child health divisions to evaluate their effectiveness in following policies and procedures while assuring a high customer satisfaction rating was maintained. The reviewer also observed clinics and client appointments held at each of our office locations. She was very thorough,” he said.
Corbett said he was very pleased that the agency received, “Deemed” status in the home health division of the review. “This is the highest ranking that can be received in a home health program and extends Medicare certification to the maximum 3 year review instead of annually. It really is a huge accomplishment. We are very proud of this achievement,” he said.
The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department is the only health department in Illinois to be accredited in all of the divisions of the agency. “We have always been dedicated to providing the highest quality of services for our residents in Ford and Iroquois counties,” said Corbett. “Accreditation simply proves that we have succeeded. When an unbiased, outside entity comes into your agency and confirms that you have accomplished this goal, it is really an accomplishment that the staff, Boards, and administration can be proud to have achieved.”
For more information on services available through the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department individuals may call the Paxton office at (217)379-9281 or the Watseka office at (815)432-2483
