Miami, Florida — The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) reaccredited the Florida Department of Health, which includes the Miami-Dade Health Department, as an integrated health department for another five years. This seal of accreditation signifies that the unified Florida Department of Health, which includes the State Health Office and the 67 county health departments, meets or exceeds national standards for public health performance management and continuous quality improvement. The Department demonstrated a focus on accountability and performance to improve the health of communities throughout the state.

“We are honored to be reaccredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) for achieving national standards that promote continuous quality improvement in public health,” said Dr. Yesenia Villalta, DNP, MSN, APRN, Health Officer/Administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. “This recognition reflects the tireless dedication of our staff and partners in improving the health and wellbeing of our residents.”

The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County has fostered and driven a performance culture that has evolved over time since 1997. Our performance culture is built around a shared desire to exceed expectations and achieve remarkable results. We continue to commit to a philosophy that embraces innovation, and that centers around continuous improvement and performance excellence. 

PHAB praised the Department for operating as a collaborative and effective integrated system noting that the inter-county collaboration is evident through shared programs and positions across the state. PHAB applauded staff across the integrated system for being highly dedicated, passionate, and proud of their work around improving the health of the communities they serve. PHAB also commended the Department for maintaining a continued commitment to accreditation.

PHAB, the nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that administers the national accrediting program, works to improve and protect the public’s health by advancing and transforming the quality and performance of governmental public health departments in the United States.