New Releases 
Release of the 2022 HDSAI Interpretation Document Revisions – April 22, 2021
The revised HDSAI will be released on April 22, but will not go into effect until January 1, 2022. The revisions are being posted this spring to provide an opportunity for local health department staff to review and become familiar with the changes before they go into effect on January 1, 2022. The document will be officially released during the April 22 monthly webinar (from 10-11:30 a.m.). During the webinar we will also provide an update about the 2020/2021 Retrospective HDSAI Interpretation document. There is no fee to attend the webinar, but registration is required. Register.
We will be holding additional trainings on the HDSAI revisions throughout the year (see the Key Dates section of these Highlights for the full list of upcoming webinars).
Driving the Future: Accreditation Supplement is Now Available
The newly released Driving the Future: Accreditation Supplement details training needs specific to accreditation team members in North Carolina’s local health departments. The report highlights the many roles that accreditation staff hold, which require unique skills and training opportunities.
This supplemental report draws from a larger assessment conducted by the North Carolina Institute for Public Health and partners in 2019.
2020-2021 Webinar Series
Action: Strategically Moving Forward from April 22, 11 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
The Accreditation Program has undertaken an in-depth strategic planning process with feedback from national accrediting organizations, professionals from other states, NCLHD Accreditation Board Members, and many of you from across North Carolina at both the state and local levels. The information gathered has informed a strategic direction for the NCLHD Accreditation Program. Learn the 2021-2025 goals for the NCLHD Accreditation Program and how they will benefit local health departments.
We will also release the revised 2022 HDSAI Interpretation Document and the 2020/2021 Retrospective HDSAI. Learn about the revisions and the plan for implementing the changes. There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required. Register
See the Key Dates section of these Highlights for the full listing of upcoming webinars.
View the recording of the March 18 webinar, Accreditation: Behind the Scenes on our website.
Accreditation in Action
Training Update – Accreditation 101: New AAC Training and the Bi-Annual Dashboard Webinars – Registration Open
Due to COVID-19, we are continuing to offer the New AAC Training online for 2021. The New AAC training provides a basic overview of the accreditation process and the role of the AAC. The training is for new AACs, co-AACs and backup AACs. The Bi-Annual Dashboard webinar is now a prerequisite for the New AAC Training.
The Bi-Annual Dashboard webinar is open to any local health department staff that use the NCLHDA Dashboard. The webinar provides and overview of using the NCLHDA Dashboard for evidence submission and review for all users. The webinar covers the main functions used in the dashboard for the NCLHD Accreditation Program.
We are offering the Bi-Annual Dashboard webinar in the morning before the New AAC Training so that participants have the option to attend both trainings on the same day. There is no cost to attend either of these trainings; however, registration is required.
April 27
- Bi-Annual Dashboard Training 9—10:30 a.m. Register
- Accreditation 101: New Agency Accreditation Coordinator Training 12:30—5 p.m. Register
October 5
- Bi-Annual Dashboard Training 9—10:30 a.m.
- Accreditation 101: New Agency Accreditation Coordinator Training 12:30—5 p.m.
Registration for both October 5th trainings will open on September 1st
Key Dates
April 9 from 9 a.m. – 1p.m. NCLHD Accreditation Board Meeting. Zoom. The link to join the meeting is https://uncsph.zoom.us/j/92757738985. The link is passcode protected. Please contact the NCLHDA Program at NCLHDaccreditation@unc.edu by 5 p.m. on April 8 for the passcode.
April 22 from 11 a.m.—12:30 p.m. Action: Strategically Moving Forward. Webinar. The Accreditation Program has undertaken an in-depth strategic planning process with feedback from national accrediting organizations, professionals from other states, NCLHD Accreditation Board Members, and many of you from across North Carolina at both the state and local levels. The information gathered has informed a strategic direction for the NCLHD Accreditation Program. Learn the 2021-2025 goals for the NCLHD Accreditation Program and how they will benefit local health departments.
Along with the strategic plan, we will also release the revised HDSAI Interpretation Document that will go into effect on January 1, 2022 and will provide an update about the 2020-2021 Retrospective HDSAI Interpretation document. There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required. Register
April 27 from 9—10:30 a.m. Bi-Annual Dashboard Webinar. The Bi-Annual Dashboard webinar provides and overview of using the NCLHDA Dashboard for evidence submission and review for all dashboard users. The webinar covers the main functions used in the dashboard for the NCLHD Accreditation Program. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register
April 27 from 12:30—5 p.m. Accreditation 101: New Agency Accreditation Coordinator Training. Webinar. The New AAC training provides a basic overview of the accreditation process and the role of the AAC. The training is for new AACs, co-AACs and backup AACs. The Bi-Annual Dashboard webinar is now a prerequisite for the New AAC Training. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. Register
May 20 from 10—11:30 a.m., Reading the Script and Learning the Lines: A Deep Dive into the HDSAI Interpretation Document Revisions. Webinar. Actors tend to rely on “through lines” to learn their lines; they focus on learning the intent behind the words to help them remember. This webinar will go through the revisions that were made to the HDSAI Interpretation document. We will share the intent behind the revisions and how to use the new features to better understand the requirements and to increase efficiency in submitting evidence. There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required. Register.
June 17 from 10—11:30 a.m., Audience Participation: Engaging health department staff and partners in Accreditation. Webinar. We will be releasing the new Why Accreditation Matters communication campaign. The webinar will go through all of the resources that are available to support accreditation among local health department staff, local, state and regional leaders and community members. We will also be unveiling the revisions to the NCLHD Accreditation training webpage and a new on-demand training on the HDSAI Interpretation document revisions. There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required. Register.
Tips and Tricks for Accreditation Success: Stories from the Field
Franklin County Health Department
Clean, Disinfect and Maintain Clinical and Laboratory Equipment & Service Areas
Activity 30.6
The Franklin County Health Department training policies on cleaning are very thorough. The cleaning process is defined by room and equipment in that room or area, making it very clear for assigned staff the cleaning duties that are to be performed.
For more information contact: Antrel Branch, abranch@franklincountync.us
We want to hear from you
Share your tips and tricks for accreditation success with other local health departments across the state. If you have a tip or trick that you would like to share, send a summary – no more than 500 words – including the activity addressed and any lessons learned. Please send your submission to NCLHDaccreditation@unc.edu. Stories will be shared via these monthly highlights