CHAPTER 48 - LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACCREDITATION

Subchapter 48A - Local Health Department Accreditation –Administration

SECTION .0100 - General Provisions

10A NCAC 48A .0101       PURPOSE

The rules of this Subchapter establish the process for local health departments to become accredited pursuant to G.S. 130A-34.1.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-34.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2006;

Eff. October 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

10A NCAC 48A .0102       DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall apply throughout this Subchapter:

(1)           "Board" is defined in G.S 130A-2(1).

(2)           "Institute" means the North Carolina Institute for Public Health in the UNC School of Public Health.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-34.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2006;

Eff. October 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

SECTION .0200 - Accreditation Process

10A NCAC 48A .0201       SELF-ASSESSMENT

Each local health department shall complete a self-assessment based on the standards adopted in this Chapter. The local health department shall submit the self-assessment to the Institute within 90 days after notification by the Institute that the accreditation process for the department has begun.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-34.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2006;

Eff. October 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

10A NCAC 48A .0202       SITE VISIT

(a)  The Institute shall select a site visit team composed of not fewer than four individuals with expertise or experience in local public health, including experience or expertise in environmental health, public health nursing, public health administration or policy development/governance.

(b)  The site visit team shall visit the local health department, review the self-assessment and supporting documentation, interview local health department staff and other persons necessary to evaluate compliance with the standards and inspect the facilities in accordance with the standards. The team may request additional supporting documentation or other evidence as necessary to evaluate compliance with the standards.

(c) The site visit team shall prepare a report that makes a determination as to whether the standards have been met and shall submit the report to the Board and the local health department within 14 days of the end of the site visit.  The site visit team shall make a recommendation regarding accreditation status to the Board.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-34.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2006;

Eff. October 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

10A NCAC 48A .0203       BOARD ACTION

The site visit team shall present the report to the Board and the local health department shall have the opportunity to respond to the presentation. Upon the local health department’s request, the Board shall grant the local health department an additional 21 calendar days to submit additional written information to the Board. If no such request is made, the Board may take action on the site visit team’s recommendation or may request additional information from the local health department and defer action on the recommendation to a later meeting.  The action shall be taken within 90 days of the presentation of the site visit team to the Board.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-34.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2006;

Eff. October 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

10A NCAC 48A .0204       INFORMAL REVIEW PROCEDURES

If the Board assigns a status of "conditionally accredited" or "unaccredited," the local health department may make a written request within 10 calendar days for reconsideration of the decision. The written request shall state the specific objections to the decision and the basis for those objections. The Board shall act on the request within 60 calendar days.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-34.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2006;

Eff. October 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

10A NCAC 48A .0205       RE-ACCREDITATION

A local health department shall submit the self-assessment required by Rule .0201 no later than six months before the expiration date of its accreditation.  The Board shall initiate a site visit in accordance with Rule .0202 and take action in accordance with Rule .0203 before the local health department's accreditation expires.  If the Board re-accredits a local health department, accreditation is extended for an additional four years.  The local health department may utilize the informal review procedures of Rule .0204 of this Section.

History Note:  Authority G.S. 130A-34.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2006;

Eff. October 1, 2006;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.