Accreditation

Award winning partnerships

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has been awarded the OCCHA Seal of Excellence in recognition of our commitment to continuous quality improvement.

The Ontario Council on Community Health Accreditation provides an independent, voluntary, peer evaluation of the administrative and operational aspects of local public health agencies. The seal of excellence is awarded to public health agencies with five (5) or more continuous years of accredited status.

Accredited since 1998, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (formerly Simcoe County District Health Unit) has participated in four OCCHA surveys. Most recently, the agency underwent a survey in the fall of 2010 and subsequently received a three-year accreditation. A three-year accreditation is the highest possible rating awarded and it is reserved for public health units that not only deliver excellent programs and services, but deliver them efficiently and cost effectively.

In its report to the Board of Health, OCCHA awarded an unconditional accreditation to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. This award reflects the commitment of the health unit to accreditation, performance management and continuous quality improvement. The health unit was noted for its strength and/or innovation in the following areas:

• opportunities for staff continuing education relative to their roles and responsibilities and in support of skills enhancement and core competencies
• its commitment to staff recruitment and retention and for ensuring that staff members across all levels have the necessary skills to achieve agency goals and objectives
• its efforts to ensure that pertinent information is communicated to all staff in a timely and inclusive manner.
• its commitment to ensuring that monitoring and evaluation activities are conducted across all program areas to enhance program planning and implementation.