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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
