Health programs seek certification

Two Portland State master of public health programs are in the midst of a potentially transformational accreditation process.

They’re undergoing accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education—a rigorous voluntary certification that hasn’t yet been earned by any other institution on the West Coast.

The distinction will set PSU graduates apart, said Jill Rissi, a former CAHME fellow and head of the accreditation process.

Two programs are undergoing the rigorous process: the Master in Public Health: Health Management and Policy and the Master in Public Health: Health Administration. Both degrees focus on health management in public administration, while MPA:HA also concentrates on policy.

Sherril Gelmon, professor of public health in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government and chair of the division that houses the two programs, agrees.

“Students in our MPH:HMP and MPA:HA programs will benefit from specialized program accreditation by knowing that their programs have undergone rigorous external peer review by experts in both health management and policy education and practice,” Gelmon said.

But if it’s voluntary, why do it?

Rissi explained that the two programs have been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health and the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, respectively, for several years. By seeking new accreditation from CAHME, the quality of the programs will be reassessed and validated.

The process takes several years and begins with a preliminary review to ensure the programs meet basic criteria, Rissi said.

Having passed the first few steps, the programs underwent a year-long self-study, during which documents, final papers and projects were collected to provide examples of students’ work.

Also, to better represent the two programs, faculty and students filled out several surveys while the programs’ curricula were evaluated.

Rissi then authored a final write-up covering how these programs illustrated the more than 50 criteria specified by CAHME.

The criteria addressed by CAHME can be divided into several major categories. The first concerns a program’s goals, vision and objectives. Then, student demographics and the program’s curriculum are assessed. And finally, faculty teaching, research and scholarships are considered.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the MPH:HMP and MPA:HA programs were visited by CAHME.

At the end of the visit, CAHME hosted an exit conference, during which the visitors went through each criterion and stated whether the programs met their standards.

Next, findings recorded by the CAHME team will be sent to Gelmon, who is also the senior faculty member in the health management and policy track.

Gelmon will then, using faculty input, draft a response to be sent to the CAHME
Accreditation Council for review and action in spring 2013.

A final decision is expected in June 2013.

PSU President Wim Wiewel said the certification is key to students’ success after graduation.

“Accreditation is essential to ensure our students know they will receive a quality education and will be employable,” he said.

Gelmon, also, is an advocate of accreditation in general as a strategy for assessment and improvement of higher education.

“The entire process is a wonderful opportunity for reflection, and to identify opportunities to improve the programs to better meet the needs of students, faculty and community stakeholders,” Gelmon said.

With the massive amount of effort and preparation offered by the faculty of PSU’s public health and health administrative programs, it will be worth the wait to hear the official decision later this year.

The process is welcome, Wiewel said, because it helps the university continue on the right track.

“We are very proud of our public health and health administrative programs.”