Oklahoma State Dept. of Health receives accreditation

OKLAHOMA CITY —

The Oklahoma State Department of Health is one of just 11 public health departments across the country that has received national accreditation.

State officials announced Monday the department has met the standards of the Public Health Accreditation Board. Two local health departments also are among the 11 that have received accreditation: the Oklahoma County-City Health Department and the Comanche County Health Department.

Oklahoma Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline says the national accreditation recognizes "incredible efforts" to improve and protect the health of the public. The department noted Oklahoma and Washington were the only state-level public health agencies recognized in the first round of accreditation.

The accreditation process involves a review of community health, chronic disease prevention, communicable disease prevention and control, injury prevention, health education and emergency preparedness, among others.

Copyright The Associated Press