LINCOLN COUNTY, ORE — December 16, 2025 — Lincoln County Public Health today announced that it has successfully completed a comprehensive review process to maintain national accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). By maintaining its accreditation status for another five years, Lincoln County Public Health demonstrates a continued commitment to meet PHAB’s quality standards and measures and a willingness to continue to evolve, improve, and advance public health practices to best serve the people of Lincoln County.
The non-profit PHAB works to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong organizational infrastructure, and innovation. PHAB’s accreditation program, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, establishes national standards that help public health departments strengthen their services, increase accountability, and improve performance and outcomes.
“This reaccreditation reflects the work, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our staff, our community partners, local leadership, and our residents,” said Florence Pourtal, Lincoln County Public Health Division Director. “It reinforces that our department continues to provide high-quality and effective public health services for every community member in Lincoln County. We will keep on building and strengthening collaborative community systems to enhance our overall health outcomes.”
Lincoln County Public Health was first accredited in 2018, after undergoing a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment to demonstrate adherence to performance and quality standards. Today’s announcement goes a step further by demonstrating that Lincoln County Public Health continues to seek opportunities to become increasingly effective at improving the health of the community.
"We are pleased to see Lincoln County Public Health, along with many others, successfully maintaining their five-year PHAB accreditation," said PHAB President and CEO Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP. "This demonstrates that accreditation is not just a one-time achievement but an ongoing commitment to excellence. By maintaining accreditation, these health departments reaffirm their dedication to continuous improvement and community health."
Often called the “backbone” of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. PHAB-accredited health departments demonstrate great leadership by placing their work for peer review, with the goal of using the feedback obtained during the process to improve the services they provide to their communities.
Here at Lincoln County Public Health, we work to protect and improve the health and well-being of everyone who lives, works, and visits our community. We provide a wide range of programs and services including communicable disease prevention and investigation, emergency preparedness, maternal child and family health programs, environmental health and licensing, harm reduction services, and prevention and health promotion interventions. Through strong partnerships, culturally responsive outreach, and evidence-based practices, we strive to ensure access to health resources, promote healthy behavior, and build a safer, more resilient community.
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About Lincoln County Public Health
Lincoln County Public Health is a division of Health and Human Services. We work to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Lincoln County. Learn more about Lincoln County Public Health at www.co.lincoln.or.us/1005/Public-Health. ;
About the Public Health Accreditation Board
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) was created to serve as the national public health accrediting body and is jointly funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Vital Records/Health Statistics accreditation is funded, in part, by the National Center for Health Statistics. The development of national public health department accreditation has involved, and is supported by, public health leaders and practitioners from the national, state, local, Tribal, and territorial levels. For more information, contact PHAB Communications at communications@phaboard.org. Learn more about PHAB and accreditation at www.phaboard.org.