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Annual Report 2015 - 2016
APPENDIX: INFORMATION TABLE
Celeste Philip, MD, MPH
Surgeon General and Secretary
This year the Department is celebrating the honor of
receiving first-in-the-nation national accreditation as
an integrated department of health through the Public
Health Accreditation Board. This is a testament to the
Department’s ability to keep communities ahead of
emerging health threats and signifies that the state
health office and all 67 county health departments
meet or exceed national standards based on the 10
essential public health services.
Public health plays a crucial role in the growth of
our state and ensuring access to quality health care
is fundamental in this process. MQA, as the liaison
between the public, health care professionals and
their boards and councils, ensures the Department
effectively and efficiently regulates health care
professions in order to achieve the Department’s
mission of promoting and protecting the health and
safety of all people in Florida.
In order to attract, retain and better meet the needs
of Florida’s health care work force, MQA launched a
new and improved Online Services Portal this year that
provides access to updated features while making it
easier to navigate the licensure and renewal process.
Since its rollout, the new online system has resulted
in substantial time savings for both licensees and
applicants. In addition, new laws currently under
implementation for the 2016-2017 fiscal year will
result in more efficiencies, which will expedite the
licensure and application process.
In March, the Division of Disease Control and
Health Protection needed MQA’s assistance to
reach a select group of health care professionals
for Zika virus guidance regarding donor screening,
deferral and product management to reduce virus
transmission. Within hours, MQA provided this
emerging health threat information to 294,000 health
care professionals. Timely, effective and continuous
communications are paramount to protecting Florida
residents and visitors’ health.
The Department is currently leading efforts to update
our State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) with many
other state agencies and community organiziations.
Moving forward, MQA will remain focused on process
improvements and continue its dedication to
educating the public. I applaud the dedicated MQA
staff and all that they accomplished this year. I am
confident MQA will continue its stellar performance,
and working together with our boards, professional
societies, and many other partners we will continue to
experience great success as a state.
As Surgeon General and Secretary,
it gives me great
pleasure to join the Division of Medical Quality Assurance
(MQA) in presenting this
Annual Report and Long-range
Plan Fiscal Year 2015-2016
.
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