Public health departments face significant hurdles in managing the licensing, permitting, and inspection processes for environmental health. Many still rely on outdated systems that hinder their efficiency and effectiveness. Local health departments commonly use paper-based processes, legacy computer programs, and disconnected workflows. These methods not only lead to delays and errors but also result in an inefficient use of valuable resources. Environmental health professionals often spend more time on administrative tasks than their core public health duties. Community members applying for licenses and permits are often required come to the health department in person and would prefer online options. Moreover, these antiquated systems make it challenging for health departments to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging public health threats, potentially putting community health at risk. 

We’ve developed PH360, a comprehensive platform built on Salesforce CRM technology to address these challenges. PH360 offers a complete system for managing a wide range of public health tasks, focusing on streamlining licensing, permitting, and inspection processes for environmental health departments. 

Leveraging CRM Principles for Public Health 

Just as businesses use Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to manage customer interactions throughout their lifecycle, PH360 applies these same principles to public health operations. In the same way that sales teams use CRM to track leads, manage accounts, and monitor the sales pipeline, environmental health departments can use PH360 to manage permit applications, schedule inspections, and monitor compliance. 

This CRM approach allows for a more holistic view of each “customer” – whether that’s a restaurant applying for a food safety permit, a swimming pool operator scheduling an inspection, or a citizen reporting a public health concern. By centralizing all interactions and data in one system, PH360 enables health departments to provide more efficient, responsive, and personalized service. 

How PH360 Works 

For Public Health Departments 

PH360 fundamentally changes how environmental health department staff work. When a new application comes in through the online portal, the system automatically routes it to the appropriate staff member based on predefined rules. This intelligent routing ensures that applications are handled by the right people from the start, reducing delays and confusion.  

Inspectors can upload their schedules, and this allows for more flexibility for scheduling inspections with applicants. Inspectors also benefit greatly from the mobile capabilities of PH360. Before heading out to a site, they can access all relevant information about the facility, including past inspection reports and any outstanding issues. While on-site, they can input data directly into the system, attach photos, and even generate and deliver inspection reports immediately. This real-time capability significantly reduces the lag between inspection and reporting. 

For managers and department heads, PH360 provides increasing visibility into all operations. They can track the status of applications, monitor inspector workloads, and identify bottlenecks in processes. The system’s reporting tools allow them to generate custom reports and dashboards, facilitating data-driven decision making and resource allocation. 

For Businesses Applying for Permits 

PH360 also greatly improves the experience for businesses and members of the public who interact with health departments. Business owners can apply for permits online at their convenience, without needing to visit the health department in person. The system guides them through the application process, ensuring they provide all necessary information. 

Throughout the process, applicants can check their status in real-time through a user-friendly portal. This reduces anxiety and allows businesses to plan more effectively. They also have increased insight into where their permit is currently being reviewed and can follow up if issues arise.  

Leveraging a CRM approach, PH360 is able to deliver  

• Personalized Communication: PH360 allows health departments to tailor their communication based on the specific needs and history of each business or individual. For example, a restaurant owner can receive targeted information about food safety best practices based on their inspection history. 

• Self-Service Portal: Community members and businesses can access a user-friendly portal to submit applications, check statuses, and access important health information. This empowers the community to engage with the health department on their own terms. 

• Automated Notifications: The system can send automated reminders for upcoming inspections, license renewals, or important public health announcements, ensuring that the community stays informed and compliant. 

• Feedback Loop: PH360 includes features for collecting and analyzing feedback from the community. This helps health departments continuously improve their services and address community concerns proactively. 

• Transparency: By making inspection results and public health data easily accessible, PH360 fosters trust and accountability between the health department and the community. 

Beyond Licensing, Permitting, and Inspection 

While PH360 excels at managing licensing, permitting, and inspection tasks for environmental health, its capabilities extend far beyond these areas. The platform is designed to handle a wide range of public health functions, creating a truly integrated public health management system. 

For instance, PH360 can manage vital records, streamline the process of recording and accessing birth and death certificates, support vaccination programs, facilitate contact tracing efforts, and coordinate emergency response efforts. By using one unified system for all these functions, health departments can work more efficiently and respond faster to public health needs. 

Learn More 

If you’re interested in improving your environmental health department’s licensing, permitting, and inspection processes through a modern CRM approach, we’re here to help. At Flourish and Thrive Labs, we’re committed to building capacity and creating resilient public health operations through innovative technology solutions. Contact us to learn more about how PH360 can revolutionize your public health operations and help you better serve your community.