A.H. Ray Student Health Services Center was recently certified by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
This accreditation is effective from February 2009 through November 2011.
AAAHC is the highest form of professional and public recognition for quality healthcare provided. It forces and supports the delivery of high quality care and services. This agency enhances marketing, branding, and alliance building in the community.
“The benefit of accreditation allows the student population to increase,” said nurse Ether Joe, director of the health center.
“It paves the way for better access to care,” she said.
“It is important to set high standards for health care,” said Michael Isler, a registered nurse at the health center.
“It makes the department more accountable to customers,” he said.
“When people come to our facilities, they will know we made federal standards for health care. Now that we are accredited, our staff feels the health student center is moving in the right direction.
Isler said that the accreditation and the location of the center make it a convenient option.
“This program makes it easier for students to be treated with quality and care that comes from a good health center.”
The AAAHC was created in 1979, and more than 3,000 healthcare agencies are accredited. The program is a prominent leader in setting standards for patient safety, quality care, and performance measurements.
Other accredited universities in North Carolina include East Carolina, Appalachian State, North Carolina State, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro .
The outcome of the accreditation consisted of a two-day assessment in July 2007. This process started with updating policies and procedures. It continued to reconstruct the Student Health Advisory Committee, including the maintenance of effective organizational communication of federal and state laws; and the security and privacy of health information.
The July 2007 visit cost WSSU $3,500. The application fee to receive accreditation was $700.
The program will be evaluated by the AAAHC every three years.
Shakela Penn, a registered nurse at the the health center, said that the accreditation will benefit students without adding to tuition costs.
“There will be no increase in tuition,” Penn said. “So students do not have to worry about anything negative with accreditation.”