Student Health Services at Alfred State College has achieved reaccreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), according to Judi Grant, RN, CS, adult medicine nurse practitioner, and director of Student Health Services at the college. The award means that Alfred State College has met nationally recognized standards for quality health care set by the Chicago-based accrediting organization.

Status as an accredited organization signifies Alfred State College has passed a series of rigorous and nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care, set by the AAAHC.

“This very positive response by an outside accrediting agency demonstrates the ability of our Health Services personnel to deliver quality services at reasonable costs,” said Dr. Steven Tyrell, vice president, Student Affairs, on learning of the accreditation.

In order to achieve accreditation, Alfred State College underwent an extensive on-site, peer-based survey of its facilities and services. The survey team, composed of physicians and health care administrators, evaluated all aspects of patient care. The survey findings resulted in a favorable decision.

The American Accreditation for Ambulatory Health Care Survey was conducted at Health Services last December (2005). At the conclusion of the two-day survey, the surveyor gave a summation confirming that the service was “substantially compliant,” the highest ranking a facility can achieve. A three-year accreditation--the maximum number of years available--has been received for the third consecutive time.

Grant commends her staff for its consistently high level of patient services: Carol Kinney, staff assistant; Marylou Massara, RN; M. Vanessa Stachowski, RN, C; and Barbara Woolston, RN, who serve on the Alfred campus as well as Jo Ellen Leasure, instructional support assistant, and Rebecca Dennis, RN and nurse practitioner, who serve on the School of Applied Technology campus, Wellsville; and local physicians Dr. David Graham and Dr. Andrew Call, who see students under the auspices of the health centers.

The AAAHC conducts its accreditation program on a national basis and has accredited more than 2,500 ambulatory health care organizations including single and multi-specialty group practices, ambulatory and office-based surgery centers, college and university health services, health maintenance organizations and other managed care systems, dental group practices, community health centers, and occupational health centers. AAAHC notes that not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation and not all undergoing the on-site survey are granted accreditation.

College Health Association, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Association of Freestanding Oncology Centers, Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association, Medical Group Management Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, and the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society.

This is cache, read story here