UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Health Services (UHS) has received its full reaccreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Inc. (AAAHC).
Occurring every three years, accreditation requires a written application and intensive on-site survey prerequisite for organizations to verify their compliance with AAAHC policies and procedures. The survey assesses hundreds of standards related to evaluating patient care, staff credentialing, risk management and many other critical areas.
“Maintaining accreditation ensures that UHS complies with the standards set forth by AAAHC, operates at the highest level and is committed to providing high quality care,” said Cathy Stout, UHS compliance specialist. “The staff at UHS do a remarkable job of following the standards and adjusting to new standards and regulations as they come out. Our commitment to accreditation shows our commitment to provide exceptional services to our students.”
UHS, a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, is comprised of more than 20 board-certified clinicians and more than 100 ancillary and support staff. UHS offers a range of medical services, including urgent and non-urgent care as well as preventive care. UHS also offers a full on-site pharmacy, physical therapy, imaging, lab services and emergency medicine for Penn State students.
“We are honored to have received accreditation again, this designation speaks highly to the level of care we deliver in UHS and our focus on continuous quality improvement,” said Micah Griffin, UHS senior director. “Students and parents can be assured that UHS has and will continue to provide student-centered care, and this mark of accreditation further reiterates that mission.”
UHS is located in the Student Health Center at University Park; students can make an appointment through myUHS. For after-hours care, students can call the Advice Nurse at 814-863-4463. For more information and current hours of operation, visit this link.
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care is a private, nonprofit organization formed in 1979. The organization serves as a leader in developing standards to advance and promote patient safety, quality care, and value for ambulatory health care through peer-based accreditation processes, education and research. The organization currently accredits more than 6,000 health care organizations.