UW Student Health Service Achieves AAAHC Reaccreditation

The University of Wyoming’s Student Health Service has achieved reaccreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).

Accreditation distinguishes the UW Student Health Service from many other outpatient facilities for providing the highest quality of care to its patients, as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.

Status as an accredited organization means Student Health Service has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC. More than 6,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.

“We believe our patients deserve the best,” says Mary Beth Bender, interim director of the Student Health Service. “When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know that AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facility and procedures. It means we, as an organization, care enough about our patients to strive for the highest level of care possible.”

Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by AAAHC expert surveyors -- physicians, nurses and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.

“Going through this process every three years challenges us to find better ways to serve our patients, and it is a constant reminder that our responsibility is to strive to continuously improve the quality of care we provide,” Bender says.

AAAHC, founded in 1979, is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with more than 6,000 organizations accredited nationwide. AAAHC accredits a variety of organizations, including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, endoscopy centers, student health centers, military health care clinics and large medical and dental practices.

AAAHC serves as an advocate for the provision of high-quality health care through the development of nationally recognized standards and through its survey and accreditation programs. AAAHC accreditation is recognized as a symbol of quality by third-party payers, medical organizations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies, and the public.