There aren’t many slow days at DU’s Health and Counseling Center between September and June when the majority of students are on campus, but hard work by the center’s staff hasn’t gone unnoticed. Recently, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) recognized the center by granting it accreditation.
The association accredits centers that provide outpatient diagnostic or medical care where an overnight stay is not required. College health centers are among the types of ambulatory health care organizations that can seek accreditation.
“We’re very pleased to receive this honor and believe that students deserve the best care possible,” says Dr. Sam Alexander, executive director of DU’s Health and Counseling Center. “Accreditation means that an independent agency has closely examined our facility and procedures and found that we’re doing everything possible to serve our patients based on the type of care we provide on campus.”
Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by the group’s surveyors — volunteer 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.
More than 4,500 ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation, and not all undergoing the process are granted accreditation.
The Health and Counseling Center, located in the Ritchie Center, provides a wide range of on-site medical and mental health services. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other professionals staff the center. All full- or part-time DU students enrolled for academic credit may receive services at the center.