University Health Services receives national accreditation

University Health Services (UHS) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has once again been reaccredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). UHS was reaccredited for three years, the maximum level offered.

Status as an accredited organization means that UHS has met nationally recognized standards for quality health care set by the association. More than 5,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted it.

“UHS is committed to providing the highest quality of medical, mental, and preventive health care to UW–Madison students and the campus community,” says Sarah Van Orman, M.D., executive director of UHS. “The accreditation process challenges us to uphold and advance our principles of quality improvement and patient care.”

Before accreditation was awarded, UHS participated in a rigorous evaluation process, including an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey conducted by the Accreditation Association’s expert surveyors. The health center was required to meet standards in several areas, such as quality of care, clinical records and health information, facilities and environment, and health education and health promotion.

“I am extremely pleased that UHS once again met and exceeded national standards,” says Van Orman. “I want to thank our staff for their continued dedication and commitment to providing the utmost in quality and patient-orientated care.”

UHS was one of the first college health services in the country to receive AAAHC accreditation and has been continuously accredited since 1984.

The AAAHC is headquartered in Skokie, Ill. Founded in 1979, it is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation, with more than 5,000 organizations accredited nationwide. 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 and state and federal agencies.