After five years of data collecting and surveying, Fordham’s Student Health Services at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center was awarded accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), distinguishing Fordham as one of just four New York colleges and universities with accredited health services.
The accreditation guarantees that Student Health Services meets the criteria set by the AAAHC in areas including patient rights, administration, infection prevention and clinical records and health information.
“When parents are looking at schools for their children and they see that the health services are accredited just like a hospital, it shows that that health services live up to a certain standard of care,” said Kathleen Malara, FNP-BC, director of student health services.
“They can rest assured that the staff members there are listening to patient grievances, are looking at processes to make sure they’re being done correctly… and making sure our facilities in general are not only clean—but safe,” she added.
By receiving a three-year accreditation—the longest term any health center can achieve—Student Health Services demonstrated that the AAAHC had no reservations about the quality of care provided at the clinic.
“It’s a very stringent and a very arduous process,” Malara said. “You have to have a lot of information in place before you can even apply.”
Not only does the achievement offer an outward sign of Student Health Services’ sterling reputation, it has also caught the attention of other Jesuit schools, she said. She’s heard from Loyola University and Boston College seeking to find out more about the process.
— Joanna Klimaski
