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Photo Courtesy of the Visual Production Center: WIU's Beu Health Center staff, August 2008. AAAHC accreditation means the accrediting organization has closely examined Beu Health Center's procedures and has deemed that Beu's staff has either met or surpassed the AAAHC's requirements for accreditation.
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WIU Beu Health Center Achieves National Accreditation

September 26, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's Beu Health Center has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation distinguishes the college health center from many other ambulatory health care facilities by providing a safe work environment and the highest quality of care to patients, said Mary Margaret Harris, director of Beu Health Center.

Status of an accredited facility denotes that Beu Health Center has met nationally recognized standards -- set by the independent, not-for-profit AAAHC -- for the provision of quality health care.

"We believe our students deserve the best," noted Harris. "The AAAHC certificate of accreditation demonstrates our commitment to striving to provide the best health care possible to Western students. The accreditation means the AAAHC has closely examined Beu Health Center and procedures."

Beu Health Center has been continually accredited by the AAAHC since 1996, she added.

According to Harris, ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by the AAAHC 's expert 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.

AAAHC accreditation is specifically for organizations that provide diagnostic or medical care on an outpatient basis -- where an overnight stay is not required, according to the AAAHC. Ambulatory and office-based surgery centers, college health centers, single and multi-specialty group practices, dental group practices, community health centers, occupational health centers and managed care organizations are among the types of ambulatory health care organizations that seek AAAHC accreditation.

For more information, contact Harris at (309) 298-1888 or MM-Harris@wiu.edu. Visit
Beu Health Center online at beu.wiu.edu.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing