May 2003

Curry center gets
clean bill of health
UM's Curry Health Center has passed muster with a national health service accreditation agency.

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Inc., which accredits more than 1,300 health care organizations across the country, recently reaccredited the Curry Health Center for another three-year period.

"Essentially this is like getting the Good Housekeeping seal of approval," said Dr. Dave Bell, Curry Health Center director. "This says that someone from the outside says we are living up to their standards."

A two-member team from the AAAHC visited UM in February -- spending two days reviewing how the Curry Health Center runs. Before the visit center officials submitted an array of materials detailing health care procedures at UM.

The University received the news in March that it would be reaccredited for three years - the longest accreditation period granted by the AAAHC.
Bell said this is the second time UM has requested the AAAHC review its services. The first time also resulted in a three-year accreditation.

"By us requesting the accreditation, it demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest level of care to our students," Bell said. "And the fact we are accredited for three years indicates the agency believes we do in fact provide the top level of health care.

"The students of The University of Montana can really be proud of the health center they have."
Curry Health Center provides services for the approximately 13,000 students attending UM. Those services include dental care, counseling and psychological care, health enhancement, drug and alcohol programs, and student assault recovery and violence prevention programs.

A recent Wall Street Journal article listed accreditation by the AAAHC as a benchmark by which quality of care at student health services across the nation can be judged.

University Relations | Cary Shimek, Editor
The University of Montana-Missoula
32 Campus Drive | Missoula, MT 59812
phone (406) 243-2522 | fax (406) 243-4520
© 2004 The University of Montana