Lamar University’s Student Health Center is now accredited and plans to celebrate.

After a two-year process, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. announced LU’s Student Health Center meets the standards of care to join the ranks of accredited health centers across the nation.

“It’s a big deal; it took us about two years to prepare for it,” said Shawn Gray, director, Student Health Center and a practicing nurse practitioner.  “We’re very proud of ourselves. We’re excited about it because it speaks to the level of care that we provide to students as far as medical, counseling and health education services.”

The Student Health Center, established in 1954, is comprised of many licensed and experienced staff members who provide high quality care for the students.

“We’re not a ‘first-aid station,’ but are licensed, board-certified practitioners, some medical staff with prescriptive authority and some counselors with additional certifications to treat addiction issues, who have malpractice insurance and are able to work in the community, but they choose to work on a university campus,” said Gray.

LU’s Student Health Center offers examinations, diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and conducts lab work. The Center provides well woman and annual male exams, as well as confidential sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, immunizations, nursing and allied health physicals, injury care, sutures, wound care and splinting. The Center also provides counseling, mental health services and health education services.  All services are available to LU and LIT students.

The Student Health Center also operates a Class D or clinic pharmacy, offering low-cost medication and supplies to students including antibiotics, eye creams and drops, anti-fungal medications, non-narcotic pain relievers and a few oral contraceptives.

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. was founded in 1979 by health care providers and medical societies seeking to ensure and deliver high-quality patient care in ambulatory care settings. It is a national organization that sets the standards for health care facilities throughout the nation, university health clinics and counseling centers are one of those entities. There are 6,100 facilities in the nation currently accredited under AAAHC.

Now accredited, Lamar University Student Health Center will have to maintain their accreditation. Every three years AAAHC will conduct two-day, onsite visits to review all of the Center’s processes and procedures and standards of care.

“There are not that many accredited health centers and that’s because it’s not an easy thing to achieve,” said Gray. “I’m real proud of our Center and the Lamar University community should be also. 

Lamar University’s Student Health Center is open Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Find the Student Health Center online at lamar.edu/healthcenter; email at dept_healthcenter@lamar.edu; phone at 409-880-8466. The Health Center also has a Facebook.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Lamar University Student Health Center accreditation at a reception February 20, 2020, at 1 p.m. The accreditation celebration will take place at the Health Center and everyone, faculty, staff and students, are encouraged to attend.