Fronske Health Center aces accreditation, again

Students aren't the only ones seeking good grades at NAU. The Fronske Health Center recently earned high ratings during its three-year accreditation review.

The center received its ninth consecutive accreditation since 1982 from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, which works to accredit more than 3,000 ambulatory health-care organizations across the country.

"Of the hundreds of university health centers across the country, only 167 have achieved accreditation status," said director Beth Applebee.

More than 25,000 patients visit Fronske Health Center each year.

"Status as an accredited organization means the center has passed a series of rigorous and nationally recognized standards for providing quality health care," Applebee said. "Our board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, in-house laboratory services, X-ray, pharmacy and health-promotion services contribute to our comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to health care and wellness."

Fronske Health Center received ratings of "substantial compliance" in all 16 categories of review, including quality of care provided, quality management and improvement, clinical records and health information, pharmaceutical services, health education and promotion, pathology and medical laboratory services and demonstrating compliance with hundreds of standards.

In a recent patient satisfaction survey conducted by the consulting firm Sullivan/Luallin, 98.4 percent of Fronske Health Center patients said they would recommend their Fronske health-care provider to others.

Applebee attributes the success to the center's staff and its ability to "focus on the individual's health-care needs and to strive to listen to every patient and provide comprehensive answers to questions."

The center also provides care to NAU employees on the NAU Blue Cross Blue Shield plan.