MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the SMU Health Service is to provide quality, caring, cost effective and convenient ambulatory healthcare and health education services in association with other university departments that promote healthy lifestyles and enhance academic productivity leading to satisfying and rewarding college experiences.
2010-11 DEPARTMENTAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Health Center has been accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC) since 1998. The three-year onsite survey was May 12 & 13, 2011 and the Center received another three-year accreditation through August 2014. The Health Center’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) was surveyed by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) October 24 & 25, 2011. The survey went well and their report won't be final until April/May 2012.
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) received additional resources to hire another full-time psychologist. The new psychologist started in November and CAPS is staffed with three part-time psychiatrists, five full and one part-time psychologists, four part-time PhD psychology interns, two full-time post-doctoral psychologists, and one part-time counselor.
The SMU Health Center is one of thirty-one universities participating in the Dartmouth Learning Collaborative on High Risk Drinking researching and addressing binge drinking on college campuses. Representatives from SMU attended a summer conference with other universities and are continuously gathering and sharing information.
The Health Center purchased additional software leading to electronic health records. The Center started using the self check-in feature in the summer. Self appointments will start after the campus migrates to Internet Explorer 9. The online immunization records will be implemented later.
DEPARTMENTAL CHALLENGES
The major challenge facing the Health Services Department is working in a very outdated building that was designed as a student infirmary and now operates as a comprehensive outpatient student health center. The building does not meet current disabilities standards, lacks privacy especially in student waiting areas, and lacks adequate patient parking. The nation is migrating to electronic health records and several student health centers have made the change.
DEPARTMENTAL GOALS
Student Success
Make health services accessible to students: The Health Center is fully staffed and is presently meeting student demand for appointments and care. CAPS is again fully staffed and both CAPS and the medical floor continue to meet present student needs. If more appointment time is needed in the academic year, the medical floor will extend hours one evening per week and Saturdays.
Student Learning
Galen Laprocido started as the Health Center Educator in January. She is extensively involved with the Dartmouth collaborative and TIPS training on campus.
Exemplary Division of Student Affairs
Facilities: The Health Center building is fifty years old and needs to be both modernized and enlarged. Although the Center is accredited by the AAAHC, the building does not project an exemplary division or compare favorably with other campus buildings and many other university health centers. Renovating the Center is one of the goals of the Centennial Campaign ending in 2015.
Electronic Health Records: The United States health care industry is following the trend of other industries and migrating from paper to electronic records. The Health Center is currently requesting proposals for electronic health records with the goal to select a company by the first quarter 2012 and implementing the record in December 2012.