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The StateNews (The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University. State News, Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation.) Abandoning accreditation not worth savings (Last updated: 10/01/09 7:09pm) As if it weren’t enough MSU is trying to move Health Services all the way to Clinical Center on Service Road, the university also is considering not renewing its accreditation.

MSU Heath Services has been accredited by the Joint Commission — which also accredits Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital, Henry Ford Hospital and University of Michigan hospitals and health centers — for about 20 years, but would like to drop the accreditation to save money.

MSU seems to think standards and oversight are of no consequence. James Hillard, associate provost for human health affairs, said, “Sooner or later, we’ll probably give up (Joint Commission) accreditation … whether or not we move.”

So, sooner or later, quality care for students will be too pricy. Sooner or later living up to a standard — an apparently very good standard — will be too much for the university to bear.

We think there are some things more important than saving a quick buck right now. One of those things is showing students they can trust the quality of the medical attention they receive.

Sure, MSU still could provide quality care without accreditation. At least, we assume so. Without accreditation, we have to take the university’s word for it.

As for the standards, who will enforce them?

We hope the medical staff would continue to operate at a quality level, but that’s always the assumption. Oversight is about making absolutely sure standards are met. MSU either would have to create a new position to oversee health services or merge those duties into an already existing role.

A new position would cost money, maybe even more than it would take to be accredited. Using an already existing position would compromise the quality of the oversight by stretching whoever assumed the role too thin. In each case, neither could be counted on as a reliable third party.

The move toward not renewing accreditation is ominous, given previous statements about moving Health Services to the Clinical Center. It looks to us as though MSU is looking to get rid of the services altogether.

Moving Health Services would inconvenience many students and removing accreditation would further convince students that seeking care through the university is a bad idea. If no one were to use the provided services, there would be no reason to have them.

We’re not saying this is actually the case, but it isn’t too far of a leap.

MSU should consider accreditation as a service for students. Standards and practices are there primarily for the protection of patients. The oversight the Joint Commission — or any such organization — provides patients with a place to lodge complaints and gives them the confidence to assume they will be taken seriously.

Despite Hillard’s nonchalance toward renewal, we think this represents a microcosm of the university toward the student body.

The choice MSU makes will signal either its commitment to the student body or an indifference to anything except the bottom line.

Choose wisely. Originally Published: 10/01/09 7:09pm