July 24, 2012
Shawnee State University has received National Academic Accreditation for its Long Term Care Administration program. The curriculum is shown to meet the Board of Nursing Home Administration's standards.
"We are accredited by the Ohio Board of Examiners so our students can sit for the exam for Ohio," Associate Professor Jerry McCoy, said. "Also, we just received national recognition from the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Board for nursing home administrators and students can become nationally certified."
This accreditation allows students, who complete the Bachelor of Science in business administration degree with a concentration in health management, to sit for the state and national nursing home administration exams.
BENHA approves programs whose curriculum provides the content and practical experience necessary for a student to gain the competencies to be a successful licensed nursing home administrator. The program at Shawnee State University is the only business degree program in Ohio with this accreditation.
The national board came to survey Shawnee State in April before approving the program. McCoy had to go to Rhode Island to receive the accreditation that was voted on at the mid-year NAB Conference by the Board of Governors on June 8.
The Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in health care administration helps prepare students to find employment as health service managers with various organizations, including hospitals, clinics, health maintenance organizations and nursing homes. In addition, the program provides excellent preparation for graduate study in business or health administration.
Extended care track students are required to complete a total of 800 on-site hours in a nursing home approved by the department chair. Students electing to follow the extended care track are eligible to take the State and federal Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Exam upon graduation.
Students choosing the long-term care track in the health care administration program at Shawnee State are entering a challenging and growing career field. As the population grows older, the needs of the elderly are becoming greater.
Graduates with this degree are competent to manage and work in home health, assisted living, and other health facilities designed to care for the elderly.
McCoy had worked on getting the accreditation for more than a year. To be eligible, SSU had to show five domains of practice.
He will attend the annual conference in San Diego in November to receive a plaque and recognition for the program. McCoy also will be presenting a topic to the Board of Governors at the conference.