Kaiser Permanente's School of Allied Health Sciences in Richmond Granted Regional Accreditation

Kaiser Permanente’s School of Allied Health Sciences (KPSAHS) has been granted Regional Accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

WSCUC accreditation is granted at the completion of a rigorous peer review process, and assures the educational community, the general public, and other organizations that an accredited institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness. Their goal is to promote the development of higher education through a commitment to student learning, quality and improvement, and institutional integrity, sustainability and accountability.

“The addition of WSCUC accreditation ensures that the institution remains at the forefront of healthcare education. The ability to grant a regionally accredited degree, positions our graduates to be future leaders in their respective disciplines,” said Regional School Administrator, James Fitzgibbon.

The mission of the KPSAHS is to advance healthcare and improve people’s lives through education, leadership and innovation while inspiring students to be active, successful leaders in their careers and their communities. The Richmond-based school offers certificates and Bachelors of Science degrees in nuclear medicine, cardiac sonography, radiography, and general sonography, as well as short-term and evening courses in phlebotomy, fluoroscopy and venipuncture. KPSAHS also provides physician CME courses with support from The Permanente Medical Group’s Department of Physician Education.

“Initial accreditation is the result of many years of hard work on the behalf of many; we are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team of faculty, staff, preceptors and physicians,” said Dr. C. Darryl Jones, medical director for KPSAHS.

Established in 1989, KPSAHS recently celebrated 25 years of preparing students for careers in the growing field of allied health. Each year the volume of applications they receive for their imaging programs far exceeds the number of spots available.

“KPSAHS is fortunate to have such a strong applicant pool and those who graduate from our rigorous programs have distinguished themselves as the best of the best,” noted Fitzgibbon.

Achieving regional accreditation from WSCUC exemplifies the commitment that KPSAHS has made to its student body, the field of health care, and the community it serves. Fellow colleges and universities recognize the level of standards that are necessary to achieve regional accreditation and the commitment required to maintain it.

“Graduates of KPSAHS’ Bachelor degree programs in imaging will be recognized as healthcare providers who are both highly skilled and highly educated,” said Fitzgibbon. “Together Kaiser Permanente and KPSAHS share a commitment to providing state-of-the-art care delivery and to developing healthcare professionals that are ready to take their place as providers of high quality healthcare.”