UToledo Seeks Accreditation Approval for Nurse Anesthesia Track

UToledo Seeks Accreditation Approval for Nurse Anesthesia Track

The University of Toledo has taken the first step in a longer process required to establish a new nurse anesthesia curriculum in the College of Health and Human Services.

The University's Board of Trustees approved the curriculum at an April 8 special meeting, but the University must now seek Council on Accreditation review and approval before the program can begin enrolling students.

While an April 9 media report described the Board approval, the University is offering additional information about the process for clarity, transparency and completeness.

As the official teach-out partner for Lourdes, UToledo is working with Lourdes' Nurse Anesthesia Program to support their submission of a Major Programmatic Change request to the specialty accreditor for nurse anesthesia, the Council on Accreditation (COA).

If approved, UToledo would become the conducting institution for this program at Lourdes, which is closing after the current academic year. COA review of this request is anticipated, but not guaranteed, this summer.

"While we are hopeful that the program will obtain accreditation, we want to emphasize that there is no pre-determined outcome or timeline for any of the reviews and approvals required before the program can be offered at UToledo," said Dr. Mark Merrick, dean of the UToledo College of Health and Human Services. "It is always possible that requests for program approval could be denied or delayed at any stage, by any of the accreditors or regulatory bodies from whom approval is required. We continue to do our due diligence and follow all regulatory processes and requirements."

Based on the list of accredited nurse anesthesia programs maintained by COA, Lourdes has the only currently accredited nurse anesthesia program in northwest Ohio. The list does not reflect any other programs that may be working toward accreditation.