Brady Health Cuts Hours

Retirement and resignation led Brady Health Center to cut back by five hours per week. The campus community received an email on Jan. 24^th, making them aware of the change. Brady Health Center was originally open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but due to a shortage in providers, the hours were shifted to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A registered nurse retired on Dec. 31st of 2019, and the health center’s former director resigned effective Jan. 27^th of 2020. Frostburg State is currently conducting a national search that ceases on Feb. 17^th in efforts to fill the vacant registered nurse position. The institution also plans to market for the nurse practitioner in the near future, Dr. Jeff Graham, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, said.

“The State of Maryland as well as the University has specific rules in place to ensure an equitable process that are not as expedient as the private sector,” Dr. Graham commented.

Currently, Brady Health Center has two providers. Kaitlyn Morral (CRNP) who took over as the interim director and Amy Malone is a registered nurse. Darlene Smith (CRNP), former director and nurse practitioner, is available to the center on a contractual basis, Dr. Graham noted.

Brady Health, which is open 7 hours a day Monday through Friday, falls below the average of 8.3 hours a day Monday through Friday of other health centers in the University of Maryland System. The University of Baltimore does not have a traditional health center on campus but offers a Student Assistance Program which is an on-call, offsite model. This institution was not included in the average.

Brady Health Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). The cut back in hours does not affect the accreditation of hours as “AAAHC does not require any specific hours for our accredited organization’s to be open,” Alex Herzog, an AAAHC account representative stated.

Despite the shortage in providers, “I anticipate being able to continue meeting student needs with the commitment of Brady Health staff optimizing our schedule efficiently when scheduling appointments,” Morral affirmed. She also said the same services will be offered to students.

By “increasing scheduling efficiencies and encouraging students to utilize available morning appointment times” the needs of students will be met, Dr. Graham mentioned.

When the two vacancies are filled and the spring semester ends, the scheduling needs will be reevaluated, Morral said.

To schedule an appointment at Brady Health, visit https://www.frostburg.edu/brady-health/ or call (301) 687 4310.