The Path to Accreditation

1. The Path to Accreditation Q/A for Paramedic Education Presented By Danny Miller

2. The Path to Accreditation • Introduction • Accreditation defined • Why bother? • The Self Study • The Site Visit • Maintaining accreditation • Questions

3. Accreditation Defined... • To accredit • To attribute credit • To consider or recognize as outstanding • Conforming with a standard Webster’s Dictionary

4. Accrediting Agencies • Institutional • JCAHO • Program • Commission of the Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) • State Offices

5. CAAHEP • 17 Review Committees • Accredits 18 Allied Health Occupations • Recognized by US. Department of Education(Until August of 1998) • Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP) • Eight Sponsors • Sixteen Members

6. CoAEMSP • Two Representatives From: • National Association of EMT’s • National Registry of EMT’s • National Association of EMS Educators • American Academy of Pediatrics • American College of Cardiology • American College of Emergency Physicians • American College of Surgeons • American Society of Anesthesiologists

7. Essential Values of Accreditation • Continuous Self-improvement • Professional Excellence • Peer Review and Collaboration • Civic Responsibility

8. Why Bother? Good Question!

9. Why Bother? • Uniform assessment of the quality of all aspects of the program • Superior to “snapshot” methods of measuring program effectiveness • Clearly defines the direction and goals of program • Subscribe to a national standard of professional education

10. Why Bother? • Validates Program Needs • Assists With Appropriate Resource Allocation • Gives Direction To Strategic Planning

11. How does this pertain to us? • House Bill 405 • Licensure • Reform of the State EMS offices • National Standard Curriculum

12. Paramedic Education is due for a good shake up!

13. Advantages of Accreditation • Standardize Paramedic education • Conform to the National Guidelines • Compare to other programs nationally • Rated by standards...

14. Who writes the standards? • National Association of EMT’s • National Registry of EMT’s • National Association of EMS Educators • American Academy of Pediatrics • American College of Cardiology • American College of Emergency Physicians • American College of Surgeons • American Society of Anesthesiologists • Adopted 1978; revised: 1988, 1999

15. What are the standards? • Areas: • Sponsorship • Resources • Personnel • Financial • Physical • Clinical

16. What are the standards? • Areas... • Students • Admission • Evaluation • Health • Guidance • Disclosure • Identification

17. What are the standards? • Areas... • Operational Policies • Program Evaluations • Curriculum • Goals & Objectives • Content • Field Internship

18. Disadvantages • Time Consuming • May be perpetual effort • Accreditation may not be granted!

19. Who may seek accreditation? • Community, technical and junior colleges, senior colleges, universities and medical schools • Hospitals and clinics with postsecondary educational institutional accreditation • Postsecondary vocational/technical schools and institutions • Proprietary schools • Military medical services • Institutional consortia comprised of one or more of the above

20. Who holds accreditation? • 123 paramedics programs, as of 8/1/2000 • 33 States

21. State Mandates for Accreditation • Alabama • Colorado • Florida • Mississippi • New Mexico • Washington • California (As of 2004) • New York (As of 2003)

22. Initiating the Process • Application submitted by administrative head of program • Review Standards and Guidelines • Create Self Study Document • Answer Self Study Questions • Enlist Help to Affect Change • Prepare For Site Visit

23. Self Study • Purpose: • Honest, critical, self-evaluation against a set of standards • True understanding of your program • Ideal opportunity to improve • Coordinator needed • Team effort, not recommended for a single person

24. Self Study • Involvement: • Program Director • Medical Director • Instructors, faculty, clinical staff • Advisory Committee • Administration (Dean, Academic Depts.) • Other allied health programs • Other accredited paramedic programs • Accrediting agency

25. Self Study • Process: • Review essentials and guidelines • Identify goals (short term and long term) • Divide up tasks and sections • Identify deficiencies and draft responses • Meet regularly to review and discuss • Compile and organize all documentation • Submit the Self-Study

26. Self Study • Format: • Question and answer design • Narrative or list (appropriate to question) • Make sure you answer the question • “In complexity, seek simplicity” (brevity is beautiful) • Use exhibits and charts liberally • Be candid about areas of improvement and planned changes

27. Self Study • Submit: • Loose leaf notebook w/ tabs • One sided copying • White paper • Organize per the study questions

28. Self Study • After the Self-Study... • Reviewed by CAAHEP • Referee assigned to your process • Possible delays: • Document clarification • Correct essentials • Site visit scheduled

29. Site Visit • Day One • Meet With: • Program Director • Institution Officials • Medical Director • Program Faculty • Clinical Faculty • Students/Graduates

30. Site Visit • Day One • Meet With Advisory Committee • Tour Resources • Review Records

31. Site Visit • Day Two • Visit Clinical Sites • Visit Field Internship Sites • Meet With Preceptors • Clarify Information - Program Director • Prepare Report • Closing Meeting

32. Costs • Application/Self Study Review Fees: $750.00 • Site Evaluation Fee (Direct Expenses): Average $2,000.00 • Annual Fee: $750.00 • Increasing to $950.00 in 3 yrs

33. Stumbling Blocks • Sponsorship • Inadequate Medical Control • Uncontrolled/Unfocused Internship • Inadequate Program Evaluation

34. Pitfalls to avoid • Not starting the process • Waiting until your program is “perfect” • Confusion… Ask for clarification • Avoid a solo effort

35. Questions? Email me. Thank You