December 2017
From the President
I hope you’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Personally, I feel very fortunate to have my friends and family near, and am thankful for wonderful CAAHEP colleagues with whom I am privileged to work. The holiday season is upon us, and as we try to set aside the stresses and worry of our everyday lives, work, political controversy, and other social and environmental challenges, turning our attention instead to celebrating with friends and family, I wish you and yours a Happy Holiday.
Between November and early January, there are nearly thirty holidays observed by the world’s major religions, which coincidentally corresponds with the number of professions currently accredited by CAAHEP. As holidays often reflect a group’s shared beliefs and values, common traditions and symbols, celebration of family and friends, sharing of food and/or gifts, etc., so CAAHEP professions also share much in common.
Like the holidays serve a variety of religions and ethnic groups, CAAHEP accreditation serves professions that are very diverse. CAAHEP-accredited programs range from one year certificate programs to associate, baccalaureate and graduate programs, from hands-on patient care professions to those requiring little if any direct patient care, from professions whose practice is in hospitals, long-term care, laboratories, physician practices, to community-based organizations, etc.
But many of these accreditation principles
(from The Fundamentals of Accreditation by Michael Hamm), are shared by CAAHEP-accredited professions:
- Public protection
- Improving the quality of the accredited entity
- Providing education and training for the accredited entity
- Conducting and promoting research for the advancement of the accredited entity
- Enhancing the credibility and image of the accredited entity
- Increasing public awareness of the meaning of accreditation
- Encouraging greater acceptance and use of accredited entities
- Serving as a clearinghouse or information source on accredited entities
- Assuming a voluntary self-regulation role as an alternative to some form of government intervention
- Achieving customer satisfaction
CAAHEP recognizes varied professional accreditation needs, while identifying and creating consistency around commonalities to the extent possible.
With regard to both the numerous and diverse holidays we celebrate, and the multiple and diverse professions we accredit, as eloquently stated by the great author and poet Maya Angelou, “We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike.” Happy holidays!
Carolyn O'Daniel, EdD, RRT
President
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Seeking Educational Opportunities in Neurodiagnostic Technology, a Growing Allied Health Profession
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Submitted by: Faye Mc Nall, R. EEG T, M.Ed, Director of Education for ASET – the Neurodiagnostic Society
Neurodiagnostic Technology is an allied health specialty with tremendous opportunity for growth, and has been recognized by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics as a “bright outlook” profession, with a greater than average job growth expected.
Neurodiagnostic technologists perform diagnostic testing and monitoring of the central and peripheral nervous system. The most commonly recognized test done by neurodiagnostic technologists is the electroencephalogram, (EEG). Other modalities technologists are trained to perform include: Evoked Potentials (EPs), Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS), Intraoperative Neuro-Monitoring (IONM), Long Term Monitoring in the Epilepsy Unit (LTM), ICU monitoring and Autonomic Nervous System testing.
With the advancement of digital technology, we have experienced a growth in the demand for extensive monitoring of brain and nervous system function. The EEG may be monitored for days to weeks during an in-patient epilepsy work-up, or to assess the status of the brain in the critically ill or comatose patient, creating a demand for highly skilled technologists to cover monitoring services, 24 hours per day. As the volume of data collected increases, the challenge for our interpreting physician services increases as well. Neurodiagnostic technologists are moving into a more advanced role by providing initial assessment of data collected, to aid the physician team ensure rapid Neurodiagnostic Technology programs (NDT) interpretation of EEG findings.
At this time there are only 24 NDT programs accredited by CAAHEP in the United States. These programs generated a total of 245 graduates in 2017, but a quick search for “EEG Technologist” on the employment search engine Indeed.com shows approximately 500 active job openings, many of which have multiple positions available. It is evident that there is an insufficient number of formal NDT educational programs to meet the need for highly skilled technologists throughout the country. Programs currently range from one-year certificate programs, to two-year Associate’s Degree programs and now, four-year Bachelor’s Degree programs. Distance education models have been very successful as well.
ASET – the Neurodiagnostic Society has a strategic goal to develop an adequate and qualified workforce to meet the demand for neurodiagnostic technologists nationwide. We have developed a “Dean’s Packet” to reach out to colleges to build interest in opening new formal educational programs in Neurodiagnostics throughout the country. The packet includes statistics that will demonstrate the promising outlook for this profession. To view the Dean's Packet, please visit the
ASET website.
There are several credentialing exams available for various neurodiagnostic modalities that once earned, demonstrate professional competence. The major provider of credentialing exams in Neurodiagnostics is
ABRET, and they recognize graduates of CAAHEP accredited NDT programs with an easier eligibility pathway for the exam process. Visit the list of
other credentialing organizations.
The Committee on Accreditation for Education in Neurodiagnostic Technology (
CoA-NDT) provides support to new programs to ensure that they will meet
CAAHEP standards for accreditation, and along with ASET, strive to provide resources to promote the growth of new Neurodiagnostic Technology Programs.
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It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of Chris A. Keegan, an active Board Member of the Association of Surgical Technologists, American College of Surgeons, the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, and as former Board Member and Chair of the ARC/STSA, as well as many other professional organizations.
Chris was program director of both a the surgical assisting and the surgical technology programs at Vincennes University and a longtime supporter of CAAHEP and accreditation. She helped develop and appeared in some of the videos in the Your Accreditation Mentor, an online training module produced by CAAHEP.
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Health Professions Network
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CAAHEP President Carolyn O'Daniel will serve a three year term on the Board for the Health Professions Network. CAAHEP Past Presidents Cameron Harris and M. LaCheeta McPherson serve on the Board as well. Visit the
Health Professions Network website for information on HPN.
November 5-11, 2017, was
Allied Health Professions Week and CAAHEP appreciates all of the photos submitted in celebration of the many professions under the allied health umbrella.Here are just a few programs that shared photos of their students in action.
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Left:Students from
College of DuPage's sonography program show off their program boards for Allied Health Professions Week! Right:
South Arkansas Community College's Surgical Technology Program
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Outstanding Cytotechnologist of the Year
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CAAHEP Commissioner, former Board Member, and current CAAHEP Standards Specialist, Kalyani Naik, MS, SCT(ASCP), has been awarded the 2017 Cytotechnologist Award for Outstanding Achievement, presented by the American Society for Cytotechnology. The award recognizes an ASC member for meritorious service or contributions to the field of cytology.
A graduate of University of Connecticut Health Center, she is currently the Cytopathology Laboratory Supervisor at Michigan Medicine.
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2018 CAAHEP Annual Meeting
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April 15-16, 2018
"CAAHEP Accreditation:
The Gateway to the Future"
Hyatt Regency
Louisville, Kentucky
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New Accrediting Body for Gerontology
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The Board of Governors of the Accreditation for the Gerontology Education Council are pleased to announce the formation of the first accrediting body for the field of gerontology.
The Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council (AGEC) will specifically accredit degree-granting programs in gerontology at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s levels.
AGEC is a 501c3 organization that collaborates with but is independent of, the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. A diverse nine-member Board of Governors oversees AGEC.
AGEC’s mission is to serve societies, national and global, by establishing and applying standards that assure quality and continuous improvement in the preparation of gerontologists reflecting the evolving nature of higher education, research, and practice. For additional information, visit the
AGEC website.
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Each profession in the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) system has a Committee on Accreditation (CoA) that consists of experts in the profession that are responsible for reviewing programs and making appropriate recommendations for accreditation to CAAHEP. CAAHEP reviews recommendations received from its CoAs in each profession, assures due process was followed, and takes final action on an accreditation status.
CAAHEP took the following actions at its November 17, 2017, meeting. Actions are identified by profession, action taken, and date of the next comprehensive evaluation. In some cases, the concentration and/or degree are also specified. Where available, a link to the program's website is provided.
The following program was found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and was granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2019. This action requires no progress report and was approved on the consent agenda.
Medical Assisting
The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2022. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic
The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2024. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.
Cytotechnology
The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2027. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.
Neurodiagnostic Technology
Perfusion
Surgical Technology
The following programs were found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The programs were granted continuing accreditation, with the next comprehensive evaluation to occur no later than 2027.
Surgical
Technology
The following programs were found to be in compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines and were granted initial accreditation for a period not to exceed five (5) years. These actions require no progress report and were approved on the consent agenda.
Cardiovascular Technology
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Surgical Assisting
Surgical Technology
The following programs were found to be in substantial compliance with the accreditation Standards and Guidelines, with one or more Standards requiring a progress report to be submitted to the appropriate Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The programs were granted initial accreditation for a period not to exceed five (5) years.
Lactation Consultant
Surgical Technology
The following program was placed on probationary accreditation, with one or more Standards requiring critical attention and timely resolution to bring the program into compliance with the Standards and Guidelines.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Standard: IV.B.1.
Progress Report Due: September 20, 2019
CAAHEP voted to withdraw accreditation from the following program, due to noncompliance with one or more Standards. Programs are given the opportunity to appeal actions to withdraw accreditation, so this action is not yet final. This list will be updated with the final action, once determined.
Surgical Technology
Standards: II.B.; II.C.; III.A.; III.B.; III.B.1.; III.B.1.a.; III.B.3.a; III.B.3.b; III.C.; III.D.; IV.A.1.; IV.A.2.; IV.B.1.; IV.B.2.; V.A.1.; V.A.3.; V.D.; V.E.
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763
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