Page 1Volume XIII, Number 1

CommuniquéA N e w s l e t t e r f o r CA AHE PM e m b e r s

February 2006

Volume XIII Number 1

Please note our newaddress

Commission on Accreditation of

Allied Health EducationPrograms

1361 Park StreetClearwater, FL

33756

727-210-2350Fax: 727-210-2354www.caahep.org

As I write this report, I’ve just returned from the January meeting of the Board of Directors and our second annual “Leadership Meeting.” The Leadership Meeting is where the CAAHEP Board of Directors meets with the Chairs of our Committees on Accreditation to spend some time thinking strategically about where we are and where we hope to go. As al-ways, it was a busy weekend with lots of work, lots of networking, lots of learning from each other, and a fair amount of fun too.

A very ambitious agenda for future CAAHEP activities began to emerge and you’ll be hearing more about that as our Planning and Development Committee works on specific action steps and priorities in the coming months (some details of the meeting are included elsewhere in this issue).

But perhaps every bit as important as the specific projects or tasks that were discussed, what also emerged was a renewed commitment to the power of this collaborative effort we call CAAHEP. The value of that col-laboration was clear to everyone who participated and I know we all felt the synergy – the experience of feeling that the whole really is more than the sum of its parts.

The discussions were open, the at-mosphere was positive and we had valuable input from every person there, whether they represented our smallest Committee on Accreditation (Anesthesiologist Assistant) or our largest (Medical Assistant) — and all the ones in between!

As we return to our real lives, it’s easy to find ourselves buried in the de-mands of our day jobs and our volun-teer work. The “recharging of our bat-teries” that occurred in Daytona Beach will keep many of us renewed and committed despite all the work that those commitments entail. As President of CAAHEP I want to thank all of the volunteers who gave up a precious weekend to join us at this meeting.

Your elected Board members con-tinue to work hard to assist each and every CoA. I am amazed at the amount of time and effort that your Board members commit to CAAHEP.I am also very pleased at the willing-ness of each member to serve for the good of the whole.

Also, a big THANKS to Kathy for the willingness to move the CAAHEP office to Florida. I do believe that this move will be to our advantage in the long run. The office is fully opera-tional and all of our personnel are working at full tilt. Speaking of per-sonnel, many of us were provided the opportunity to meet and talk with the newest staff member, Cynthia Powell.Cynthia has filled the opening of our executive assistant position. I per-sonally took the opportunity to sit with her at dinner and fully enjoyed our conversation. She will be a positive addition to the office.

As the Commission continues to move forward, feel free to contact me if there is something that I can do assist each and every one of you.

See you in Kansas City!

President’s ReportBy Greg Paulauskis

Page 2 Communiqué

Calendar of Events

March 2006

1-5: Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, Bedford, TX

14: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

17: CAAHEP Board of Directors Conference Call

17-18: Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology, TBA

24-26: Committee on Accreditation for Education in Electroneurodiagnostic Technology, Philadelphia, PA

April 2006

11: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

21-22: CAAHEP ANNUAL MEETNG, Kansas City, MO

22: Accreditation Committee-Perfusion Education, Las Vegas, NV

May 2006

9: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

18: Committee on Accreditation for Education in Electroneurodiagnostic Technology, Conference Call

19: CAAHEP Board of Directors Conference Call

TBA: Cytotechnology Program Review Committee, Conference Call

June 2006

13: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

July 2006

11: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

20-21: CAAHEP BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING,Chicago, IL

22-23: CAAHEP SUMMER WORKSHOP, Chicago, IL

26-30: Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment, Chicago, IL

August 2006

2-6: Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment, Chicago, IL2-6: Accreditation Review Committee for the Medical Illustra-

tor, Boston, MA8: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

TBA: Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee, Conference Call

TBA: National Commission on Orthotics and Prosthetics Education, TBA

September 2006

12: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

15: CAAHEP Board of Directors Conference Call

21: Committee on Accreditation for Education in Electroneurodiagnostic Technology, Conference Call

22-23: Accreditation Review Committee on Education inSurgical Technology, TBA

October 2006

14: Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant, Chicago, IL

TBA: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Miami, FL

November 2006

5: Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee, Toronto,Canada

16: Committee on Accreditation for Education in Electroneurodiagnostic Technology, Conference Call

14: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

17: CAAHEP Board of Directors Conference Call

December 2006

12: Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood BankTechnology Schools, Conference Call

If you have any additions, deletions or changes for the calendar please contact CAAHEP at 727-210-2350 or schroeder@caahep.org.

Page 3Volume XIII, Number 1

Accreditation Actions voted on November 18, 2005

Athletic Training InitialWestern Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

ContinuingDePauw University, Greencastle, INGeorge Washington University, Washington, DCUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, ILWaynesburg College, Waynesburg, PAWilmington College, Wilmington, OH

ProbationDominican College, Orangeburg, NYEmporia State University, Emporia, KSHofstra University, Hempstead, NYKeene State College, Keene, NHManchester College, North Manchester, INMount Union College, Alliance, OHNortheastern University, Boston, MAOtterbein College, Westerville, OHSlippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PAWashington State University, Pullman, WA

CytotechnologyTransfer of Sponsorship St. John's Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, NY

Diagnostic Medical Sonography InitialAlvin Community College, Alvin, TX (cardiac)Alvin Community College, Alvin, TX (vascular)Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, OK(general)

ContinuingOakland Community College, Southfield, MI (general)

Initial Expire Wharton County Junior College, Wharton, Texas

Emergency Medical Services Personnel

Initial

Barton County Community College, Great Bend, KSBlack River Technical College, Pocohontas, AREmergency Medical Sciences Training Institute, Stockton, CAFresno City College, Fresno, CAGwinnett Technical College, Lawrenceville, GAUniversity of Arkansas-Batesville, Batesville, AR

Victor Valley Community College, Victorville, CA

ContinuingAustin Community College, Austin, TXAvera McKennan, Sioux Falls, SDBevill State Community College, Sumiton, ALButte-Glenn Community College District, Oroville, CACatawba Valley Community College, Hickory, NCCentral Florida Community College, Ocala, FLChattanooga State Technical Community College, Chat-tanooga, TN Chemeketa Community College, Salem, ORCoffeyville Community College, Coffeyville, KSCollege of the Mainland, Texas City, TXCommunity College of Baltimore-CCBC Essex, Balti-more, MD Community College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV Dixie State College of Utah, St. George, UTEastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KYEastern New Mexico University, Roswell, NMEdison College, Fort Myers, FLFlorida Community College-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FLGeorge Washington University School, Washington, DCHealthOne & Arapaho Comm College, Englewood, COImperial Community College District, Imperial, CAInver Hills Community College, Inver Grove, MN Miami Dade College, Miami, FL Montana State University-Billings College, Billings, MTNew Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord, NH New York Methodist Hospitals, Brooklyn, NYNicholls State University, Houma, LA Polk Community College, Winter Haven, FL San Jacinto College Central, Pasadena, TX

Accreditation ActionsAccreditation ActionsNovember 2005 and January 2006November 2005 and January 2006

Page 4 Communiqué

St. Cloud Technical College, St. Cloud, MN Unified Fire Authority, Salt Lake City, UT University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA Univ of Texas Health Sciences Ctr, San Antonio, TX

ProbationSarasota County Technical Institute, Sarasota, FL

PerfusionContinuingTexas Heart Institute, Houston, TX

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

Surgical Assistant InitialNashville State Technical Community College, Nash-ville, TN

Surgical TechnologyInitialAims Community College, Greeley, COCareer Colleges of America, Los Angeles, CAConcorde Career College, Jacksonville, FLConcorde Career College, San Diego, CADixie State College, St. George, UTFoothills Surgical Technology Consortium, Shelby, NC

Heritage College, Oklahoma City, OKNorthampton Community College, Bethlehem, PAOkaloosa Walton Community College, Niceville, FLSomerset Community College, Somerset, KYSouth College, Asheville, NC

ContinuingBryman College, Reseda, CAColumbus State Community College, Columbus, OHEl Paso Community College, El Paso, TX Great Lakes Institute of Technology, Erie, PAIvy Tech State College, Lafayette, INNational School of Technology, Hialeah, FLNaval School of Health Sciences, Portsmouth, VASan Jacinto College, Pasadena, TXSt. Cloud Technical College, St. Cloud, MNTennessee Technology Center, Crossville, TNWichita Area Technical College, Wichita, KS

ProbationAmerican Center for Technical Arts and Sciences, Philadelphia, PAStevens-Henager, Ogden, UT

Accreditation Actions voted onJanua ry 27, 2006

Cardiovascular TechnologyInitialCarnegie Institute, Troy, MI (Vascular)Central Florida Institute, Palm Harbor, FL (Invasive Cardiology)Central Florida Institute, Palm Harbor, FL (Non-Invasive Cardiology)

ContinuingNaval School of Health Sciences, San Diego, CA(Invasive Cardiology)

Emergency Medical Services PersonnelContinuingCowley County Community College, Arkansas City, KSETA-Greater Minnesota Paramedic Consortium, Otter-tail, MNNorthwest Regional Training Center, Vancouver, WASouth Central Technical College, North Mankato, MNSouthwest Virginia Community College, Richlands, VA

Medical Assistant InitialThompson Institute, Harrisburg, PA (associate degree)

ContinuingBeal College, Bangor, ME (associate degree)Greenville Technology College, Greenville, SC(certificate)Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College, Ogden, UT(certificate)RETS Technical Center, Inc., Centerville, OH(associate degree)San Diego Mesa College, San Diego, CA (certificate)Seminole Community College, Sanford, FL (certificate)Thompson Institute, Harrisburg, PA (diploma)

ProbationBryant and Stratton College, Albany, NY (associate)Medina county Career Center, Medina, OH (certificate)

Respiratory Care

InitialUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL(Polysomnographic Technologist)

Coosa Valley Technical College, Rome, GA((Polysomnographic Technologist)

Page 6 CommuniquéCommuniqué

How Time Flies!

It seems like just yesterday that the CAAHEP Board approved an innovative new template design for CAAHEP Standards, one which gives greater em-phasis to an outcomes -based approach to accredita-tion.

But, in fact, it has been more than five years and the first sets of Standards to be approved in the new for-mat have already undergone a round of revisions. CAAHEP policy says that Standards are to be re-viewed every five years. That doesn’t mean there must be changes, it just means that the CoA and its communities of interest should review the documentand determine whether changes are needed. So, the next “wave” of Standards that were approved in the new format will be will be “due” for review/revision in April 2008.

So, in anticipation of those reviews, the CAAHEP Standards Committee would like to take time over the remainder of this year to collect feedback from the CoAs (and their sponsoring organizations) about their experiences with the template and to review and perhaps revise the template prior to the CoAs beginning their next review/revision cycle.

The Standards Committee will take comments and suggestions on potential substantive changes to thecurrent Outcomes Template until November 1, 2006. After November 1, 2006 the Standards Com-mittee will take all comments received and begintheir own review of the template. The Standards Committee expects to have the revised (if necessary) template available no later than July 1, 2007. The following CoAs have Standards due for review/revision in 2008: CVT, END, EMS, MA and RT.

The template is available on the CAAHEP website and feedback is welcome from all interested parties.

And speaking of Standards — congratulations to the National Commission on Orthotic and Pros-thetic Education on the January 27th approval ofnew Standards for O&P.

Watch that Watch that mailbox!!mailbox!!

It’s that time of the year when CAAHEP is busy filling the mailboxes of our Commis-sioners and Sponsoring Organizations. So please be on the look-out for:

the Call for Nominations for slots on the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Elections Committee;

The request for candidates for theCAAHEP Award for Exceptional Service

Information about the 2006 AnnualMeeting (and registration forms)

If you have not received any of the above items and would like a copy, please contact the CAAHEP office at 727-210-2350 or send an email to: Megivern@caahep.org.

CAAHEP Staff UpdateAs you know, CAAHEP has relocated to Clearwater, Florida. That move has meant some changes in staff-ing at the CAAHEP office. We bid farewell to two employees in the Chicago location — Anne Dienethal has moved to New Orleans to pursue a graduatedegree in public health and social work and Jeanne Desmond remained in Chicago where she is working for an attorney and exploring new opportunities.

Of course, Lori Schroeder, our “telecommuter,” is still hard at work in her Maryland office.

We are delighted to introduce our newest staff member, Cynthia Powell. Cynthia’s title is Executive Assistant and she will be handling a wide array of responsibilities in the CAAHEP headquarters office.

Cynthia is a native Floridian with 20 years of experi-ence in administration, management, customer service and training. She’s even a “certified flooring inspec-tor”!!

Welcome Cynthia!!

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Page 7Volume XIII, Number 1Volume XIII Number 1

I had the opportunity to attend the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) 2006 AnnualConference held in San Francisco, January 23-25, 2006. This two day conference brought together approxi-mately 200 participants from around the world representing education and accreditation. It was a great opportu-nity not only to network and discuss with other accreditation representatives common issues facing the industry;but to hear feedback and concerns from those representing educational institutions as well. It was gratifying that when I introduced myself as representing both the ARC-ST and CAAHEP, CAAHEP was well known and had a solid reputation as an effective accrediting agency among those with whom I spoke.

The opening plenary on Tuesday morning, “Politics and Policy Making in a Partisan Era”, was an analy-sis of the current spirit of the political process in Washington DC and the inherent difficulties in accomplishinglegislative activity in a highly partisan climate. This legislative divisiveness and its effect on education andaccreditation would be a recurring topic of conversation during subsequent sessions and participant networking.

The Wednesday morning plenary, “Accreditation in a Climate of Mistrust”, provided a historical over-view of the public perception of government, business, education, and accreditation and the related ebbs andflows of public trust. The speaker provided three recommendations for organizations working in today’s climate:

Assume that everything you do with good intentions will be perceived as having bad motives.See what you are doing from the point of view of those on the outside looking in.Talk to those outside your organization (talk outside the walls).

Session topics for the conference included:

Degree Mills: Is “Protecting the Brand” of Accredited Institutions the Job of Accreditation?

The Role of Accreditation in Serving the Public Interest: Looking to the Future

Accreditation and Information to the Public: What Are Current Effective Practices and What Else Might Be Done?

The Future of Non-Profit Higher Education

What Accreditors Need to Know About Internet Marketing

Accreditation and Reauthorization

Procedural Fairness: How Are Changes in Law and Practice Affecting Accreditation?

Listening to the Leadership of Publicly Traded Higher Education: What is Needed from Accreditation?

Professional Degree Expansion and the Results of the 2005 CHEA Survey: What is the Role of Accreditation?

Of final note, it was interesting to observe that most of the issues and concerns that we discuss anddeliberate within CAAHEP are the same issues being discussed and debated within CHEA. Just as each CoAwithin CAAHEP has the collective collaboration and expertise of all the other CoAs; it would seem CAAHEPhas great opportunities in the collaborative process that is CHEA.

Ron Kruzel is the Executive Director of the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology

A “Newcomer’s” Account of the CHEA Meetingby Ron Kruzel

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Page 8 Communiqué

Nonprofit OrgU.S. Postage PaidChicago, IL 60607

Permit No. 5667

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs1361 Park StreetClearwater, FL 33756

“Everything’s up to date in Kansas City –and in CAAHEP!”

The 12th Annual Meeting of CAAHEP will begin with breakfast on Friday, April 21st and will end with a Luncheon on Saturday, April 22nd. And in between, there will be lots of topics discussed, lots of issues explored and much to be shared and learned!

Join us for breakfast on Friday morning for orientation and a look at what’s “up to date” in CAAHEP. Then, CAAHEP Commissioner Jack Trufant will open the meeting with his view of what’s “up-to-date” and what’s not. Be sure not to miss this presentation: “

The Adventures of Alice in CAAHEP: Creating an Accreditation Wonderland.”

Learn about what’s “up to date” in family medicine through a project of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation; hear about “Kan-ed” - a program created by the Kansas Legislature and administered through the Kansas Board of Regents whose purpose is to expand the collaboration capabilities of Kan-ed's member institutions, specifically K-12 schools, higher education, libraries and hospitals; explore workforce issues; join in a discussion of the relationship between certification and accreditation; and learn about projects to promote teamwork across allied health disciplines.

And we will repeat two of the most popular features from last year’s meeting – “Hot Topic” roundtables and “Spotlight on CAAHEP Professions.”

For hotel specifics and a registration form, go to www.caahep.org or call the CAAHEP office at 727-210-2350.See you in K.C.!