Accreditation is Credible Education
NOVEMBER 2017 / IN THIS ISSUE
  • No Annual Report Due in 2017!
  • Webinar: Resource Assessment & Evaluation Processes
  • Webinar: New Appendix G--Student Minimum Competency Matrix
  • January Accreditation Workshop
  • Due Dec. 1: Response to Findings Letter & Progress Reports
  • Policies and Procedures Approved August 2017
  • Self Study Reports Due in 2018
  • Board Member Donna Tidwell is Recognized for Exemplary Service
  • By the Numbers
  • Milestones
  • Thanksgiving Closing
No Annual Report Due in 2017!
Staff Contact: Lynn Caruthers, lynn@coaemsp.org

There is no Annual Report due in 2017. The CoAEMSP will conduct a pilot test with 200 programs in early 2018, and an email will be distributed directly to those 200 programs. All programs will get a pass this year for the Annual Report, including those participating in the pilot test. Want to know more? Click here .
Webinar: Resource Assessment & Evaluation Processes
Monday, November 20 @ 1-2 p.m. Central

Staff Contact: Jennifer Anderson Warwick, jennifer@coaemsp.org

Accreditation is outcomes based. So how do we measure our outcomes? This webinar will review the various evaluation processes required, tools available, and how to use them. The tools include the recently revised Graduate and Employer surveys, Student and Faculty Resource assessments, and the Resource Assessment Matrix (RAM). Other best practices in program evaluation will also be discussed.

Registration for the webinar is limited to 500 attendees. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
FAQs Also Available
Webinar: New Appendix G--Student Minimum Competency Matrix
Tuesday, November 28 @ 1-2 p.m. Central

Staff Contact: Jennifer Anderson Warwick, jennifer@coaemsp.org

The webinar, Appendix G – Student Minimum Competency Matrix and Recommended Competency Minimums is now available. Watch the video, download the slide deck, or download the common questions posed during and after the webinar, on the Self Study page here (at the bottom of the page) or on the Webinars page here.

There will be an encore webinar offered on Tuesday, November 28 from 1-2 p.m. Central Time. Join Dr. Gordy Kokx as he shares why and how the RECOMMENDED minimums for patients, interventions, and team leader experiences were developed. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

The webinar will include the topics shared during the original webinar in July 2017 and common questions that have been asked since the release of the Student Minimum Competency Matrix.

Please register for CoAEMSP: Appendix G - Student Minimum Competency Matrix (effective July 1, 2019) on November 28, 2017 1:00 PM CST.
Registration is limited to 500 attendees. 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Response to Findings Letter & Progress Reports Due December 1
Staff Contact: Karen Franks, karen@coaemsp.org

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Important Note! A single PDF document must be used to submit the Response to the Findings Letter or the Progress Report to karen@coaemsp.org . No exceptions!
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Do you have a progress report due December 1? Have you recently hosted a site visit and have a response to the site visit findings due December 1? If yes, be sure to submit it no later than December 1 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

All programs with a Response to the Findings Letter or a Progress Report due on December 1 received a courtesy reminder the last full week of October.

Failure to submit the Response to the Findings Letter or the Progress Report on time may lead to a recommendation of Administrative Probation by CAAHEP. [CoAEMSP Policy III. I. Administrative Probation and CAAHEP Policy 208.B. Administrative Probation]
New and Revised Policies Approved August 2017
CoAEMSP Policies and Procedures
The CoAEMSP Board adopted new and revised policies during its August 3-4, 2017, meeting. The policies further clarify the policies and procedures as they relate to programs. The current CoAEMSP Policies and Procedures Manual can be found here .

Some highlights from the new or revised policies include and are not limited to:

Fees. All CoAEMSP fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. NOTE: The CAAHEP fee is in addition to CoAEMSP fees and is billed directly from and payable to CAAHEP.

Late submission of Progress Reports will be assessed a late processing fee in accordance with the CoAEMSP fee schedule.

Site Visit Report at time of conclusion of site visit. The site visit team prepares an UNOFFICIAL Site Visit Report leaving a Summary of Findings with the program. The program must wait to respond until the OFFICIAL Findings Letter is received.

Change of Name/Change of Ownership of the Paramedic Program and the process involved.

Transfer of Sponsorship procedure.

Program Closure requirements in the event a program’s accreditation is Withhold, Withdrawal or Expiration of Initial Accreditation.

Publication of the CoAEMSP Letter of Review or CAAHEP Accreditation status states what information can be published by a program on the status of its CoAEMSP Letter of Review or CAAHEP Accreditation.

Communication with the State Office of EMS. The CoAEMSP Executive Office may, at its discretion, share information regarding the Paramedic program’s CAAHEP accreditation and/or CoAEMSP Letter of Review status with relevant State Office(s) of EMS, the program’s institutional accrediting organization, and the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) at any time.

Failure to Notify of a Personnel Change fee (effective May 1, 2017). Programs are required to notify the CoAEMSP of a change in personnel [i.e., President/CEO, Dean (or comparable administrator, billing contact), Program Director, Medical Director, Associate Medical Director, Assistant Medical Director, Lead Instructor, Billing Contact]. Failure to do so within the times prescribed in Policy XV Personnel Changes will be assessed a fee.
 
Any program re-applying for a Letter of Review (LoR) where the program
sponsor was previously revoked, withheld, withdrawn, or expired shall be
responsible for any and all fees previously invoiced and unpaid to the
CoAEMSP. These fees are in addition to all non-refundable and non-
transferable fees associated with the accreditation process.

Adding/Changing an Associate Medical Director, Assistant Medical Director, or Lead Instructor. Clear process for adding or changing any of the new positions listed in the 2015 CAAHEP Standards.

Lead Instructor Associate Degree Requirement. Effective July 1, 2017, all accredited programs or Letter of Review (LoR) programs adding or identifying a Lead Instructor must fill the position with an individual meeting all qualifications prescribed under the current CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines, including possession of an Associate Degree. The Associate Degree may be in any area of study.

Lead Instructors who have been in this position continuously from date of
hire prior to the 2015 CAAHEP Standards who do not meet the
Associate’s Degree requirement prescribed under the current CAAHEP
Standards may continue in the role of Lead Instructor with that program,
so long as that program continuously maintains CAAHEP
accreditation. Should there be a change in the Lead Instructor, the new
Lead Instructor MUST meet 2015 CAAHEP Standards.

Satellite locations. After the CoAEMSP has approved a satellite location, the program MUST notify the CoAEMSP immediately if there are any changes to that location specific to: the number of students enrolled in the class; the class not starting, or the start date or on-time graduation date.

If you have questions, please contact the CoAEMSP Executive Office at 214-703-8445 or visit www.coaemsp.org.
Self Study Reports Due in 2018
To assist program directors and to provide transparency, all Self Study Reports that are due in calendar year 2018 are listed on our website.

Programs are notified approximately six (6) months in advance of the ISSR or CSSR due date.  If you are a program director wondering if you have a self study report due in 2018, view the list here.

Programs holding the CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) and seeking Initial Accreditation from CAAHEP, the CoAEMSP Executive Office will send an official notice six (6) months in advance of the Initial-accreditation Self Study Report (ISSR) due date. [CoAEMSP Policy II. Accreditation Process]

For programs holding CAAHEP Accreditation, the CoAEMSP Executive Office will send an official notice of the Continuing-accreditation Self Study Report (CSSR) approximately twenty-four (24) months prior to the CAAHEP anniversary date. Approximately six (6) months after this notice is sent the CSSR is due. [CoAEMSP Policy II. Accreditation Process]

Questions? Contact Karen Franks at karen@coaemsp.org.
Board Member Donna Tidwell is Recognized for Exemplary Service
CoAEMSP Board Member Donna Tidwell was one of six military veteran Tennessee employees recently recognized by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam for making a difference within their area of expertise.The Veteran’s Day event was held at the Tennessee Tower Plaza in downtown Nashville.

First Lieutenant Tidwell is Director of Emergency Medical Services and has worked for the State of Tennessee for 31 years. She is a registered nurse and paramedic; she served in the Tennessee Army National Guard; and later was a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, completing tours in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As Primary Emergency Service Coordinator for the Department of Health, she responded to numerous disasters. Donna recently coordinated nurse volunteers who were sent to emergency shelters and Tennessee Health Nurse strike Teams deployed to North Carolina for Hurricane Matthew response. She served 18-hour days supporting health and EMS teams during the Gatlinburg wildfires, and deployment of 111 personnel to assist with Hurricane Irma.

The CoAEMSP is proud to have Donna on its Board of Directors and offers its sincere congratulations!
Start the Year Off Right!
CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop for Paramedic Programs in Orlando

JANUARY 4-5
ORLANDO, FL
Rosen Plaza Hotel

Get all the information you need to make the accreditation process more efficient and most successful.

These workshops will focus on the new 2015 CAAHEP Standards and the new Self Study Report templates. These accreditation workshops will serve as an invaluable resource for new program directors, lead instructors, and deans as well as the seasoned program directors.


Some of the Important Information You Will Learn

  • Accreditation deal breakers
  • What the ‘banker box’ system is that is recommended for the site visit
  • How many students the SV team wants to interview
  • Tips and tricks for making the site visit efficient
  • Why you need to look at the CV of the scheduled site visitor
  • How many days a site visit typically consists of
  • How many site visitors typically come to a site visit
ADDITIONAL 2018 WORKSHOPS

April 26-27 Location TBD
October 25-26 Location TBD
By the Numbers
Milestones
Elliot Carhart, EdD, RRT, NRP, Assistant Professor of the Emergency Services Program sponsored by Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, VA, was recently named to the 2017 class of Fellows of the Academy of Emergency Medical Services (FAEMS) by the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP).
Thanksgiving Closing
The CoAEMSP office will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24. We wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday. We are thankful for all you do to further the EMS profession.
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Resource Assessment & Evaluation Processes
Monday, November 20 @ 1-2 p.m. Central

Webinar: Appendix G - Student Minimum Competency Matrix
(effective July 1, 2019)
Tuesday, November 28 @ 1-2 p.m. Central
CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop
January 4-5, 2018
Orlando, FL

CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop
April 26-27, 2018
Location to be determined

CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop
October 25-26, 2018
Location to be determined
Quick Links
Sponsors
Share Your Feedback and Suggestions
Is there something you would like us to cover in a future eUpdate? 
Let us know!

Sincerely,
Jennifer S. Anderson Warwick, MA
CoAEMSP