During its February 5-6, 2016, meeting, the CoAEMSP Board of Directors adopted through policy new interpretations for the CAAHEP Standards listed below. The interpretations are NOT part of the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines document and are subject to change by CoAEMSP. Excerpts from the additional interpretations, include:

IV.A.1. Student and Graduate Evaluation/Assessment - Student Evaluation - Frequency and Purpose.

The interpretation clarifies that summative program evaluation is a capstone event that occurs when the field internship is nearing completion.

IV.A.2. Student and Graduate Evaluation/Assessment - Student Evaluation - Documentation.

The program must document a mechanism for demonstrating consistency of evaluation and progression of the student during team leadership.

IV.B.2. Student and Graduate Evaluation/Assessment - Outcomes - Outcomes Reporting.

Failure to meet the defined outcomes threshold over the most recent 3-year average may be considered a standards violation.

V.A.2. Fair Practices - Publications and Disclosure.

All students who are accepted for advanced placement (AP) must be accounted for in the annual report. Programs must demonstrate how advanced placement graduates meet all program minimum competency requirements in didactic, lab, clinical, and field internships. All programs must have and publish their policy on advanced placement even if they do not utilize advanced placement.

Questions regarding the interpretations can be directed to the CoAEMSP Executive Office. You can find this companion document, the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in the Emergency Medical Services Professions with CoAEMSP Interpretations here.

Be Sure You Understand Requirements for Satellite Locations & Classes!

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Staff Contact: Lynn Caruthers, [email protected] or 214-703-8445, x115
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Some programs are under the impression that having its satellite location and class approved once is enough. Not true!

The completed Request for Approval must be submitted, in advance of the beginning of class, and for each cohort matriculated for each satellite location.

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Failure to obtain prior CoAEMSP approval for each location/class may result in the graduates from the location/class not being eligible for the national examinations for the Paramedic.
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Questions about this form and about the approval process may be directed to Lynn Caruthers at 214-703-8445, x115 or [email protected].

Summer Accreditation Workshop to be Held in Louisville

JUNE 16 & 17

MARRIOTT LOUISVILLE
DOWNTOWN

This updated accreditation workshop will focus on the new 2015 CAAHEP Standards and the new Self Study Report templates. This workshop is a must for new program directors as well as seasoned program directors!

Because all programs will be transitioning to the new Self Study Reports (SSRs), and more than 200 programs will be going through the accreditation process for the first time, these workshops will serve as an invaluable resource.

Check Out the CoAEMSP Line-Up at the NAEMSE Educator Symposium!

August 1-6, 2016

Fort Worth, Texas

PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION

Evaluating Student Competency

Monday, August 1, 8 am to 5 pm

This one-day workshop has been designed to assist instructors in appropriately evaluating students in all domains as well as complying with CAAHEP accreditation Standards related to student evaluation. The following will be addressed:

Principles of Student Evaluation
Constructing an Evaluation Strategy / Case Studies
Written Evaluation Tools
Item Analysis of Written Exams
Cut Score Determination
Affective Evaluation
Simulations & Scenario Oral Evaluation
Clinical / Internship Evaluation
Developing a Portfolio Competency Package
General Item Analysis and Review of Acceptable Reporting

(Note: This workshop will not include psychomotor content since this will be covered on Tuesday and Wednesday in the NREMT Regional Scenario Development Workshop for the Portfolio.)

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CoAEMSP BREAKOUT SESSIONS

CAAHEP Unplugged--Accreditation Update 2016

Saturday, August 6, 10:10am to 11:10am
George Hatch, Jr., EdD, LP, EMT-P, Executive Director, CoAEMSP
Join the Executive Director of the CoAEMSP to hear what is new regarding implementation of the 2015 CAAHEP Standards, the CoAEMSP Interpretations of the CAAHEP Standards, use of Portfolios in your program, advanced placement and much more that you need to know to effectively manage your Paramedic educational program. Take the opportunity to ask your questions and hear first-hand from the CoAEMSP about how these issues will impact you and your students in the coming year.

CoAEMSP Case Studies
Saturday, August 6, 1:30pm to 2:30 pm
Gordon Kokx, PhD(c), NRP, Assistant Director of Accreditation Services, CoAEMSP
Through group analysis and discussion of several case studies, this interactive session will provide program directors the opportunity to consider some common problems and solutions in meeting the CAAHEP Standards. Participants will share their best practices, experiences, and lessons learned in meeting some common standards challenges. Attend to discover some creative answers to frequent difficulties and expand your program director network!

CoAEMSP Annual Reports

Saturday, August 6, 2:40pm to 3:40pm
Jennifer Anderson Warwick, MA, Accreditation Consultant, CoAEMSP
Annual Reports (AR) are required of all CAAHEP accredited programs and provide a snapshot of trends in annual enrollment, national or state certification rates, attrition, retention, and evaluation by graduates and employers. In addition, programs must include a brief action plan for each area. Completing the AR often raises questions for the new program director and this presentation will provide tips on the most frequently asked questions. In addition, programs not meeting the established Thresholds in these five areas must submit a detailed Standard Progress Report (SPR) and are required to analyze the issues and formulate an action plan for areas falling below the Threshold. This session will also provide suggestions on how to address deficiencies and what to include in the action plan.

Download

Program Guide

for More Information
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CoAEMSP EXHIBIT BOOTH

Meet One-on-One with CoAEMSP Staff

Find us at Booth #502

By the Numbers

Milestones

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"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
- Nelson Mandela
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In recognition of an educational milestone being achieved, the CoAEMSP would like to recognize those who have furthered their education and earned a Masters degree or higher. Congratulations!

Linda Abrahamson, MA, EMT-P, program director at Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Ill., earned a Masters of Arts from Governors State University (Ill.) on December 6, 2015.

Robert Davis, MOL, NRP, program director at Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, Tenn., earned a Masters of Organizational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University on December 31, 2015.

New Governance Page

The CoAEMSP has added a Governance page to its website, which contains its Bylaws, Annual Reports, and special announcements.

The page can be accessed from 'About Us' drop-down menu.

Click here to go to the Governance Page.

CoAEMSP Board is Seeking Two Public Members

The Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) has vacancies for two public member positions on its Board of Directors. Public members of the CoAEMSP serve three-year terms, with eligibility for a maximum of three consecutive terms of service. Public members will begin serving immediately following their election (expected to be August 2016). There is no honorarium for these Board positions, although all customary travel expenses associated with the position are reimbursed.

The purpose of the CoAEMSP includes:

Functioning as a Committee on Accreditation (CoA) member of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) to provide accreditation services to educational programs in the EMS professions;
Conducting the Letter of Review process for educational programs in the EMS professions;
Monitoring the need for recognition of Paramedic educational programs and/or courses of instruction, and responding to such need; and,
Educating the public, sponsoring organizations, governmental agencies, healthcare professions, and others about recognition, review and accreditation of programs/courses for the EMS professions.

The CoAEMSP has 14 sponsoring organizations; each sponsor has two representatives on the CoAEMSP Board of Directors, which constitutes a Board of 28 directors. The addition of two public members would bring the number to a total of 30 and is in accordance with our Bylaws.

Please refer to the position description for additional details.

Interested applicants should submit all required application documentation to Dr. George W. Hatch, Jr, at [email protected]. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.

A Federal Perspective: 50 Years of Helping EMS Systems Improve

On the 50th anniversary of the birth of modern EMS, EMS Strong reflects on the role the federal government has had in helping local agencies and care providers serve their communities.

Often cited as the foundation of modern emergency medical services, this year EMS recognizes the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking whitepaper, Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society. The paper, released by the National Academy of Sciences in 1966, assessed the mortality and injury rate among civilians during a time in which the number of people killed on the nation's roadways was near epidemic proportions.

The findings and recommendations in the report led to the development of an EMS system that is much more sophisticated than the report's authors likely predicted. As the industry looks ahead and plans for the next 50 years of EMS innovation, it's important to reflect on the profession's history, those who have and continue to shape the EMS landscape and the major milestones that helped create modern EMS.

Read more

CAAHEP Has a New Address!

CAAHEP is moving March 31, so be sure you make note of its new address:

25400 U.S. Highway 19 North
Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763

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

[email protected]

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