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Volume 62 - Winter 1996
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The new Essentials: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?
by Norton I. German, MD
CLSPRC Member |
After ten years of dramatic changes in the clinical laboratory sciences, the new Essentials of Accredited Educational Programs for the CLS/MT, CLT/MLT and HT/HTL are complete.
While the thought of any change produces anxiety in some, it creates optimism in many of hopes for professional growth and greater recognition of the increasing skills required to meet the challenges of advancing technology and newly emerging opportunities.
In the new Essentials, many items remain "old" and unchanged. Yes, there is still a requirement for provision for renewal of affiliation agreements, and the program director shall have input into budget preparation. The program must also continue to inform NAACLS of changes in program director or affiliates within 30 days.
Some things "new" will appear. They include an updated "Description of the Profession, " higher professional education requirements in some cases for future program directors and future education coordinators and inclusion in affiliation agreements of a clause providing for program completion by enrolled students.
Something borrowed and renamed is the old concept of "technical standards, " now to be called "essential functions" and required. It still remains but a combination of psychomotor and sensory abilities needed by the student to successfully achieve professional entry-level competencies.
Something "blue" for some may include the challenge to upgrade curriculum to meet higher professional standards and a U. S. Department of Education mandate that program evaluation include a documented review of program completion and placement rates.
In several ways, the new Essential format may bring some relief to many. Henceforth, the streamlined documents will be without any Guidelines. That does not mean they have been erased from memory, but rather than many have been transferred to Essentials or the NAACLS' Policies and Procedures Manual for future reference. In the academic setting, a strict student-to-instructor ratio has been removed, academic faculty appointments have been clarified, the reference to books less than five years old is gone, and attendance records are no longer required in student files.
Some programs have expressed concern about the higher academic requirements for program directors in all programs, requiring either a master's degree for CLS/MT and CLT/MLT programs or a baccalaureate degree for HT and HTL programs. Most of the current NAACLS accredited programs already meet this requirement. Any program directors currently in place and not meeting these requirements will still continue to be acceptable program directors. It is only when a program obtains a new program director that the new requirements will need to be met. In other words, current program directors will be "grandparented".
When will the new Essentials take effect? How soon must you comply? Though the new Essentials are in effect when adopted by the NAACLS Board of Directors, as with the 1986 Essentials, there will be a period of transition when programs will have the option of being evaluated according to either the old or new Essentials.
All attempts at progress require change, and change is not always painless, but the future looks brighter for clinical laboratory professionals.
Dr. German is a member of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Programs Review Commitee and the Discipline Lead Person for Histotechnician/Histotechnologist programs.
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Copyright © 2008 National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. All rights reserved. Comments or suggestions to the site editor. |
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