Volume 65 - Winter 1996	Download

Dear Dr. NAACLS Honesty and disclosure on the part of the program

This letter was sent to Dr. NAACLS via email. . .

Dear Dr. NAACLS,

As my program faculty and I assembled the documentation required in the Guide to Accreditation, we discovered aspects of our program that need improvement. We have been working hard to bring our program into compliance with the Essentials, but there still is some work to be done. Should we indicate to NAACLS the problems we know the program must overcome?

Signed, Conscientious Program Director

Dear Conscientious Program Director,

You have asked an important question. The NAACLS mission statement, approved by the Board of Directors in September, indicates that NAACLS is committed to "principles of honesty, fairness, objectivity and integrity. " These principles apply to more than the Board of Directors, review committees, staff and volunteers. Being committed to these principles means that programs which choose to be accredited or approved by NAACLS are assumed to share these principles. In that respect, NAACLS tries to foster a relationship where individuals who feel that NAACLS has not been objective or fair in a review, may make their case by asking for reconsideration or appeal of a recommendation or action. The Board takes these procedures seriously, and strives to maintain the high standards our communities of interest have a right to expect from us.

The obligation to maintain these principles also binds programs. We trust that programs take very seriously their obligation to be forthright with NAACLS regarding compliance with the Essentials or Standards. NAACLS is not an organization created to "police" programs. Rather, it is believed that an outside agency can help give programs perspective as to how to improve. NAACLS exists not only to maintain minimum educational standards, but also to bolster programs' internal quality assurance processes. Hence, if because of an impending NAACLS review, you have discovered weaknesses in your program, the accreditation or approval process has succeeded. To us, this is more important than the end result of any individual review. One of the primary aims of the self-study process is to allow programs to take remedial action if, in the program's opinion, aspects of the program do not meet the Essentials or Standards. NAACLS exists to improve, not to punish, programs.

Further, it is worth noting that NAACLS Board of Directors makes the final determination as to whether a program is in compliance with an Essential or Standard. Every effort is made to be fair and flexible. NAACLS volunteers have no interest in stifling innovation or building elaborate hoops for programs to jump through. The process that leads to the discovery of places where programs can improve is one of the strengths of the accreditation or approval process. If you feel there are weaknesses in your program, it is best to report how your program deals with the requirements under a certain Essential or Standard, and leave it to the review committees or the Board of Directors to determine if your program is in compliance. Additionally, if you do change a policy or procedure as a result of the self-study process, make sure that you mention the change in your Self-Study Report, under the section regarding Program Evaluation.

Please remember that improving laboratory education is the reason for our existence. Improvement is only possible in an atmosphere conducive to open, honest communication. We try to hold ourselves to that standard, and we trust you do the same.

Sincerely,

Dr. NAACLS

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