Volume 82 - Fall 2002	Download

Policy on Site Visits to Clinical Affiliates Revised by Shauna C. Anderson, PhD, MT(ASCP)C, CLS(NCA) Secretary, Board of Directors

At the September Board of Directors meeting, the Board voted to discontinue site visits of clinical affiliates as a routine part of the accreditation process. The decision was made after reviewing the actual information obtained versus the number, variety and distances from the sponsoring institution of the clinical affiliates as well as the time allotted for the site visit.

However, since NAACLS is responsible for assuring that all aspects of the Program contribute to achieving the stated outcomes, if it is determined by review of the Self-Study Report that a clinical affiliate may need to be visited, the site visitors have the discretion to visit a clinical affiliate. The communication concerning this action should be conducted among the site visitors, the program director and the NAACLS office before the actual site visit so that the program director and affiliate can be prepared. By eliminating the visits to clinical facilities, the site visitors will have ample time to review the materials that cannot be included in the Self-Study Report or can only be assessed on site. This policy will take effect on January 1, 2003

With this change, it will be important for the program director to adequately describe each clinical affiliate and to document how that facility provides an educational experience for the students.

The Self-Study Report must contain the following information about each clinical affiliate:

1. Clinical Affiliate Fact Sheet
2. Active Affiliation Agreement
3. Major items of equipment utilized for student instruction
4. Current instructional resources
    a. Required textbooks
    b. Access to periodicals
    c. List of instructional resources used to facilitate the student's attainment of stated objectives
    d. How computer technology is utilized
5. Objectives and evaluations utilized by the facility
6. Rules and policies unique to the facility that govern student behavior
7. A mechanism for reviewing the effectiveness of the facility (i.e., student evaluation)
8. Mechanisms for student counseling and guidance
9. Data from outcome measures
10. Documentation of the analysis of the outcome measures and any changes that have been implemented
11. Record of formal student complaints

Information provided for each clinical affiliate should be housed not only at the clinical facility but also at the program's sponsoring institution. It is suggested that appropriate contact persons from each clinical affiliate be available for interview at the sponsoring institution during the site visit. If interviews cannot be conducted in this manner, arrangements should be made for telephone conversations. Interviews of students and of recent graduates should be arranged. If students at the clinical facilities cannot be at the sponsoring institution, teleconferences should be arranged.

With the elimination of site visits at clinical affiliates, it will be important for the program to document the learning experiences at the clinical site and collect and evaluate outcome measures for those experiences. The site visitors will now have sufficient time to view the program's facilities, resources and curricular materials that can only be evaluated on site.

To comply with Standard 22, programs are required to notify the NAACLS of changes in affiliates within 30 days. Before a student is placed at a new affiliate, the same information required in the Self -Study Report about that affiliate should be obtained and forwarded to NAACLS. The educational experience for the student must be guaranteed.

The changes in the accreditation process will increase assurance of quality educational experiences at the clinical facilities while decreasing the complexity and cost of a site visit. They will therefore benefit the program, the site visitors and the students.

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