Joint Accreditation

History

Beginning in 1998, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) began the process of aligning the three accrediting systems to create a unified “joint accreditation” process for organizations that develop education for the health care team. The goals of this joint accreditation are to support health care team-focused education that improves practice, and at the same time to streamline the accreditation processes. Interprofessional education is designed to address the professional practice gaps of the health care team using an educational planning process that reflects input from those health care professionals who make up the team. The education is designed to change the skills/strategy, performance, or patient outcomes of the healthcare team. In March 2009, specific joint accreditation criteria, eligibility information and process steps for joint accreditation were released. The ACCME, ACPE and ANCC began making Joint Accreditation decisions in July 2010.

Definition

As an organization that builds bridges with other stakeholders through collaboration and cooperation, the provider of continuing education (CE) for the healthcare team participates within a framework for quality improvement by planning, offering and evaluating education for teams comprised of two or more health care professionals (e.g., nurses, pharmacists, and/or physicians).  The goal of this education will be to address the professional practice gaps of the health care team using an educational planning process that reflects input from those health care professionals who make up the team.  The education will be designed to change the skills/strategy, performance, or patient outcomes of the health care team. Joint accreditation offers an additional option — not a restriction — for continuing education providers. Organizations that are accredited separately can also produce education for health care teams, and organizations that are awarded joint accreditation can also produce education that is not team-related.

Eligibility

Organizations are eligible to seek accreditation as a provider of continuing education for the health care team if:

• the organization is already accredited in good standing by two national accrediting bodies (ACCME, ACPE and/or ANCC) or one national accrediting body (ACCME, ACPE or ANCC) and one state accrediting body (ACCME Recognized Accreditor or ANCC Accredited Approver).
• 25% of the educational activities delivered by the organization during the past 12 months are comprised of education designed by and for the healthcare team; and
• the organization engages in the joint accreditation process and demonstrates compliance with the Joint Accreditation Criteria and any associated accreditation policies required by ACCME, ACPE or ANCC.

Overview of the Joint Accreditation Process

An organization seeking accreditation as a provider of continuing education for the health care team will submit materials including a self study report and supporting activity files, along with a fee, and will participate in the process of accreditation review that is jointly managed by ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC.   The review process is expected to take approximately 12 months and will include:

• Engagement by the provider in a self study to reflect on its program of continuing education;
• Submission of a self study report in which the provider describes its practices and verifies these practices using examples;
• An interview conducted by a three-person team of volunteer surveyors (representative of ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC) and a staff member of one of the three national accrediting bodies;
• Review of activity documentation in activity files;
• Review of materials to a Joint Accreditation Review Committee (Joint ARC) constituted equally by representatives from ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC;
• Recommendation made by the Joint ARC will be forwarded for final decision to the governing boards of ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC.

The standard term of accreditation as a provider of continuing education for the health care team will be four years.  A progress report may be required as part of the accreditation decision.  Annual reports may also be required by each accrediting body. If a provider withdraws from the joint accreditation process and/or is not successful, the provider will have one year to seek accreditation directly through each individual accrediting body as desired.

Under the status of accreditation as a provider of CE for the health care team, the provider may also offer continuing education for nurses, pharmacists, or physicians separately.

Two review cycles will be provided:

Expectation of providers

Providers pursuing accreditation through the joint accreditation process are expected to plan, develop and deliver continuing education in accordance with the Joint Accreditation Criteria and the ACCME/ACPE/ANCC Policies for Jointly Accredited Providers.