Provisional Grant
A
NEWLY ADOPTED DECISION PATHWAY
from
the December 2006 issue
At
their summer meeting, the ICAEL Board of Directors adopted a
new decision pathway: Provisional Grant for one year only.
This decision pathway was added to the current options of Grant,
Delay, and Deny. The Provisional
Grant is used in specific instances where problems are identified
but are such that they would not negatively impact the day-to-day
quality of the studies performed in the laboratory. Only laboratories
applying for their first accreditation cycle are eligible to
receive a Provisional Grant; reaccreditation applications with
these specific deficiencies will receive a Delay decision.
How The Provisional Grant Works
The
anticipated use of the Provisional Grant will be for laboratories
that have demonstrated quality diagnostic studies through their
application process, but:
- have
staff members who are not in compliance with the Continuing
Education Requirements.
- Medical
Director: at least 30 hours of AMA Category I CME
credits in echocardiography over a period of three (3)
years
- Technical
Director:
at least 30 hours of echocardiography-related continuing
education over a period of three (3) years
- Medical
Staff: at least 15 hours of AMA Category I CME credits
in echocardiography over a period of three (3) years
- Technical
Staff: at least 15 hours of echocardiography-related continuing
education over a period of three (3) years
- do
not have a credentialed Technical Director.
- The
Technical Director must have an appropriate credential
in echocardiography from the American Registry of Diagnostic
Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or Cardiovascular Credentialing
International (CCI) by January 1, 2007.
- do
not have QA documentation for correlation or peer review
- Regular
records must be maintained of the quality assurance process.
These records should include, but not be limited to, correlation
data and information gained from other required components
in Section 5.1. The records must include a description
of how the information is used to improve quality in the
echocardiography laboratory and be supported by at least
three months of QA data.
What Happens If My Laboratory
Receives A Provisional Grant?
If
a laboratory receives a Provisional Grant, they will be notified
in writing of that decision, as well as the specific issues
that are not in compliance that must be corrected within one
year of the decision date. These deficiencies, as well as what
is required to document compliance, will be clearly outlined.
In
addition to the letter, the laboratory will receive a certificate
that will expire one year from the date of decision (rather
than three years), the camera-ready logo, and press release
packet. However, in order to extend the accreditation period
for the full three years, they must provide documentation of
correction of the noted deficiencies within the one-year period.
If
such documentation is not received, the accreditation will automatically
expire at the end of the year. If the documentation is received
and compliance demonstrated, a new certificate will be issued
that will be valid for three years from the original date of
decision.
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