Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant

Jennifer Anderson Warwick
Executive Director

Phone: (612) 836 -3311
Email: arc-aa@arc-aa.org

The Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (ARC-AA) serves, under the auspices of CAAHEP, to promote and advance the quality of educational programs for anesthesiologist assistants.

Sponsors for Anesthesiologist Assistant

ARC-AA derives its identity from the policies of CAAHEP and its collaborating sponsors, the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Together these organizations provide accreditation services for education programs producing entry-level allied health practitioners.

American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA)
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

ARC-AA Board Members

Rich Bassi, CAA (AAAA), Chair
Sam Gumbert, MD (ASA), Vice Chair
John Kimbell, CAA (AAAA), Treasurer
Carolyn Bannister, MD (ASA)
Emily Drennan, MD (ASA)
Melanie Guthrie, CAA (AAAA)
Erik Nelson, MD (ASA)
Stephanie Strauss, CAA (AAAA)

Amber Donnelly PhD, MPH, SCT, PhD - CAAHEP Liaison

Site Visitor Workshop to be Held in Kansas City for Selected Participants - September 15, 2018

Currently accepting applications for site visitors; the deadline is June 15, 2018.

The ARC-AA is increasing its site visitor cadre and is seeking applicants to become site visitors for the ARC-AA. A site visitor may be an Anesthesiologist Assistant, Anesthesiologist, or a Dean. The training workshop will be hosted on September 15, 2018 Kansas City for those applicants who have been selected to be site visitors.

The applicant is responsible for some of the travel expenses to and from the workshop. Serving as a CAAHEP/ARC-AA site visitor requires a commitment on behalf of the individual as well as the ARC-AA. This commitment is one of time (the individual preparing for and conducting site visits), money (ARC-AA providing the initial training of the individual and continued education), and expertise. Requiring the individual to contribute to the initial training shows a commitment and strong desire to give back to educating anesthesiologist assistants.

To apply, an application packet must be submitted via email to jennifer@arc-aa.org, and must include ALL of the following:

The application form
A current CV
A letter of support from your employer
Two (2) letters of recommendation
Acknowledgment of the expectations of a site visitor (found on the last page of the application)
Successful completion of the CAAHEP Site Visitor Quiz -- quiz.caahep.org

NOTE: The result from the CAAHEP Site Visitor Quiz is automatically emailed to ARC-AA; therefore, you do NOT need to include this in your application packet. Incomplete packets or late submissions will not be considered.

All documentation must be emailed to jennifer@arc-aa.org. The ARC-AA does not accept paper documents.

SITE VISITOR QUALIFICATIONS

ALL Site Visitors

Successful completion of the CAAHEP Site Visitor Quiz.
If with a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program, the program must be in good standing.

Anesthesiologist Assistant

At least two (2) years of full-time experience or five (5) years of part-time experience as an Anesthesiologist Assistant educator with a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program; and,
Knowledgeable about education issues, especially curriculum, exam development, program evaluation, and student evaluation; and,
Qualify as a program director under current CAAHEP Standards; and,
If retired and not currently working with a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program, has worked in AA education within the past five (5) years; or
A current or past member of the ARC-AA Board of Directors.

Anesthesiologist

Actively involved in an Anesthesiologist Assistant education program; and
Knowledgeable about education issues; and,
Qualify as a medical director under current CAAHEP Standards; and,
If retired and not currently working with a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program, has worked in AA education within the past five (5) years; or
A current or past member of the ARC-AA Board of Directors.

University Dean or Associate Dean

The dean position will function as a generalist for the site visit, reviewing and validating data that is not content specific to anesthesiologist assistant, unless the individual has previous experience as an anesthesiologist assistant or an anesthesiologist.

Actively involved as a dean, or associate dean, of allied health.
Have experience in working with programmatic or institutional accreditation.
If retired and not currently working, has worked as a university dean or associate dean within the past five (5) years.

Accreditation Documents

CAAHEP Standards
Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Anesthesiologist Assistant (2016)

Seeking CAAHEP Accreditation
Request for Accreditation Services for Educational Programs for the Anesthesiologist Assistant

Self Study Report
[initial and Continuing]

Part I - Report
Part II - Appendices

Policy + Procedure
Policy Manual (April 2018)
Personnel Change Form
(Program Director & Medical Director)
Fees

Annual Report
Annual Reports are due each year on September 15 for all accredited programs. Following are tools to support the completion of the annual report, which is found here: arms.caahep.org.

User Guide

Resource Survey Data Collection - AND - Resource Assessment Matrix

Resource Assessment Matrix - Sample

The following survey tools are available via SurveyMonkey. Email jennifer@arc-aa.org for the instrument to be copied to the program's paid SurveyMonkey account.
Survey - Graduate
Survey - Employer
Survey - Student
Survey - Program Personnel

Accreditation Tools to assist with the process
Getting Started: an Action Plan
a plan for programs going through the accreditation process

The Site Visitors are Coming!
checklist for hosting the site visit

Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda + Checklist

Commission on Accreditation

of Allied Health Education Programs

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