

We have certainly had a different perspective and time since our last missive. I last wrote about the wonders of the IMSH 2020 and all we had talked about, discussed, accomplished and done as a team together. We trained new reviewers, developed new processes, welcomed new Council members, and added additional tasks to our long list of actions.
Just a few months later, we are faced with the reality of a pandemic. Looking back to January, it is hard to imagine how very clueless I was to the global concerns of COVID-19. How a virus has turned everyone’s lives upside down is truly remarkable. As I write this in my home office (which three months ago I could never have conceived), I realize how blessed I am to have such an amazing team of friends and colleagues to work with on the Accreditation Council. Each of the Council members have pulled together to create a web, laced with enthusiasm, creativity, and initiative, to hold the Council goals up and move them forward. All I can say is WOW!
With the national order to WFH (who knew we would even be able to do such a thing), we were able to review the applications that came in during the December submissions, and conduct virtual reviews with the Programs. I had the first opportunity to pave this brave new world, by reviewing our colleagues in Hong Kong at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It was a new experience, but one that helped me craft a vision to move forward. We developed processes, policies and a strong Zoom team to allow our reviewers to continue to do what they do best, review programs, provide feedback, help grow our accredited programs. It was joyful to see how many folks jumped on this virtual bandwagon to think outside the box and provide an in depth review with folks who were defending their Programs from their living rooms, bedrooms and some even their closets! The imagination and creativity of these simulation programs is amazing, you have to love simulationists, they do think on their feet.
Our on-line courses have literally exploded. With the help of Kristyn to assure everyone was able to take their chosen courses, we have had fully subscribed courses since February. Many, many thanks to Alaina Harrington for leading this effort. We are now teaching Core, Teaching / Education, and Assessments to dozens of interested persons around the globe. Systems Integration will roll out next followed by Research. Such an amazing addition to our burgeoning Council.
We also have seen the roll out of an outstanding annual program review survey (which you should have received and a gentle reminder, you need to complete and return). Many thanks to our Quality Sub-Committee for moving so quickly to get that out. Our Program Reviewer Sub-Committee is busy developing a rubric to provide better feedback to our reviewers, we certainly look forward to how we can improve our own reviews.
We are climbing the mountain, under Tom LeMaster’s gentle hand, to review our Core Plus Four Standards. This Sub-Committee will do a deep dive to review each standard to assure it is still meeting best practice setting. This mountain is climbed every five years, and Tom’s Sub-Committee of outstanding reviewers will have the task of bringing this home to the Council by the end of the summer. Hat’s off to each of you who are participating in this task. Thank you for answering the call to help (if and when your section calls on you for your review).
Florida is inching it’s way to be open, but we are a long way from being free to move about. I know many of you are still under orders to WFH, and a few of you are actually returning to work. The guidelines the CDC is putting out will help us guide our learners into a new way of participating in simulation, practicing social distancing and wearing masks while we do so. Travel has halted for now, and we all are learning to do so many things at home we had never thought possible. A special call out to our own Kristyn Gadlage and Betsy Holzwarth for keeping us up to date, meetings scheduled, reviews turned in, and on and on and on…we could not survive without these amazing women.
Give your family a hug, let them know they are part of our mission as well, as they give us the permission to borrow you on a daily basis for this very important volunteer activity. Wishing you all a safe and healthy summer as we move into a new normal. Many, many thanks for the thousands of hours you give to the Society. We are so appreciative to each and every one of you.
Stay safe, stay healthy,
Warmest regards,
Dawn
Council Updates
Accreditation Operations during COVID-19
Although COVID-19 has currently restricted SSH Program Reviewers from traveling, the SSH Accreditation Council implemented an emergency procedure change allowing for virtual accreditation reviews. This will be a full-day review utilizing webcams by both accreditation reviewers and program. The virtual reviews are underway and have proven successful. We are continuing to have virtual reviews for the May 15, 2020 accreditation application submissions but are hopeful that travel restrictions will be lifted in the future.
We are also offering another application submission deadline of August 15, 2020 to give Program’s additional time to compile their application.
Upcoming Standards review
The SSH Accreditation standards are reviewed and revised every five years. The last revision took place in 2015, with the new standards being launched in 2016. The time has come to review, revise and update the standards again. A working group has been compiled to begin reviewing, editing and updating the standards. But, we would like to hear from YOU! If you have any recommendations or updates you’d like to suggest, please email kgadlage@ssih.org.
F2F Accreditation meeting
Due to the safety of SSH staff and members, the annual Accreditation meeting has been changed from in- person to virtual. We are excited to pilot a zoom meeting and look forward to sharing the outcomes with everyone. The meeting dates have not been finalized but we are shooting for some time in August.
Online training
SSH Accreditation has worked collaboratively with SSH Education and developed online Accreditation Courses. In the courses, you will
- Learn the components of the accreditation process. This interactive course will help you understand the requirements for accreditation, the application process, and available resources.
- Identify your program’s strengths and weaknesses. Each course will breakdown the corresponding standards and criteria with examples of past successful accredited programs.
- Examine where most programs struggle to achieve accreditation. Each module contains active course activities to assist programs in the most challenging parts of the application process.
For more information and a list of open courses, please visit: https://www.ssih.org/Professional-Development/Online-Learning/Accreditation-Online-Courses
SSH Accreditation Fellowship Program Standards
We are happy to announce that SSH Accreditation has launched a new set of standards known as Simulation Fellowship for which Program’s can apply. The Council is piloting these standards over the course of the next few months with SSH Accredited Programs.
The Accreditation News is a product of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare by the members of the Accreditation Council.
If you would like to contribute to Accreditation News or have an idea, please contact kgadlage@ssih.org.