Professionals in the Spotlight
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Credentialing Quarterly
 
 Spotlight
Kristy Freeman
CHSE
Wanda Goranson
MSN, RN- BC, CHSE 
Frederick L. Sloan
MD, FAADM, CHSE 
Russell Metcalfe-Smith, FRSPH FHEA...







 
Spotlight
   

Kristy Freeman, CHSE
Simulation Education Coordinator, WA Country Health Service, Immediate Past Chair Australian Society for Simulation in Healthcare (ASSH), Vice Chair Media & Communication Committee (SSH)
 

HOW DID YOU GET INTO HEALTHCARE SIMULATION?

About 12 years ago, I was tasked with creating childbirth education programs for expecting parents.  I wanted to provide an interactive session to teach what would happen in the event of a Caesarean birth—and simulation was the solution.  With a beanbag on the floor to represent the operating table, the learners were asked to take on various roles such as the mother-to-be, her partner, the anesthetic team, the operative team, etc.  

Before we knew it, there were a dozen people, simulating healthcare professionals, surrounding the simulated patient.  For those women (and their partners) who later experienced a Caesarean birth, the feedback was positive. The simulated Caesarean section class lessened their fear during the actual birth.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT HEALTHCARE SIMULATION?

The “simulationists” I have the pleasure of working with are the best.  They are so passionate about what they do and inspire me every day.  Working in rural Western Australia, like many rural and remote places around the world, we need to be flexible and adaptable in how we implement simulation based training.  

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ABOUT HEALTHCARE SIMULATION?

Reminding people that simulation is not the answer to all healthcare education.  

WITH THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGH BECOMING CERTIFIED, HOW HAS THIS TRANSFORMED AND BENEFITED YOUR WORK AS A HEALTHCARE SIMULATIONIST?

Certification has given me a pathway to be formally recognized for the specialist simulation skills that I possess.  The networks that I have been able to establish across the world, as a result of certification, have been invaluable.

CREATIVE LICENSE

What do you do in healthcare simulation? 

Working for one of the largest health system in Australia—providing health services to approximately half a million people, including 45,000 Aboriginal people, over a two and a half square kilometer area— I get to travel to some interesting destinations.  

My travelling essentials are insect repellant, coffee bags, and my trusty coffin!

Why Certification?
   

Sharon Decker, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN
Chair, SSH Certification Committee
 

Recently someone asked me why so many of our faculty are taking the certification exam for simulation educators. I paused, gathered my thoughts and answered: "Many of our faculty are utilizing simulation as a theory based education strategy. Obtaining certification recognizes their knowledge base and expertise in teaching with simulation.” Later I was disappointed with my response and decided to develop my elevator speech.

So, here it is.

Certification is a volunteer activity and provides a method by which consumers, students, agencies and institutions can identify competent individuals. Research has demonstrated that individuals who obtain certification make decisions with greater confidence and adhere to evidence-based guidelines. Additionally, individuals who obtain certification perceive the benefits of certification to include an increase in personal satisfaction, professional credibility and marketability (Kaplow, 2011; Rutherford-Hemming & Lioce, 2015). Certification as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS) provides a formalized validation of specific knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience related to simulation. Advanced certification (CHSE-A) achieved through portfolio review allows an individual to demonstration the application of these competencies. 

Accreditation Committee Update
   

Julie Maxworthy,
DNP, MBA, RN, CPPS, CPHQ
Chair, Accreditation Committee
 

The Accreditation Committee has been very busy this year, mainly reviewing and revising the standards.  This was especially challenging in moving from having bold (required) and unbolded (suggested) elements to having all elements be required--while remaining inclusive. The new expectation is that almost all documentation is provided to the reviewers prior to them actually going to visit the program. We are also reaching out to key stakeholders (accredited programs, key leaders, affiliates) to obtain their feedback into the new standards to ensure we have a truly global perspective. If you receive a request for feedback, please provide your expertise so we can improve our work!

We are very excited to be revisiting programs that are going through their first reaccreditation. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the accreditation program, and those that are going through the process were part of the pilot project. The standards have morphed considerably since those early days, but the basic concept of ensuring a quality program remains strong.

The number of provisionally accredited sites is increasing. Most programs that submit an application for provisional realize, in review of the standards, that their program needs additional infrastructure. We applaud programs for starting down the accreditation path in this way, as it provides the ability to ensure a positive full accreditation in the coming years.

Please feel free to contact Andrew or Kristyn if you are interested in learning more about how your program can become accredited by SSH.