- Email: [email protected]
Supporting Quality through Quality Sonographer Educational Programs
SONOGRAPHERS’ COMMUNICATION Supporting Quality through Quality Sonographer Educational Programs CAAHEP cardiac programs. The initiative lead to the development of the 2007 Cardiac Sonographer Education Development Grants. The grant program will award funds to support institutions in the early stages of cardiac sonography program development or to existing programs wishing to expand their diagnostic cardiac sonography track. Consideration will also be given to existing programs in the enhancement and expansion of their affiliated clinical sites. Individuals and institutions committed to excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound education should consider applying for these grants to support startup and ongoing diagnostic cardiac sonography programs. To follow are the categories under consideration for grants of up to $50,000: Rick Rigling, BS, RDCS, FASE Chair of the Council on Cardiac Sonography
The ASE recognizes that attaining high quality echocardiographic data in our ever-advancing field directly depends on the knowledge, technical expertise, and skill of the cardiac sonographer. There are three primary elements involved in assuring the competence of the future cardiac sonographer: 1. Credentialing and formal education: A cardiac sonographer must obtain a recognized credential within a limited time frame, using the pathways specified by the applicable credentialing organization, and should achieve requirements through an accredited CAAHEP program. 2. Technical competence: A cardiac sonographer must demonstrate and document technical competence in the performance of those types of echocardiographic examinations that the sonographer performs. 3. Continuing education: A cardiac sonographer must maintain his or her skills through participation in approved continuing educational programs. The ASE recognizes that there is a shortage of qualified sonographers to meet current and future needs and that there are currently not enough cardiac sonography programs and committed clinical sites available for prospective students. A 2006 ASE survey of CAAHEP programs which offered a cardiac track revealed a few impediments to programs increasing slots for possible future graduates. Through the work of the current ASE secretary, Donna Ehler, RDCS, along with other ASE volunteers and staff, an initiative was implemented to increase the graduating potential of current and future
Volume 19 Number 12
1. Program Development Award: To assist in the development of a diagnostic cardiovascular sonography program, and support costs associated with the CAAHEP accreditation application or curriculum development, faculty recruitment, and program administration. 2. Degree Development Award: For the existing CAAHEP accredited certificate program for the purpose of transitioning to a Bachelor degree program. 3. Clinical Site Development Awards: For the CAAHEP accredited diagnostic cardiac sonography programs to aid in the expansion of clinical sites.
Grant Submission Guidelines Contact [email protected] to request an application. Please note that only one grant per program or sponsoring institution will be awarded. Grants will be funded for one year beginning July 1, 2007. The application form will ask the applicant to provide the following information: 1. Name of the grant applied for, i.e. Program Development Award, Clinical Site Development Award, or Degree Development Award 2. Title of the proposal 3. Summary of the proposal, not to exceed 400 words (including specific aims, specifics on how the program will use the awarded money to increase qualified sonographer graduates, and how the program would sustain the effort after the grant support has ended) 4. Listing of participants in the submission process, with degrees, academic titles, and affiliations, along with a paragraph delineating their contribution to the proposal
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography 27A
5. Budget (To include proposed use of the grant and background for the financial need) 6. Proposed method to measure whether the award meets its intended purpose of increasing the number of qualified cardiac sonography graduates 7. Supporting materials (if any) 8. Tax ID number of the institution applying for the grant, along with a list of contacts
Submission Begins: December 15, 2006 with a submission deadline of February 15, 2007 The ASE is looking forward to working with educational programs through this grant award process to continue to grow the quality and strength of its cardiac sonographers. We are certain these efforts will have a lasting impact on the overall strength of the field of cardiovascular sonography.
28A Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
Volume 19 Number 12
The ASE recognizes that attaining high quality echocardiographic data in our ever-advancing field directly depends on the knowledge, technical expertise, and skill of the cardiac sonographer. There are three primary elements involved in assuring the competence of the future cardiac sonographer: 1. Credentialing and formal education: A cardiac sonographer must obtain a recognized credential within a limited time frame, using the pathways specified by the applicable credentialing organization, and should achieve requirements through an accredited CAAHEP program. 2. Technical competence: A cardiac sonographer must demonstrate and document technical competence in the performance of those types of echocardiographic examinations that the sonographer performs. 3. Continuing education: A cardiac sonographer must maintain his or her skills through participation in approved continuing educational programs. The ASE recognizes that there is a shortage of qualified sonographers to meet current and future needs and that there are currently not enough cardiac sonography programs and committed clinical sites available for prospective students. A 2006 ASE survey of CAAHEP programs which offered a cardiac track revealed a few impediments to programs increasing slots for possible future graduates. Through the work of the current ASE secretary, Donna Ehler, RDCS, along with other ASE volunteers and staff, an initiative was implemented to increase the graduating potential of current and future
Volume 19 Number 12
1. Program Development Award: To assist in the development of a diagnostic cardiovascular sonography program, and support costs associated with the CAAHEP accreditation application or curriculum development, faculty recruitment, and program administration. 2. Degree Development Award: For the existing CAAHEP accredited certificate program for the purpose of transitioning to a Bachelor degree program. 3. Clinical Site Development Awards: For the CAAHEP accredited diagnostic cardiac sonography programs to aid in the expansion of clinical sites.
Grant Submission Guidelines Contact [email protected] to request an application. Please note that only one grant per program or sponsoring institution will be awarded. Grants will be funded for one year beginning July 1, 2007. The application form will ask the applicant to provide the following information: 1. Name of the grant applied for, i.e. Program Development Award, Clinical Site Development Award, or Degree Development Award 2. Title of the proposal 3. Summary of the proposal, not to exceed 400 words (including specific aims, specifics on how the program will use the awarded money to increase qualified sonographer graduates, and how the program would sustain the effort after the grant support has ended) 4. Listing of participants in the submission process, with degrees, academic titles, and affiliations, along with a paragraph delineating their contribution to the proposal
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography 27A
5. Budget (To include proposed use of the grant and background for the financial need) 6. Proposed method to measure whether the award meets its intended purpose of increasing the number of qualified cardiac sonography graduates 7. Supporting materials (if any) 8. Tax ID number of the institution applying for the grant, along with a list of contacts
Submission Begins: December 15, 2006 with a submission deadline of February 15, 2007 The ASE is looking forward to working with educational programs through this grant award process to continue to grow the quality and strength of its cardiac sonographers. We are certain these efforts will have a lasting impact on the overall strength of the field of cardiovascular sonography.
28A Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
Volume 19 Number 12