AHDI Curriculum and Approval Policy Changes
AHDI is reaching out to the educational community to encourage your engagement and feedback on policy changes being considered for education program approval. It is the consensus of the ACCP Approval Committee that the AHDI Model Curriculum and the policies for education approval be modified to clarify the critical role of instructors in medical transcription training programs. Such a subtle, but significant, shift in emphasis and definition will impact requirements for program approval moving forward. Therefore, AHDI hopes to engage the educational sector in a 30-day public comment period on the proposed policies and changes.
Given the pressing need to prepare MTs for current and future roles in health data capture and technology integration, our model curriculum and approval policies should continue to reflect the critical urgency of making sure educational programs are producing job-ready industry candidates.
To that end, the committee has approved the following revision (new language underlined) to the AHDI Model Curriculum, 4th edition, under the section entitled Instructor Involvement:
"AHDI believes that integrating credentialed content experts (ie, those with industry perspective and experience) into educational programs is critical to helping students make meaningful connections between textbook information and real world application. To that end, AHDI suggests that all transcription programs include some level of formal instruction and instructor feedback beyond the information and correction that can be gleaned by the student from textbooks and course materials through self-study. This can/should include live or recorded lecture, on-site or virtual classroom discussion, and/or directed feedback during practical portions of an educational program. Content developers must be CMTs through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) or have a minimum of three years’ acute-care and/or multi-specialty experience. Content developers must demonstrate current knowledge in course content through appropriate professional development activities. Instructors for Medical Transcription Practice content area must be CMTs through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) or have a minimum of three years of acute-care or multispecialty experience or possess equivalent qualifications."
In addition to this clarification of instructor involvement in the Model Curriculum, the ACCP is in unanimous agreement about the following modifications to the Education Approval policies that reflect this clarified emphasis:
Under "Synopsis of Criteria for Approval," Section 1 "Organization:"
c. Qualified course instructors are providing formal instruction and/or direct feedback to students (beyond the information and correction that can be gleaned by the student from textbooks and course materials through self-study). This can/should include live or recorded lecture, on-site or virtual classroom discussion, and/or directed feedback during practical portions of an educational program. Course instructors and content developers should hold a Certified Medical Transcriptionist credential or have 3 years’ acute care experience in the medical transcription profession.
Under "Synopsis of Criteria for Approval," Section 2 "Systems and Policies:"
c. Evidence that formal instruction and/or direct feedback by a qualified instructor is an integrated part of the program curriculum, where "instruction" is clearly defined as any connection between an instructor and student where training, feedback, and teaching occurs, either one-on-one or in a group setting. Individuals serving merely as course coordinators, graders, or administrators will not satisfy the instructor requirement.
Under "STEP 2: Self Study for Approval," Section 2 "Systems and Policies," subsection 4.c:
4.c Provide a narrative detailing how formal instruction and/or direct feedback are incorporated into the course curriculum, ie, (a) describing the interaction between the instructional staff and student, (b) identifying program management of student progress tracking and provisions for feedback, and (c) including sample instructor lesson plans for formal instruction, where appropriate. Include teacher-student ratio. Submit samples showing feedback.
Given the potential impact that these new provisions may have on some programs seeking either first-time approval or re-approval, AHDI is putting these changes out for public comment for a period of 30 days, both to engage the educational community in dialogue around the role of "instruction" and "instructors" as well as to usher our sector toward these goals in a transparent manner.
The ACCP welcomes your insight and feedback on these changes. You can submit your comments and feedback:
1. Privately by email to AHDI Professional Programs Director Lea Sims, CMT, AHDI-F (lsims@ahdionline.org). Your comments will be forwarded to the committee for review.
2. Publically through the AHDI Educators Alliance listserv. If you are not currently a participating alliance member, you can request access to the listserv from Bethany Twist (btwist@ahdionline.org).
3. Publically here in the AHDI Lounge, where this information will also be posted to our blog.
We look forward to your thoughts on this important issue.
Lea M. Sims, CMT, AHDI-F
Director of Professional Programs, AHDI
lsims@ahdionline.org
www.ahdionline.org
Given the pressing need to prepare MTs for current and future roles in health data capture and technology integration, our model curriculum and approval policies should continue to reflect the critical urgency of making sure educational programs are producing job-ready industry candidates.
To that end, the committee has approved the following revision (new language underlined) to the AHDI Model Curriculum, 4th edition, under the section entitled Instructor Involvement:
"AHDI believes that integrating credentialed content experts (ie, those with industry perspective and experience) into educational programs is critical to helping students make meaningful connections between textbook information and real world application. To that end, AHDI suggests that all transcription programs include some level of formal instruction and instructor feedback beyond the information and correction that can be gleaned by the student from textbooks and course materials through self-study. This can/should include live or recorded lecture, on-site or virtual classroom discussion, and/or directed feedback during practical portions of an educational program. Content developers must be CMTs through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) or have a minimum of three years’ acute-care and/or multi-specialty experience. Content developers must demonstrate current knowledge in course content through appropriate professional development activities. Instructors for Medical Transcription Practice content area must be CMTs through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) or have a minimum of three years of acute-care or multispecialty experience or possess equivalent qualifications."
In addition to this clarification of instructor involvement in the Model Curriculum, the ACCP is in unanimous agreement about the following modifications to the Education Approval policies that reflect this clarified emphasis:
Under "Synopsis of Criteria for Approval," Section 1 "Organization:"
c. Qualified course instructors are providing formal instruction and/or direct feedback to students (beyond the information and correction that can be gleaned by the student from textbooks and course materials through self-study). This can/should include live or recorded lecture, on-site or virtual classroom discussion, and/or directed feedback during practical portions of an educational program. Course instructors and content developers should hold a Certified Medical Transcriptionist credential or have 3 years’ acute care experience in the medical transcription profession.
Under "Synopsis of Criteria for Approval," Section 2 "Systems and Policies:"
c. Evidence that formal instruction and/or direct feedback by a qualified instructor is an integrated part of the program curriculum, where "instruction" is clearly defined as any connection between an instructor and student where training, feedback, and teaching occurs, either one-on-one or in a group setting. Individuals serving merely as course coordinators, graders, or administrators will not satisfy the instructor requirement.
Under "STEP 2: Self Study for Approval," Section 2 "Systems and Policies," subsection 4.c:
4.c Provide a narrative detailing how formal instruction and/or direct feedback are incorporated into the course curriculum, ie, (a) describing the interaction between the instructional staff and student, (b) identifying program management of student progress tracking and provisions for feedback, and (c) including sample instructor lesson plans for formal instruction, where appropriate. Include teacher-student ratio. Submit samples showing feedback.
Given the potential impact that these new provisions may have on some programs seeking either first-time approval or re-approval, AHDI is putting these changes out for public comment for a period of 30 days, both to engage the educational community in dialogue around the role of "instruction" and "instructors" as well as to usher our sector toward these goals in a transparent manner.
The ACCP welcomes your insight and feedback on these changes. You can submit your comments and feedback:
1. Privately by email to AHDI Professional Programs Director Lea Sims, CMT, AHDI-F (lsims@ahdionline.org). Your comments will be forwarded to the committee for review.
2. Publically through the AHDI Educators Alliance listserv. If you are not currently a participating alliance member, you can request access to the listserv from Bethany Twist (btwist@ahdionline.org).
3. Publically here in the AHDI Lounge, where this information will also be posted to our blog.
We look forward to your thoughts on this important issue.
Lea M. Sims, CMT, AHDI-F
Director of Professional Programs, AHDI
lsims@ahdionline.org
www.ahdionline.org
