A: Accreditation is a process of evaluation that determines the extent to which Standards are met. There is institutional accreditation, whichexamines the school/institution as a whole; and there is programmatic accreditation, which examines individual programs within the school/institution.
Q: Who is the AC-PE?
A: The Accreditation Committee-Perfusion Education (AC-PE) is involved in programmatic accreditation. The AC-PE reviews educational programs in perfusion to determine the extent to which the program meets the Standards and Guidelines for Accreditation of Education programs in Perfusion. After evaluating a program, the AC-PE formulates a recommendation for accreditation and forwards it to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). CAAHEP reviews the AC-PE recommendation, assures that due process took place during the evaluation process, and makes the final award of accreditation. Accreditation is awarded to a program when it is determined that the program is in substantial compliance with the Standards.
Q: How does this affect clinical instructors?
A: Clinical instructors serving accredited perfusion programs play an integral role in the education of perfusion students. It is important that they understand the responsibilities and required qualifications of a clinical instructor, and maintain a good relationship with the perfusion program for which they are serving as a clinical site.
Q: Where can I find a list of CAAHEP-accredited programs?