Many of the issues of accreditation are not new while some are a result of a changing health care system while others are a result of a changing health care system while others are a result of a changing society.  The task force held two forums to organize and codify the major issues for change and improvement.

SESSION OUTLINE

I. Essential Values of Accreditation Reviewed

• Continuous self-improvement

• Flexibility and relevance

• Civic responsibility and professional excellence

• Peer review and collaboration

• Public interest served

• For accredited programs

• For a profession

• For students/graduates

• For public/employers

• Issues

• Possible Strategies

• Models/alternatives

• Barriers

• Multi-skilling issues

• Advantages and disadvantages of linkage

• Is accreditation adaptable

• Issues

• Lessons from distance learning/education

• Questions/issues

• Drivers

• Barriers

• Professional programs

• Accreditors

• Programs and accreditors

• Areas for the future

The forum have focused our attention on the major issues of accreditation as well as posting some alternatives to present methods.  The forum have also directed us to the future as the process changes.  This discussion will continue in the next lesson as we consider assessment and improvement.