While 2018 alone has brought so many changes, the progress in healthcare technology over the past 6 years is enormous. The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly. The ever-growing deployments and more sophisticated use of Telemedicine, Telehealth, Telebehavioral and EMRs is helping health care organizations across the globe to evolve at a rapid pace. They have enabled enhanced level of care, better access and convenience to patients.
In this scenario, it is critical to train health care professionals to understand these changes and be ready to adopt and incorporate “best practices” while providing these services. Professional certification programs can help a great deal in achieving these objectives. Professional Certification is a process that results in a credential wherein a non-governmental body grants a time-limited acknowledgement and use of the credential to an individual after due verification (like the individual should met the predetermined and standardized criteria).
Though, Participation in the certification program is voluntary, the Certified Telemedicine/Telehealth Professional is bound to be known as an expert designation. This certification is awarded based on an assessment which should be passed with a score not less than 80%.. The Certification is awarded by GHA Institute, a HIMSS approved education partner. Successful completion of this certification program designates subject matter competency as measured against a set of standards that are dependable. Completion of the course, daily assessments at 100%, and the final assessment at 80% earns the participant 15 CE hours.
How are certification program standards set?
The Standards are set through job analyses/role specifics that result in a detailed plan of needed knowledge and skills. Successful completion of the standards for the Certified Telemedicine/Telehealth Professional will result in a designation to use after the completer’s name (i.e., CTTP) as well as a document specifying the successful completion of the program. This certification is good for three years; However, rolling requirements exist to maintain the certification.
Completers must establish that they persist to meet the needed requirements by completing CEs. Further benefits of certification are listed as follows :
§ Encourages continuing education and professional growth and development
§ Afford recognition to individuals
§ Allows successful completers to use the CTTP title and certification designation
§ Enhances professional employment opportunities
§ Drives distinction in the healthcare profession
§ Markets the healthcare profession
§ Helps employers in recruitment and selection of highly qualified professionals within the healthcare profession
About the Author: Dr. Clishia Taylor DMIN, MBA, RN, ICTTP is a Associate Faculty at GHA Institute