Becoming a CoARC Site Visitor

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT AS A SITE VISIT TEAM MEMBER:

To be eligible to become a site visit team member, an individual must meet or exceed all the qualifications for one (1) of the three categories (A-C):

A. Academic Team Member:

1. At least three (3) years of experience as a senior academician (e.g., dean, associate dean, department chair, program director, or director of clinical education) within the last ten years at program(s) holding continuing accreditation;

2. At least five (5) years as an NBRC-credentialed registered respiratory therapist;

3. Earned baccalaureate degree or higher from an academic institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE);

4. Demonstrated active involvement in the profession of respiratory care (e.g., membership in professional organizations, credentialing, and research record;

5. Has played a significant role in developing or contributing to the self-study report; and was involved in a site visit.

B. Physician Team Member:

1. At least three (3) years as a Board-certified, licensed physician, credentialed at or has been credentialed at one of the clinical affiliates of a CoARC-accredited program, with recognized qualifications, by training and/or experience, in the management of respiratory disease and in respiratory care practices;

2. Hold appropriate state credentials to practice or be a retired physician in good standing who is otherwise qualified as determined by the CoARC;

3. Demonstrated active involvement in the profession of respiratory care (e.g., membership in professional organizations, specialization, or research record).

C. Sleep Specialist Team Member:

1. At least three (3) years of experience as a faculty member within the last 10 years at program(s) holding initial or continuing accreditation;

2. At least five (5) years as an NBRC-credentialed registered respiratory therapist;

3. At least three (3) years as an NBRC-credentialed sleep disorders specialist (SDS) or BRPT-credentialed registered polysomnographic technologist;

4. Earned associate degree or higher from an academic institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE);

5. Demonstrated active involvement in the profession of respiratory care and polysomnography (e.g., membership in professional organizations, credentialing, and research record).

D. Degree Advancement Site Team Member:

1. At least three (3) years of experience as a faculty member within a degree advancement program and/or currently serves as the program director for a degree advancement program;

2. At least five (5) years as an NBRC-credentialed registered respiratory therapist; or meet the criteria as a physician team member who has experience with degree advancement education;

3. Developed a respiratory care degree advancement program in its entirety and/or has developed courses within the program;

4. Earned master’s degree or higher from an academic institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).

CONTINUED QUALIFICATION AS A SITE VISIT TEAM MEMBER:

Once initially qualified, the site team member must:

1. Maintain active status (see Appointment Process in Site Visitor Manual);

2. Complete all required retraining;

3. Maintain an updated Site Visitor Participation Agreement on file at the CoARC Executive Office upon request;

4. Provide an updated Curriculum Vitae, CoARC CV Outline, or Bio sketch on file at the CoARC Executive Office upon request;

5. Provide a current CoARC-approved professional headshot upon request.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT AS A SITE VISIT TEAM CAPTAIN:

To be eligible to become a site visit team captain, an individual must meet or exceed all the following qualifications:

1. Satisfactory completion of at least five (5) or more site visits as a team member.
a. Satisfactory completion is defined as receiving no unfavorable evaluations from either the team captain or the program’s site visited;

2. Working knowledge of the CoARC Standards and Site Visitor Manual;

3. Recommendation by the Site Visit Committee to the CoARC for approval.

CONTINUED QUALIFICATIONS AS A SITE VISIT TEAM CAPTAIN:

Once initially qualified as a site visit team captain, the site team captain must continue to abide by all requirements for maintaining qualification as a site visit team member (see above).

APPOINTMENT:

A. Application Process
The applicant’s record must be sufficient to demonstrate that s/he meets the initial qualifications, is an active and respected participant in the respiratory care education community, and is, therefore, well-qualified to represent the community in the accreditation process.

The CoARC accepts applications on an as-needed basis. Qualified persons wishing to be selected as site visitors must first apply (available upon request from the CoARC Executive Office). Applicants should contact Bonnie Marrs, Senior Accreditation Specialist (bonnie@coarc.com), prior to submitting the application to the CoARC Executive Office. Applicants must also submit a current (less than six months old) curriculum vitae (CV) or CoARC-approved CV Outline Form, 2 Letters of Reference, and a signed Site Visitor Participation Agreement.

Once the application and supporting documentation (e.g., proof of credentials, degree, etc.) has been received and reviewed by the CoARC Executive Office, the applicant will be contacted to participate in a telephone interview with either a Site Visit Committee Chair or the Chief Executive Officer. Applicants that have completed the telephone interview process will then be reviewed by the Site Visit Committee. Applicants will then be presented to the CoARC for a final decision. Applicants will be notified of the Commission’s decision. If the Commission’s decision is to deny the application, the notification will include the reason(s) for the denial.

B. Appointment Status
1. Provisional Status: “Provisional” status will be granted to a Commission-approved applicant who has completed the site visitor training program. To achieve active status, a probationary site visitor must: (1) complete a minimum of 2 site visits within a 2-year period (1st site visit must be completed during the first year) with an experienced CoARC commissioner or team captain, and (2) receive satisfactory evaluations for both visits. Exceptions to the 2-year timeline must be approved by the Chair of the Site Visit Committee.

2. Active Site Visitors: “Active” status will be granted to an applicant who has successfully completed the site-visitor training, signed the Site Visitor Participation Agreement, and satisfactorily completed the probationary period.

Active status for all site visitors is subject to review by the CoARC and is based upon appointment recommendations by the Site Visit Committee.

Active status requires that site visitors participate in at least an average of one site visit per year every three years (i.e., a minimum of 3 site visits in a three-year period).

Whenever there is a change in the CoARC Standards, all site visitors with “Active” status must complete the retraining program and submit an updated Site Visitor Participation Agreement upon completion.

Whenever an active site visitor’s program receives an adverse accreditation status from CoARC, the site visitor’s active status will be temporarily suspended. The site visitor’s active status will be reinstated once the adverse accreditation status has been removed.

3. Withdrawal of Appointment: Individuals will be deleted from the roster of site visitors if they: (a) voluntarily resign; (b) fail to maintain active status, (c) fail to correct any deficiencies revealed in the evaluation process, or (d) violate the Terms of Participation for CoARC Site Visitors as described in the CoARC Site Visitor Participation Agreement.

Application Process

Those interested in applying are strongly encouraged to review the CoARC Site Visitor Policies and Procedures Manual before contacting the Executive Office regarding their application as site visitor.

For additional information or questions concerning becoming a site visitor, please contact Bonnie Marrs, Senior Accreditation Specialist, by email at bonnie@coarc.com.

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