Professional Certification (professional + certification)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Examining Contextual Effects in a Practice Analysis: An Application of Dual Scaling

EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 3 2007
André F. De Champlain
Practice analyses are routinely used in support of the development of occupational and professional certification and licensure examinations. These analyses usually survey incumbents to obtain importance ratings of (1) specific tasks and (2) knowledge, skill, and ability (KSA) statements deemed by subject matter experts as essential to safe and effective practice. Several researchers have made important criticisms of traditional practice analysis procedures, particularly the lack of attention to contextual constructs and the resulting problematic interpretation of mean importance ratings. The present study provides a framework for assessing the impact of context in practice analysis studies. It focuses on a practice analysis of a health profession that sought to enhance the meaning of incumbents' importance ratings by embedding the statements in the context of patient acuities. Results indicate that incumbents' importance ratings varied as a function of patient acuity. Dual scaling analysis was used to obtain a multidimensional visual representation of the associations between importance ratings and contextual content. The implications of the contextual component of the study design for future practice analysis studies are discussed as well as possible applications of this approach to professions in education. [source]


Farrier services at veterinary teaching hospitals in the USA

EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION, Issue 10 2010
C. A. Kirker-Head
Summary Horse health is best served when farriers and veterinarians collaborate in the care of their patients. Veterinary Teaching Hospitals (VTHs) provide an environment that can nurture that collaboration. While VTH veterinary services are well known, VTH farrier activities are undocumented. To characterise farrier services at VTHs in the USA, 27 VTH Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and/or VTH farriers completed a multiple choice questionnaire characterising VTH farrier details, training, certification, remuneration method, and clinical, teaching and research responsibilities; and farrier service prevalence, facilities and financial viability. Questionnaire response rate was 81%. Eighteen of 22 (82%) responding VTHs had in-house farrier services. Twenty-one of 22 (95%) VTH farriers were male. Farriers' ages ranged from <30 years (n = 1, 5%) to >50 years (n = 7, 32%). At 11 (61%) VTHs the farriers were paid by the client and at 7 (39%) by the VTH. Five farriers (23%) received a VTH salary. Eighteen of 22 (82%) farriers had a professional certification. At 5 (28%) VTHs the farrier service made a profit and operational costs were met at 13 (72%). Fifteen (83%) farrier services provided professional education in clinical settings and 13 (72%) in lecture settings. Nine (41%) VTH farriers participated in research activities. In the USA, VTH farrier services vary considerably in both nature and extent. The farriers' potential contributions to VTH operations are often recognised but not consistently exploited. VTH farriers are a valuable resource who can contribute effectively toward VTH patient care, veterinary education and research. [source]


The development of an ePortfolio for life-long reflective learning and auditable professional certification

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 3 2009
R. L. Kardos
Abstract Recent legislative changes, that affect all healthcare practitioners in New Zealand, have resulted in mandatory audits of practitioners who are now required to provide evidence of competence and continued professional development in the form of a professional portfolio. These changes were the motivation for our development of an electronic portfolio (ePortfolio) suitable for both undergraduate and life-long learning. Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) students, studying to qualify as Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists, and BOH teaching staff (who held registrations in Dental Hygiene, Dental Therapy and Dentistry) trialled the use of a personal ePortfolio for advancing their academic and professional development. The ePortfolio enables BOH students to collect evidence of their achievements and personal reflections throughout their 3 years of undergraduate study, culminating in registration and the award of an Annual Practising Certificate (APC). The ePortfolio was designed to allow users to store information and then select appropriate material to be displayed or published, thus assisting health practitioners to present high-quality evidence of their participation and achievements, and to meet the professional requirements for their APC. [source]


The role and function of quality assurance officers in Ontario hospitals

QUALITY ASSURANCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2005
Kent V. Rondeau
Abstract This article examines the role and job function of quality assurance officers in hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Results from a mail questionnaire suggest that hospital quality assurance professionals in our sample are much more likely to be female, at mid-career, and to have advanced graduate degrees, although most lack professional certification and formal training in quality management. Although the job duties of hospital quality assurance professionals are broad and varied, many report being engaged in traditional quality assurance managerial activities including hospital accreditation efforts, risk management assessment, and patient satisfaction measurement. Coordinating quality assurance activities, performance reporting, and leading the Total Quality Management (TQM)/Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiative remain central functions associated with their work efforts. Nevertheless, limited formal training in the principles and methods of quality management and improvement may be placing significant constraints on their effectiveness. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Factors That Influence Chief Purchasing Officer Compensation

JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002
Jeffrey A. Ogden
SUMMARY While several previous surveys have examined the salaries of purchasing professionals, none have addressed the specific issues related to chief purchasing officer (CPO) compensation. This article presents the results of a CAPS Research survey investigating job related and personal characteristics that influence Fortune 500 chief purchasing officer compensation. Logistic regression was used to deriveodds ratios to analyze the surve data. Empirical results indicate that the following are the main drivers of CPO compensation: (1) industry, (2) size of organization as measured by annual sales, (3) spend as a percent of sales, (4) total number of employees reporting, (5) levels of management between the CPO and CEO, (6) years of businessrelated, non-purchasing experience, (7) CPO age, and (8) professional certifications. Implications of the research findings are discussed throughout the article. [source]