NAACLS Board of Directors Update – November, 2018

By Dianne M. Cearlock, PhD, Chief Executive Officer

At the September 28, 2018 meeting of the NAACLS Board of Directors, in addition to accreditation and approval awards recommended by the Review Committee on Accredited Programs (RCAP) and the Program Approval Review Committee (PARC), the following items were addressed:

• Elections for Board of Director officer positions were held. Bill Hunt continues for a second and final year as President. Elected as President Elect is Peter Hu.  Pat Ellinger (Secretary), Lynn Brodeur (Treasurer), and Julie O’Sullivan Maillet (Member at Large) are re-elected to their respective positions.  Additionally, President Hunt appointed various Board members to serve as standing committee chairs and review committee liaisons.
• A minor change to NAACLS Conflict of Interest Policy was adopted that clarifies the recording of abstentions from voting and voting rights and privileges when a board or review committee has contributed to the review process for the program under consideration.
• NAACLS will seek membership with the Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative.
• The name and charge of the Site Visit Process Committee, now entitled the Review Process Committee, was clarified and expanded and the committee was moved from “special committee” to Board standing committee status in the NAACLS Bylaws.
• Commencing Fall 2019, all program site visits will be scheduled for two days with the second day schedule variable depending upon factors such as program type, sponsoring institution, initial or continuing status, and program outcomes when applicable.
• Approved to release for public comment is a change to Standard VII.A.2-c that would increase the professional development requirements for PathA program directors. The proposed change would align NAACLS’ requirements for service as a PathA program director with those recommended by the AAPA (professional organization).
• Approved to release for public comment is a change to Standard I.A.3 that would allow a non-degree granting secondary institution that is recognized by the state in which it is located to serve as a program sponsor for Phlebotomy and Clinical Assistant program types only.
• Approved to release for public comment is a change to DCLS Standard I.C.2 regarding requirements for sponsors of DCLS programs.
• An additional phlebotomy competency compliance section is added to the Standards Compliance Guide (NAACLS Entry-Level Phlebotomist Competencies, section 9.00). The amended Standards Compliance Guide may be accessed at www.naacls.org .
• An editorial change to Standard VII.D in the Standards Compliance Guide as it relates to the advisory committee was adopted. Several clarifying amendments were adopted for the Standards Compliance Guide. The amended SCG is available at www.naacls.org .
• An editorial change was made to Standard V.C for clarity. The amended Standard is available at www.naacls.org .
• Minor changes to DCLS Standard VIII.A.4 were adopted. The DCLS Standards may be accessed on the NAACLS website.
• Approved are the following DCLS documents:
  • Standards Compliance Guide
  • Self Study Report Template
  • Self Study Report Review Form
  • Standard VII Matrix