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Spring 2005
Volume 6, Number 1
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(You will need Adobe Acrobat to open some of the documents referenced in this newsletter.)
Contents:
- Online Personal Certification Record Redesigned
- NCCPA, AAPA Develop New Automatic Logging System
- See You in Orlando
- Ad Reaches Hospital Execs
- Q&A Corner
- Short Takes
- Dates and Deadlines
Online Personal Certification Record Redesigned
NCCPA has redesigned the password-protected side of NCCPA Connect to offer PAs more detailed, timely information and more secure, enhanced certification services on the Web. The enhancements were launched mid-March.
When developing the changes, NCCPA reviewed ratings and comments submitted over the course of the previous year by PAs who signed in to NCCPA Connect. Based on that survey data, NCCPA employed the tools of Six Sigma, a data-driven methodology for process improvements that focuses on quality and customer needs, to develop the new secure site. Then, more than 400 PAs were invited to test the site’s new functionality and messaging and provide additional feedback before the site’s launch.
“Our Web traffic has increased exponentially in recent years, as more PAs take advantage of the ease, convenience and speed of fulfilling certification requirements online,” said Janet J. Lathrop, NCCPA president. “To best meet the needs and expectations of PAs, we’ve carefully developed the new site based on their suggestions.”
When signing in to NCCPA Connect, PAs will see the redesigned My Record page, a complete snapshot of their current certification status. From this at-a-glance view, PAs can drill down into any area where they have outstanding requirements to complete those requirements
The new site employs an intuitive color-coding system. Red messages indicate that a requirement needs to be completed, while green messages indicate a requirement has been fulfilled.
In addition to providing PAs more information and better navigation, the redesigned secure site also provides PAs new certification services online. PAs can now begin designating extra CME activities for later use toward the Pathway II’s elective component requirement if they think that they might be interested in the take-at-home recertification exam. The new site also empowers PAs to take a more active role in their certification, providing an option to close one logging cycle when they’ve met all requirements to begin logging in their next cycle once that cycle’s earning window opens. In addition, PAs can edit and delete already logged CME activities until their cycle is closed.
“We wanted to put PAs in the driver’s seat of their certification as much as possible and give them more freedom and flexibility in maintaining their certification,” said Lori Leal, the NCCPA director responsible for certification maintenance and exam administration.
Certified PAs can experience the enhancements by signing in to NCCPA Connect.
NCCPA, AAPA Develop New Automatic Logging System
Certified PAs who attend the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) 33rd Annual Physician Assistant Conference, May 28-June 2, 2005, in Orlando, Florida, will find logging those CME hours as easy as the push of a button.
NCCPA and AAPA are collaborating on a new CME logging system through which hours earned at the Academy’s annual conference can be automatically transmitted to NCCPA via the AAPA Web site.
To use the system, conference attendees must use the AAPA on-line scheduler to create a list of sessions to attend. Then beginning on June 6, attendees should update the scheduler to report the list of sessions actually attended. At that point, with the click of a button they can transmit the CME credits to NCCPA. (The CME credits won’t be transferred until the special submit button is used.) Conference-goers will then receive an e-mail from NCCPA notifying them that the hours were received and are available for review on NCCPA’s Web site. It’s that simple.
In addition, the AAPA Web site will allow PAs to print certificates for the CME courses attended at the conference. These certificates should become part of a personal CME documentation file.
“This cooperative effort showcases the benefits of leveraging the unique resources and capabilities of two organizations for the best interest of the PA community,” said AAPA Executive Vice President and CEO Steve Crane. “This is a ‘win’ for AAPA, NCCPA, and the PAs we serve.”
This collaborative effort arose from an NCCPA Six Sigma project designed to improve the CME logging experience for PAs. Other improvements to NCCPA’s Web site also arose from the project. (See related article.)
“As part of our commitment to excellence in all we do, we’re continuing to develop opportunities to make the CME logging process more efficient for PAs,” said Janet J. Lathrop, NCCPA president. “We’re particularly excited about this successful collaborative effort with AAPA.”
NCCPA’s efforts in this area are ongoing. The information-sharing system that makes this project possible also lays the groundwork to replicate this process later for other PA societies and organizations that conduct CME events for PAs. Similar technology may also later be used to transmit hours from NCCPA to some state licensing boards so PAs in those states don’t have to log the same hours with two separate entities.
See You in Orlando
NCCPA’s Information and Resource Center will be open to AAPA conference attendees in room W331 of the Orange County Convention Center on May 29 – June 1, 2005 from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
While at the conference, stop by and be among the first to receive NCCPA’s newly designed, plastic wallet cards. Staff and Board members will be on hand to field questions about certification issues and walk you through the many services available on our Web site.
Ad Reaches Hospital Execs
The February issue of Health & Health Networks Magazine, distributed to more than 70,000 U.S. hospital executives, included an ad promoting certified PAs.
The ad is part of NCCPA’s efforts to enhance recognition of the value of certified physician assistants among potential employers and other important groups. In support of that same goal, last year NCCPA published a brochure targeting physicians that AAPA has since distributed at 24 medical conferences.
Similar advertisements will run in the magazine’s May, August and September issues, three of the most widely read issues of the year.
To view a copy of the ad, click here.
Q&A Corner
Q. My name has changed. How should I notify NCCPA?
A. Report a name change by signing in to your personal certification record at NCCPA Connect and clicking the Personal Information link. Enter your new name on the Personal Information screen, and to complete the change fax a copy of your new driver’s license or passport to NCCPA, Attn: Audrey Robbins at 678.417.8135. For fastest processing, we recommend that you enlarge and lighten the copy before faxing it. If you are registered for an exam and need a new scheduling permit (not all changes require a new permit), please note that new permits are issued within five to seven business days. When the permit is available, you’ll be notified by e-mail that you can print your permit online.
Q. I have earned extra CME for the 2003-2005 cycle. Is there any reason to log those extra hours?
A. Yes! After you’ve met the 100-hour requirement for certification maintenance, NCCPA allows you to log extra hours on our Web site toward the 100-point Elective Component requirement if you think that you might be interested in the take-at-home Pathway II recertification exam next time. Simply log those hours in the same manner that you log your CME online and select the appropriate component area. Then, these activities are “banked” toward your elective component. When it’s time to recertify, those hours will be reviewed by NCCPA staff, and you’ll have the option to submit additional hours or other activities if necessary.
Short Takes
- NCCPA is committed to the security of your personal information. Recently, we improved the security of your online certification record by mandating that everyone who enters the secure section of our Web site is providing a legitimate (and therefore traceable) e-mail address. After updating an e-mail address or password, PAs will receive an e-mail from NCCPA that contains a unique verification link. By clicking the link, the system authenticates the new e-mail address or password. Failure to click on the link means that the change will not be maintained in the system. If the system doesn’t work on the first attempt, be sure that neither nccpa@nccpa.net nor newsletter@nccpa.net are on a spam or junk mail list and try again. Thanks for helping NCCPA provide enhanced security for your personal information.
- Interested in a more active role in the development of the certification exams? NCCPA is looking for corresponding item writers to develop questions for the certification and recertification exams. CIWs are trained on question development and asked to complete two assignments a year with a small honorarium paid for each accepted item. Successful CIWs may then be asked to join one of NCCPA’s test committees. PAs are eligible to serve as CIWs if they are currently certified and licensed, have taken the recertification exam at least once and are currently in clinical practice at least part time. To be considered, PAs should send their curriculum vitae, five sample items and two letters of recommendation to NCCPA.
- The 2005 CME audit is just around the corner. PAs who are randomly selected for the audit will be notified as early as May or as soon as they complete their certification maintenance requirements for the 2003-2005 cycle. If randomly selected for the audit, PAs will have to submit documentation for each of their Category I activities. Appropriate documentation usually takes the form of a certificate or card that was received upon completion of the activity.
Dates and Deadlines
Click here for a current listing of dates and deadlines.
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