UKCHIP Education Quality Assurance Scheme
Health informatics is a challenging, multidisciplinary profession and an important part of UKCHIP activity is to encourage the continuing development of health informatics professionals seeking to be involved in implementing solutions that contribute to improvements in patient care and safety.
One of the key roles for any professional organisation is to set standards of behaviour, competence and education. However, it is neither cost effective nor practical for individuals or healthcare organisations to meet all of their health informatics learning needs themselves.
UKCHIP has developed the Education Quality Assurance Scheme to provide an independent framework that accredits education and training which supports the learning and development needs of health informatics professionals.
UKCHIP EQAS focuses on health informatics education and training courses delivered by:
- Higher Education Institutions
- Further Education Institutions
- NHS in-house learning providers
- Commercial learning providers
A central element of the scheme’s value is that, to be accredited, a course or module must show that at least 50% of the learning outcomes for that course or module can be mapped directly to the UKCHIP competency standards for registration. In addition, delivery and assessment must be in a healthcare context.
What types of courses or modules are eligible to be accredited?
EQAS Accreditation is awarded at either the module or course / programme level, defined as:
Module: A discrete learning experience / unit, described by clear learning outcomes and assessed at a particular level
Programme: A group of modules forming a defined course of study
A Module or short course is considered to provide up to a maximum of 30 CATS points (Higher Education Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) or their equivalent. Alternatively, this can be represented as approximately 300 hours ‘student effort’ (the total timetabled hours plus individual study time required). A Course or Programme is anything in excess of this, but would normally consist of several modules.
Typically, accreditation at module level may apply to modules within other frameworks such as clinical education or leadership development programmes. Similarly, the Scheme can recognise modules that are “stand-alone” courses and which are independent of a wider programme of study.
These definitions should serve as a guide, as we recognise there are likely to be instances where modules and courses do not readily fit these criteria. These will be considered on a case by case basis.
Benefits of UKCHIP EQAS Accreditation
The UKCHIP EQAS demonstrates that a learning provider is committed to providing high quality learning to meet the needs of health informatics professionals.
Accreditation of a learning provider's courses / modules will normally be for up to three years, subject to evidence of continued adherence to the accreditation criteria. If 25% or more of the content of a course or module changes it should be resubmitted for full re-accreditation.
Details of accredited courses and modules will be on placed in the on-line UKCHIP Register of Accredited Learning, and will also be referenced on the NHS Health Informatics Career Framework website.
As courses and modules successfully achieve accreditation, they will be featured in the next appropriate UKCHIP newsletter and details of accredited courses and modules will also be made available at events where UKCHIP is participating.
Further information
A comprehensive guide to UKCHIP EQAS, including details of the application and on-going scheme monitoring processes together with current accreditation fees can be downloaded here.
To apply for accreditation, or to find out more about the application process, contact Tony Paget via email at eqas@ukchip.net or by telephone on 01792 602874.
