Sharing innovations in our field is a core pillar of The Alliance mission. Through a broad portfolio of learning programs, learners from across the donation and transplantation continuum have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits (CEs)– which signify the investment that healthcare professionals make to stay abreast of best practices in the field. The Alliance is proud that the total number of CEs claimed from its learning programs more than doubled from 2021 to 2022.
Why is Continued Education Important?
Aside from the fact that healthcare professionals may be required to earn CE credits to stay employed or certified, continuing your education allows you to perform your job well and creates opportunities for you to advance your career.
“The rate of change in our field is so great, it is critical for our team members to commit to ongoing professional development in order to best serve our patients and stay abreast of new advancements,” said Jason Saude, Clinical Manager at UC San Diego Health Kidney Transplant & Living Donor Programs. “Continuing Education credits signify that team members are committed to learning best practices and novel approaches to save and heal more lives.”
Here are some of the key reasons continuing education is crucial for healthcare professionals:
- Better Care for Patients
According to The Institute for Health Care Improvement, “CE is a vehicle for spreading best practices and how to improve patient outcomes.” New technologies and protocols can all contribute to improved patient care and CE can help you stay up to date on these advancements. This will allow you to be better equipped to help your patients. - Professional and Personal Growth
For healthcare professionals, the value of continuing education cannot be underestimated. It allows you to continuously evolve your wealth of knowledge and personal growth. Pursuing CE opportunities also allows you to grow your expertise in specific areas and niches that interest you and are relevant to your career, opening new doors for your career to blossom. - Staying Licensed and Certified
Most employers and boards require ongoing education in order to be eligible to work and have a valid license. For example, individuals with certification from The American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC) must complete an average of 20+ CEPTCs per year to maintain their certification.
CE Credits Offered by The Alliance
Many Alliance learning opportunities award continuing education credits for the healthcare community of practice. Credits offered include:
- Continuing Education Points for Transplant Coordinators (CEPTC) – The Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance offers Category I CEPTC credits from the American Board for Transplant Certification. Certified clinical transplant and procurement coordinators and certified clinical transplant nurses seeking CEPTC credit must complete a post-learning evaluation form within 30 days of viewing in order to claim their credits.
- Nursing Contact Hours – The Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance offers continuing education credits for select learning opportunities, approved by The California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17117.
- Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credit – The Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance partners with national accrediting agencies to provide continuing medical education for physicians, including AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ for select learning opportunities. Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. All faculty members and planners participating in CME activities are required to disclose any actual or apparent conflicts of interest related to the content of their presentation to the audience.
- Registered Dietitian Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEU) – The Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance offers Registered Dietitian CPEU for select learning opportunities, approved by CDR, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
CEPTC and Nursing Contact Hour credits are offered for most Alliance learning opportunities, as well as a certificate of attendance. Additional credit types (CME, CPEU, etc.) may be offered for select learning opportunities. The type and number of eligible credits are indicated on the event page for each live program. Eligible on-demand programs may be viewed for CE credit up to 365 days from their original broadcast date.
Following each live learning program, registrants will receive an email containing a link to a post-learning evaluation. This evaluation must be completed within 30 days of the program, upon which your CEs or certificate of completion will be provided by email.
Registrants of Alliance on-demand learning programs, such as the On-Demand Advancement Series, may complete a post-learning evaluation up to 365 days from the original broadcast date in order to claim CEs.
The Alliance Doubles the Number of CEs Awarded in 2022
In 2022, The Alliance experienced a 105% increase in CEs claimed, attributed to offering more learning programs and a higher number of professionals attending each session.
“We are proud to offer a valuable portfolio of programs to help professionals increase their skill set and ultimately improve patient safety, operational efficiency, and the number of lives saved through donation and transplantation,” shared Deanna Fenton, Senior Manager, Educational Program Development & Operations at The Alliance.
Claim Your CEs for 2022
“A critical strategic pillar for The Alliance is providing an enhanced learning experience,” says 2022 Board Chair Dr. Ana Hands, Vice President of Transplant and International Health Services for Ochsner Health. “The Alliance’s new integrated learning management system will make earning and maintaining CEs easier and more convenient than ever.”
Since the launch of The Alliance’s New Community Portal in October 2022, all CEs and Certificates of Attendance are housed in your personal dashboard. This collection is easily accessible for future needs and can be easily printed or downloaded. Click here to learn more.
