The AAMI Credentials Institute (ACI) awards certification credentials to health care technology professionals and entities in higher education, industry, and health care delivery. ACI is a new name starting in 2015. The objective of the ACI is to be the trusted source for quality professional development and credentials.
Along with the new name come some new certifications. First, is Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM). Second, is Certified Quality System Manager (CQSM). As you can tell from the names, these are directed toward HTM professionals working in management roles. There are now a total of five different certifications for the HTM profession under the newly formed ACI.
These two new certifications mark the first new HTM-centered certifications in many years. I think it is a move in the right direction. There are a lot of people out there that have one or more of the other three certifications (CBET, CRES, CLES) and now work in a management role. These new management certifications will more likely fit the job they currently do rather than the certification of the tech job they used to do. It also divides the job responsibilities into management instead of technician. I think this could be good for long term career progress and advancement for individuals in management roles. I feel it will provide a way to distinguish the specialized management knowledge of the individuals with these new certifications and job responsibilities.
Both of these new certifications require several years of experience along with other qualifications to be eligible to take the test. These tests are being offered four times per year unlike the other three certifications that occur only twice a year at this point.
CHTM
Here’s some information on CHTM from the handbook: “Healthcare Technology Management Professional = A person who applies engineering, business, and health care principles to design, construct, maintain, or manage medical devices or systems.
Healthcare Technology Manager = A person responsible for planning and directing the activities of other health care technology management professionals, monitoring their work, and taking corrective action when necessary.”
CQSM
The CQSM certification looks like it has more stringent requirements to take the test. Here’s some information from the CQSM handbook: “Quality system means the organizational structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes, and resources for implementing quality management (FDA 21 CFR 820.3(v)). A quality system manager oversees all aspects of quality assurance, including establishing metrics, applying industry best practices, and developing new tools and processes to ensure quality goals are met. A quality system manager also manages the process and resources for identifying, correcting, and improving non-conformities in product-specific policies, procedures, and protocols as well as product specifications. Additionally, all of this is accomplished in a manner that ensures compliance to all relevant regulatory requirements. Finally, the quality system manager controls, directs, and/or leads the establishment and maintenance of an acceptable quality system and who reports on the performance of the quality system to executive management.”
What’s next?
For now that’s it. I have heard rumors that ACI is working on a few more industry specific certifications. We will be looking more closely into these two new management certifications in upcoming Beyond Certification articles. For now go to AAMI’s website and check it out for yourself. Here’s a link: http://www.aami.org/professionaldevelopment/content.aspx?ItemNumber=1134.