Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
It accredits in educational programs in radiation therapy, JRCERT dosimetry programs, JRCERT accredited radiography programs that can be offered at the certificate, associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree levels in both traditional and distance education settings. To know more about JRCERT read this article.
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) currently accredits educational programs in radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance, and medical dosimetry.
Accreditation for programs in radiologic technology promotes excellence in education and elevates the quality and safety of patient care.
Let's read more about it!
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
JRCERT, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
It is the only agency with recognition from the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the United States Department of Education (USDE).
When it comes to the accreditation of tradition or online colleges in the field of radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance, and medical dosimetry educational programs.
This accreditation program has it's geographical boundaries as it's activity is limited to the United States and its territories, commonwealths, and possessions.
Initial Accreditation Process
The JRCERT accreditation process offers a means of providing assurance to the public that a program meets specific quality standards.
These programs are housed in institutionally accredited, degree-granting institutions and hospitals/medical centers that are either degree-granting or award certificates.
To proceed with the initial accreditation process, the program must be able to document the following:
-
Before providing access to the JRCERT AMS, the initial application fee of $3,675 must be submitted.
-
The organization looking for accreditation is responsible for the site visit team's expense which also includes the visit fee of $900 per site visitor.
-
For the recognition of each clinical setting, all information regarding that has to be sent via the AMS.
-
Within the required frame of time self-study report has to be sent via AMS.
After completing this all the first steps of the Accreditation process would be over.
Accreditation Process
Accreditation is awarded to an existing or a new program, following the accreditation review process, for various lengths of time-based on the degree of compliance with the relevant accreditation standards.
The Standards require a program to articulate its purposes; to demonstrate that it has adequate human, physical, and financial resources effectively organized for the accomplishment of its purposes.
To complete the initial accreditation process:
-
Applying for the Accreditation
-
Self Study Report
Write a self-study report and prepare for a JRCERT site visit
This site visit can be a very stressful and daunting task
The report that you would be sending should be in compliance with the 6 outlined standard in the Standard for an Accredited Educational Program
JRCERT staff will not determine compliance based on narrative response only a lot of focus would be put the on-site visit
- Preparing for Site Visit
After the review of your self-study report, the staff would reach to the potential site
Each site visit team consists of a team chair and at least one team member
The site visitors might be program directors, clinical coordinators, clinical instructors, or other members of a program’s faculty
- Site Visit
After arriving at the program location, the team compares notes and finalizes the two-day visit plan
The site visitors check and verify whether the narrative description and the on-site factors are same or not
Site visitors evaluation methods include:
Review of published program material, student academics, clinical report, the clinical placement process
Interview with students, clinical staff, program faculty, clinical instructors and at last a tour of the program office and a thorough check of clinical settings
- Board Review
The JRCERT Board of Directors checks the final step of the accreditation
They are highly qualified individuals nominated by various professional organizations or selected directly by the JRCERT
They go through the report of the whole process then if they find everything according to the set rules then they will provide accreditation
What is Radiologic Technologist?
In order to treat certain medical conditions, the Radiologic Technologist performs administer radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging procedures.
They may be trained and specialized in certain equipment to diagnose patients such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-Ray, Computed Tomography, and many others.
For the perfect accuracy, they need to know how to operate that machine and to correctly position the patient in order to get the best results by posing any threat to the patient and themselves.
Since according to the images that they take further actions would be taken to treat the patient.
Thus, it is very important and a job with a lot of responsibility.
Conclusion
The JRCERT is the only agency that has been recognized by the USED and CHEA, and they set a certain standard for providing accreditation to those colleges who are looking to start a course in radiology or things related to that.
This accreditation has a certain set of rules that are been checked regularly for even the colleges that have got accreditation.
Thus, making sure that they are constantly maintaining high standards.
