Workshop: Credentialing of Anticoagulation Providers: A Proposed Model

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Clinical Competency
• Professional Credentialing

Background:

• A 1997 survey indicated significant interest among Anticoagulation Forum members for a formal provider certification program.
• Existing anticoagulation therapy management lacks standardized competency validation, creating a need for a recognized credentialing process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish objectives and processes for validating anticoagulation therapy provider competencies.
• To propose a framework for a national certification process.
• To create a standardized educational framework for clinicians in anticoagulation therapy.

Main Methods:

• Assessed the need for credentialing and identified key elements of a certification program.
• Reviewed published provider competencies and studied successful regional credentialing programs.
• Proposed core knowledge domains and competencies, incorporating multidisciplinary feedback.

Main Results:

• Developed a draft of five core knowledge domains: physiology/pathophysiology, patient assessment/management, patient education, pharmacology, and operational processes.
• Detailed competencies associated with each domain were drafted.
• Feedback was solicited and incorporated from multidisciplinary professionals.

Conclusions:

• The developed domains and competencies provide a foundation for a national anticoagulation provider certification program.
• Next steps include revising documents, piloting the certification process, and seeking national organizational adoption.
• The initiative aims to establish a valid and accepted national standard for anticoagulation therapy providers.