A time study of ACPE certified educators

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Spiritual Care Studies
• Medical Humanities

Background:

• Certified Educators (CEs) are crucial for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs.
• Understanding time allocation is vital for optimizing CPE program effectiveness and educator roles.
• Previous research has not comprehensively detailed CE time distribution across responsibilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively describe how ACPE Certified Educators allocated their professional time in 2021.
• To identify differences in time allocation for CEs with and without departmental leadership roles.
• To assess the perceived importance versus actual involvement in direct patient care among CEs.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study design was employed.
• A survey instrument, administered via structured interviews (Zoom/Phone), was used.
• Twenty-five CEs from academic medical centers/university teaching hospitals participated.

Main Results:

• CEs dedicated a median of 58% of their time to CPE activities (38% teaching, 20% administration).
• CEs in leadership roles spent 45% on CPE and 30% on departmental management.
• A significant discrepancy exists between the perceived importance (16 CEs) and median involvement (5%) in direct patient care.

Conclusions:

• CEs primarily focus on teaching and administrative tasks within CPE.
• Leadership roles influence time allocation, shifting focus towards departmental management.
• There is a notable gap between the recognized value of direct patient care and its actual practice by CEs, warranting further investigation.