PresentsThe Jimmy A Young

Memorial LectureSunday, July 18, 2010

8:30 to 9:30 AMMarco Island, FL

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The NBRC has sponsored this lecture series in honor of Jimmy A. Young since 1978. The NBRC honors his memory and many contributions he made to respiratory care through this annual program.

Jimmy Albert Young, MS, RRT1935 –1975

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• Jimmy Albert Young, MS, RRT was one of the profession’s most outstanding and dedicated leaders– 1935 – born in South Carolina– 1960 – 1966 – served as Chief Inhalation Therapist at the Peter

Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston– 1965 – earned the RRT credential, Registry #263– 1966 – 1970 – served in many roles including Director of the

Program in Respiratory Therapy at Northeastern University in Boston

– 1970 – became Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department at Massachusetts General Hospital

– 1973 – became the 22nd President of the American Association of Respiratory Care

– 1975 – was serving as an NBRC Trustee and Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee when he passed away unexpectedly

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The New Decade – Challenges and Opportunities

in Credentialing

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Presenters• Lori M Tinkler MBA

– NBRC Associate Executive Director• Gregg L Ruppel MEd RRT RPFT FAARC

– NBRC President• Robert C Shaw Jr PhD RRT FAARC

– NBRC Assistant Executive Director and Psychometrician

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Five-Step Process• This is the only way a new NBRC

specialty examination can be started• The steps

– Viability study– Personnel study– Job analysis study– Test specification development– Criterion-related validation study

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2000 TO 2009A Reflection

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2000• Transitioned six credentialing programs to

administrations by computer– On-line application submission– Year-round availability with self-scheduling of

administration appointments– Release of examination outcomes on the day of each

administration• Conducted job analysis studies

– Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist– Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist

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2001• Developed study guide and self

assessment examinations– Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist– Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist

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2002• Implemented policies for a continuing

competency program• Conducted job analysis studies

– Certified Respiratory Therapist– Registered Respiratory Therapist– Neonatal Pediatric Specialist

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2003• Conducted criterion validation and test bias

studies for multiple-choice examinations– Certified Respiratory Therapist– Registered Respiratory Therapist

• Developed study guide and self assessment examinations– Certified Respiratory Therapist– Registered Respiratory Therapist– Neonatal Pediatric Specialist

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2004• Conducted criterion validation and test

bias study– Clinical Simulation Examination

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2005• Conducted a viability study for a potential

new specialty examination– Sleep Disorders Specialist

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2006• Conducted job analysis studies

– Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist– Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist

• Conducted a personnel study for a potential new specialty examination– Sleep Disorders Specialist

• Conducted a viability study for a potential new specialty examination– Adult Critical Care

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2007• Conducted job analysis studies

– Certified Respiratory Therapist– Registered Respiratory Therapist– Sleep Disorders Specialist

• Conducted a personnel study for a potential new specialty examination– Adult Critical Care

• Developed study guide and self assessment examinations– Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist– Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist

• Managed credential renewal for the first therapists, specialists, and technologists under the continuing competency program

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2008• Conducted criterion validation and test

bias studies for multiple-choice examinations– Certified Respiratory Therapist– Registered Respiratory Therapist

• Developed the first test forms for the sleep disorders specialist program

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2009• Launched the sleep disorders specialist

program• Conducted job analysis studies

– Neonatal Pediatric Specialist– Adult Critical Care

• Developed study guide and self-assessment examinations– Sleep Disorders Specialist

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Summary of Studies• 12 job analysis studies• 5 criterion validity and test bias studies• Added two specialty examination

programs– 2 viability studies– 2 personnel studies

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Summary of Policy Changes• Implemented

– Associate degree entry– continuing competency program– three-year limit on RRT eligibility

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All of the accomplishments of the last 10 years happenedbecause of the volunteer work of the NBRC Board:

American Thoracic Society 5 physician representativesAmerican Society for Anesthesiology 5 physician representativesAmerican College of Chest Physicians 5 physician representativesAmerican Association for Respiratory Care 15 respiratory therapists

1 public advisor

Who Does the Work?

Board Work Load• 2 week-long meetings each year to develop

items for test forms– 20 meetings total for the decade– 31 trustees and 9 staff averaged 4 days per meeting

for a total of 320 per year• 1 week-end meeting each year for the Executive

Committee of the Board• Numerous hours of homework and conference

calls

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Resources Consumed to Accomplish this Work

• Time – Volunteers and the employers who make

these people available• Money

– Fees to take examinations, maintain active status, and renew credentials• Examination fees have not increased since 2000

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Responsibilities of a typical board member

• Pamela L. Bortner, MBA, RRT, FAARC– Examination committee member

• Chairperson for the Clinical Simulation• Member for the Adult Critical Care

– Standing committee member• Admissions• Nominations• Examination Committee Chairmen

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Time Commitment in 2010• Clinical Simulation – 5 full days• Adult Critical Care – 12 full days• Nominations – ½ of a day• Admissions – ½ of a day• Examination Committee Chairmen – ½ of

a day

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The New Decade – Challenges• Maintain high standards for credentialing,

balancing healthcare cost reductions AND quality improvement

• Provide examinations that meet states’ needs to protect the public AND promote excellence in Respiratory Care

• Promote respiratory care credentials in healthcare workplaces

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The New Decade – Opportunities• Develop credentialing examinations for

areas of specialty practice in respiratory care as they emerge

• Adapt content of examinations to– reflect evidence-based respiratory care– meet changing needs of healthcare

consumers– evaluate respiratory therapists in an era of

changing competencies

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“NEW” SPECIALTY EXAMINATIONS

Neonatal / PediatricAdult Critical Care

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What is New?• Some items will engage judgment about

ethics to select the best answer– 5 out of 150 for the adult critical care specialty – 3 out of 120 for the neonatal / pediatric

specialty

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Example from ACC

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Example from NPS

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Secondary Specifications are New for ACC

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And for NPS

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Primary Specifications for ACC

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39%

61%

ACC Item Distribution by Cognitive Level

Recall Application Analysis Total12 45 93 150

8% 30% 62% 100%

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Primary Specifications for NPS

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62%

38%

NPS Item Distribution by Cognitive Level

Recall Application Analysis Total9 61 50 120

8% 51% 41% 100%

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Summary• Challenges and opportunities continue• The credentialing system continues to

evolve• The NBRC continues to build on the

hierarchical structure of the credentialing examination system

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18000 W 105th StOlathe, KS 66061-7543Phone (913) 895 4900

FAX (913) 895 4650www.nbrc.org

Contact Information

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