CCHP News

Notes From the Board Chair
Summer 2010

Jayne R. Russell

Committee and board meetings, agendas, reports and exams—what really goes on behind those closed doors at the CCHP board of trustee meetings that are held twice a year? Well, I’m here to summarize those long, four-hour meetings for you (hopefully keep you awake) and update you on the status of your CCHP program and board activities.

Let’s start with why we do this. Certification recognizes excellence and high standards. It elevates the professional level of accomplishments in a way that speaks to pride, commitment and personal satisfaction in our chosen field of corrections. Do you still find startled looks on people’s faces when you tell them you work in a jail or a prison, or at least curiosity? The field of correctional health care is still relatively new in shaping its professional image and persona. The CCHP program adds a foundation and structure to our emerging image and values.

The program’s success can be measured in part by its continuous growth. Despite the economic downturn, interest remains high and membership now exceeds 2,300. In 2009, the number of exams administered increased 50% vs. the previous year. That tells us that being CCHP certified is meaningful. Agencies and corporations are encouraging certification for their staff with tangible incentives such as bonuses, pay increases and exam remuneration.

Specialty Certification and More
The program is growing in other ways, as well. The CCHP and CCHP-Advanced certification are now joined by specialty certification for registered nurses. The CCHP-RN was launched late last year and the first group of candidates—15 nurses—took the exam at the Updates conference in April. We look forward to the official announcement of our first group of CCHP-RNs.

Establishing the CCHP-RN was a tremendous effort, involving a task force of correctional nurse experts who generously donated hours of expertise and hard work to produce this exclusive and comprehensive product. We also were fortunate to receive sponsorship that enabled us to contract for formal analysis and validation.

Now, a specialty exam for physicians is being developed by a correctional physician task force, and certification will follow in 2011. The physician task force is well on its way to finalizing and piloting the exam. The process is similar to that for the CCHP-RN exam and thus we are now seeking sponsorship to contract technical assistance.

Outreach and collaboration are important to the CCHP program. The board of trustees also coordinates with universities and professional organizations to further professional development. It supports corrections in becoming a part of mainstream education.

Volunteers Make It Happen!
One of the major components of the semiannual meetings is to set aside a block of time to review exam questions and comments. Prior to the meetings, board members review content outlines and any problematic issues, and they develop and revise exam questions. The broad, comprehensive testing tools that result are borne of an efficient process that constantly reviews and evaluates, strengthened by engaging discussions to ensure the best decisions.

All of these accomplishments are made possible by the highly skilled members of the CCHP board of trustees. The board and its various subcommittees and task forces work untiringly behind the scenes and their commitment and leadership are not readily visible. I applaud all of them for this service. Did you know that our past chair, Dr. Edwin Megargee, by invitation still attends all CCHP board meetings? We are grateful to him for his valuable contributions and input to ensure that exam questions are reliable and valid.

(Much credit and acknowledgment also goes to Paula Hancock and Matissa Sammons, NCCHC staff members who work throughout the year to coordinate the program’s goals and initiatives.)

In closing, the CCHP board enthusiastically continues its efforts to respond to your needs and ideas in shaping and enhancing our correctional health profession. If you think you’d like to be part of this team, I encourage you to consider serving on the board. Find information, as well as a list of board members and program news, at the CCHP website and future issues of CorrectCare.

Sincerely,
Jayne R. Russell, MEd, CCHP-A
Chair, CCHP Board of Trustees