Seen and heard at the CARF surveyor conference
By CARF International
Surveyors representing health and human service organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada attended the 2018 CARF Surveyor Continuing Education Conference on March 24 and 25 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in beautiful Tucson, Arizona.
Participants explored trends and practices in Behavioral Health, Child and Youth Services, and Opioid Treatment Programs. The annual gathering is part of a continuing education program to keep CARF surveyors at the forefront of developments in the field. An April conference will host surveyors in Medical Rehabilitation, Employment and Community Services, and Aging Services.
Joanne Finegan, President of ReMed, spoke on workforce trends. CARF standards on Workforce Development and Management were significantly revised in 2018 to reflect changes in the field. Standards are updated frequently based on input from CARF’s
International Advisory Council and International Standards Advisory Committees made up of leading experts in the related fields and other stakeholders from providers to persons served and industry and advocacy organizations.
An interactive Jeopardy-style game helped participants polish their skills on CARF’s new web-based assessment tool for accreditation surveys.
Michael Johnson moderated a dynamic session, “Behavioral Health: A National Perspectives Town Hall.” Panelists from left to right are: Dr. Steve Ronik, CEO of Henderson Behavioral Health; Dale Shreve, President and CEO at Mental Health Corporations of America; and Chuck Ingoglia, Senior Vice President of Public Policy/Practice Improvement, National Council for Behavioral Health. Michael is Managing Director of CARF’s Behavioral Health unit.
CARF staff and surveyors relaxed and enjoyed Saturday evening’s service awards banquet.
More than 220 surveyors attended plenary and breakout sessions throughout the weekend. Sessions covered a variety of interdisciplinary and field-specific content, allowing participants to select the learning experience that best fit their needs.
Long-time surveyors celebrated milestones in their history with CARF at Saturday evening’s awards dinner. Here, Pam Wilson is shown receiving her 20-year service recognition from CARF President and CEO Brian Boon, Ph.D. Pam is Director of Rehabilitation Services for Earle E. Morris, Jr. Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center in Columbia, SC, a CARF-accredited organization.
Don Jorgensen of Human Factor Consultants presented a session on surveyor ethics.
The town hall forum gave surveyors the opportunity to engage in dialog with a panel of experts.
Di Shen, Ph.D., presented updates in accreditation research. Dr. Shen is head of CARF’s Research & Quality Improvement unit.
Surveyors enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and surveyor colleagues at meals between sessions.
Ongoing training enhances both the surveyors’ organizations and the consultation they provide other organizations during accreditation surveys. CARF conferences provide surveyors valuable opportunities to deepen competencies, learn about new and updated standards, and network with peers and CARF staff.
4/10/2018
(Aging Services,Behavioral Health,Employment and Community Services,Child and Youth Services,Medical Rehabilitation)