January 2009 Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) News

Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Credentialing: An Important Letter Note: The SICP Advocacy Committee is distributing the following in letter format to each state’s Department of Public Health. If you’d like to request that a copy of this letter be directed to your facility’s Human Resource department, please contact SICP Staff Assistant, Tracy Pratt, at membership@sicp.com. Please provide the contact name and email address. The letter will be sent as a PDF. If you would also like the letter emailed directly to you, please request that as well. Hard copies are also available by providing the contact name and facility address. The Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals’ Advocacy Committee asks for your consideration and time. Please take this opportunity to become familiar with this organization of highly trained and skilled allied healthcare providers in the field of invasive cardiovascular services. SICP believes that well-trained, non-physician members of the cardiovascular team are essential to ensuring the best possible outcome for the patient. We endorse the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) credential as the credential for non-physician clinicians of the invasive cardiovascular team. We have a common goal: improved patient care in cardiac catheterization laboratories. • The RCIS credential is recognized by: American College of Cardiology (ACC), Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP). • In 1981, the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education officially recognized Cardiovascular Technology as an allied health profession. This recognition led to the development of Standards and Guidelines for Cardiovascular Technology Educational Programs by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT), and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Credentialing is administered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI.) • The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) first recognized Cardiovascular Technologists as an alternate title under the Cardiopulmonary Technologist title in the published supplement to the 1986 DOT. However, information was not collected on the occupation until 1989. Currently, Cardiovascular Technologists/Technicians and Invasive Cardiovascular Specialists fall under the SOC broad heading “29-2031 Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.” • The RCIS has replaced both the Registered Cardiovascular Technologist (RCVT), and Registered Cardiopulmonary Technologist (RCPT) credentials. • SICP is a nonprofit, professional society representing the non-physician invasive cardiovascular professional. It was founded in 1993 with encouragement from the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), which recognized the need for a professional society to create and maintain standards of professional practice, promote continuing education and to act as an advocate for the non-physician members of the invasive cardiovascular care team. The diversity of highly skilled professionals complements and strengthens the ability to provide a high standard of patient care. SICP is an inclusive professional group, representing members of various disciplines. • Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) is a credentialing agency whose purpose is the administering of credentialing examinations as an independent credentialing agency. RCIS professionals are governed by a professional society (SICP) and after passing the registry examination, are required to obtain 36 hours of continuing education credits tri-annually in order to maintain the credential. CCI’s Board of Trustees is composed of representatives from the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP), and Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU). • SICP is part of the Alliance for Quality Medical Imagining and Radiation Therapy, comprised of over 22 organizations. The “Alliance” is in support of and advocates on a federal level for the passage of the CARE (Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy) Bill. The CARE Bill will amend and enforce the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health & Safety Act of 1981 (42 USC 10001, et seq.), and charge the Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to promulgate updated regulations specifying the education and credentialing requirements for persons who perform medical imaging examinations and who plan and deliver radiation therapy treatments. • There are currently six states that have language specific to the recognition/licensure of the RCIS. The acceptance and recognition of the RCIS is growing in popularity. It is driven by patient safety goals, Medicare reimbursement and patients’ demand to receive the highest level of care by credentialed healthcare providers. Your consideration regarding this issue places your facility in a proactive position, increasing the quality of patient care and safety that will be achieved by recognizing and requiring RCIS credentialed professionals in the cardiac cath lab. Please visit the following links for further information regarding these professionals: www.sicp.com The Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals www.cci-online.com Cardiovascular Credentialing International www.scai.org The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions www.asrt.org American Society of Radiologic Technologists www.acc.org American College of Cardiology www.jrc-cvt.org The Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology Regards, James A. Lincoln, RCIS Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals Advocacy Committee Chair

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