For health care providers working in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, CCI administers the RCIS examination. This credential has been recognized by our own society (SICP) as the only credential for professional working in cardiac catheterization laboratories that test for all of the knowledge and skills that are necessary. The RCIS is also recognized by the two physician organizations that most impact our field of practice: The American College of Cardiology and The Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions.

The credential that Cardiovascular Credentialing International administered is one of three elements of our professional triad. All professions must have: a representative society, a credential and organized education.

The following professional societies sent representation to the January 2006 CCI meeting:

American College of Cardiology: Joseph Messer, MD

American College of Chest Physicians: J. Nilas Young, MD

American Society of Echocardiography: Ken Horton, RCS, RDMS, FASE
Nelson Schiller, MD

British Society of Echocardiography: Simon Ray, MD

Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals: Charles Barbiere, RCIS, CCT, RN, CCRN, FSICP

Society for Vascular Ultrasound: Claudia Benge, RDCS, RDMS, RVS, RVT

Thai Cardiovascular Invasive Society: Chris Nelson, RN, RCIS, FSICP

Member at Large: Ted Christman, RCIS, RCS, RDMS, RVS, RVT

Public Member: Philip M. Snyder, IV

CCI™s Current Officers are:

President: Elaine A. Shea, RCIS, RCS

President Elect: John H. Toptine, RCS

Treasurer: Christopher M. Nelson, RCIS

Secretary: Douglas L. Passey, RCIS

Immediate Past President: Steve A. Marmon, RCIS

NR Examination Chair: Dennis K. Carney, RCIS, RCS, FASE

IR Examination Chair: Douglas Passey, RCIS, NREMT-P

VR Examination Chair: James J. Shafer, RVS

CT/CS Examination Chair: Christie Hill Jordan, RCIS, RCS

CCI Staff:

Aaron White: Executive Director (non-voting)

Janet Punzi: Staff (non-voting)

Guest:

Christine Neiro, PhD: PTI Representative

URLs:
http://www.cci-online.org/; http://www.vue.com/cci/; http://www.ansi.org/

The meeting was called to order, and new members and representatives were introduced. An overview of the financial standing of CCI was reviewed: CCI remains solvent and the financial outlook continues to improve.

The Chairs of the CCI exam committees gave their reports, including information on the question banks for the various exams and information on the exam matrix. CCI™s move to an electronic online exam has been successful, with the number of exams being administered meeting or exceeding the paper exams.

Christine Neiro, PhD, gave a presentation to the members on the advantages and benefits of becoming an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) ANSI-accredited organization. She also briefed the members on her review of what business and organizational practices CCI would be required to change or develop.

What is ANSI?
ANSI is the American National Standards Developers Institute.

ANSI does not itself develop standards. ANSI accredits standards developing organizations to create and maintain American National Standards (ANS).

In addition to facilitating the formation of standards in the U.S., ANSI promotes the use of U.S. standards internationally, advocates U.S. policy and technical positions in international and regional standards organizations and encourages the adoption of international standards as national standards where these meet the needs of the user community.

What is ISO?
ISO is a non-governmental organization established in 1947 and based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ISO mission is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity. ISO's work results in international agreements which are published as International Standards and other types of ISO documents.

Request for advocacy actions were reviewed, and the board made recommendations for intervention on certain problems, while further fact-finding was required on others.

All of the represented professional societies gave reports on their respective society. This included membership numbers, society activities, and advocacy issues.

At the meeting several new representatives and members were in attendance:
J. Nilas Young, MD representing the American College of Chest Physicians.
Simon Ray, MD representing the British Society of Echocardiography.
Christie Hill Jordan, RCIS, RCS as the new CT/CS Examination Chair.
Mr. Philip M. Snyder, IV as the new public member.

Received an RCIS questionnaire?
As our credentialing body, CCI is tasked with ongoing review of tasks that cardiovascular professionals perform on a day-to-day basis. This is accomplished by performing a nation wide job analysis on a recurring basis. Holders of the RCIS credential are randomly selected by geographic location and sent a questionnaire inquiring as to their scope and type of activities that they perform. If you receive such a questionnaire, please do your best to answer the questions in an honest and prompt manner. Only with the input of professionals can CCI continue to advance our credential.