Page 2 - Newsletter EBAss

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More about it when an official document will be ready for publication.
 Participation at the last EUBS meeting in Geneva with the organization of a workshop for Nurses and Technicians. It
included discussion in relation to a Safety Manager course recommended by EBAss as well as the compatibility of ICU beds for
hyperbaric use and safety issues for hyperbaric personnel. More information about the workshop you can find at the section
past events on the EBAss website.

Accreditation Committee
by Peter Atkey, President of EBAss Accreditation Committee

‘Why do you need to gain Our scheme commenced with just successful completion of the EBAss
accreditation for something you two qualifications, European Certified examination will result in the
already do? It is of course true that Hyperbaric Chamber Operator candidate being issued with
there are a great number of personnel (ECHCO) and European Certified certification from ECB at their chosen
operating hyperbaric chambers in Hyperbaric Registered Nurse level. Training centres wishing to have
Europe very well and safely without (ECHRN). It soon became clear that in their Hyperbaric courses accredited
having any independent accreditation some parts of Europe facilities were should contact the Joint ECHM/EBAss
to prove their competence, this has operating with only Monoplace Accreditation Committee (JEEAC) in
been completely acceptable in most Chambers, this necessitated the English by
member states for a long time introduction of a certification for email to
however, employers are increasingly Monoplace Chamber Operators, accreditation@ebassexam.eu
being pressured to show that their staff ECHCOM.
are properly trained and competent to EBAss is constantly reviewing needs Although we have come a long way in
carry out their duties as it is likely that and requirements and is now proud to a relatively short time we are not
in the near future governments will be able to announce the launch of the finished yet, the next step will be to
pass legislation that insists all staff at next level of certification, European introduce Safety Manager (SM)
Hyperbaric facilities can be shown to Certified Hyperbaric Intensive Care accreditation, this is planned to
be trained and accredited to an Nurse (ECHICN). launch mid-2017.’
accepted standard. Moreover, the Right from the start EBAss has been
demands for proof of competence will keen that personnel are trained and
not be limited to Governments, already examined in their own language,
there are signs that Commissioners, there are now courses available in a
Health and Safety departments, number of countries training in their
general management of hospitals and mother tongue. This ensures that
of course Insurance companies will candidates will be well trained as
insist on proof of staff competence. required under the ECHM/EBAss
In recognition of this coming Resource Manual. Once candidates
requirement in 2010, EBAss in have successfully completed one of
association with ECHM and the these courses at their required level
European College of Baromedicine they will then be eligible to sit the
(ECB) launched its independent EBAss online examination. Again,
Accreditation system. Levels of these examinations are available in
competence for our examinations multiple languages and are
were set in the EBAss/ECHM Resource completely independent;
Manual (RM).