An increase in the availability of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) professionals will provide more surgeons with the opportunity to have IONM expertise as part of their surgical team.
TORONTO — The Canadian Association of Neurophysiological Monitoring (CANM), the national body representing intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) professionals in Canada, and The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences are pleased to announce a partnership to develop a Certificate Program in IONM that will commence in September 2014.
“The new certificate program in IONM offered by CANM and Michener will be the first of its kind in Canada and, to our knowledge, the world,” said Laura Holmes, President, CANM. “By offering the two-year post-graduate certificate program online we are able to increase accessibility to students across Canada and internationally. Since our organization has recognized and embraced the urgent need for both a professional education program and a national accreditation exam leading to eligibility for practice in Canada, a partnership with Michener is integral to meeting the IONM needs of patients in the Canadian healthcare system.”
“At Michener, our vision is to be the education solution provider that meets the needs of Ontario’s health care system. One of our core strengths is our ability to respond quickly to emerging health education needs through the development of partnerships that bring clinical and educational solutions together in creative ways,” says Sylvia Schippke, Vice President, Academic and Interim President & CEO, The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences. “This partnership with CANM provides us a unique opportunity to advance the quality and accreditation of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring not only in Ontario but across the country.”
IONM is an allied health care profession that is vital for protecting patients during surgery. Qualified IONM practitioners help prevent surgical injury that can result in deficits such as paralysis. By continuously assessing the patient’s nervous system responses in real time, IONM practitioners can alert the surgeon to unexpected changes, allowing for timely interventions.
“As a group of children’s spine surgeons, the Canadian Paediatric Spine Study Group (CPSSG) is extremely excited about the recent agreement between CANM and The Michener Institute for an education program to train IONM professionals in Canada, as they are now an essential part of our surgical team. This ground-breaking program will allow the training of new, well qualified IONM professionals in Canada and should, ultimately, provide optimal care for Canadian children who require surgery for spinal deformities,” says Dr. Ron El-Hawary, Chief of Paediatric Orthopedics, IWK Health Centre and past-President of CPSSG.
IONM has existed for over 30 years, but more recent evidence and improvements in technology have resulted in an increased demand for its services among vascular, orthopedic and neurosurgeons.
For more information, please visit www.canm.ca. For course information, see www.michener.ca/ce.
About CANM
CANM has been the unifying voice of IONM in Canada for more than six years. CANM’s mission is to promote the field of IOM and foster the development of the profession through education and certification, so as to provide optimum patient care. For more information, please visitwww.canm.ca.
About Michener
Established in 1958, The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences is Canada’s only post-secondary institution devoted exclusively to health sciences education. Michener offers full-time and continuing education in Imaging, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Radiation Sciences, Primary and Critical Care and other specialized applied health programs. With a robust curriculum that emphasizes interprofessional collaboration and simulation based training, graduates are prepared to deliver quality diagnostic and therapeutic services. Michener is publicly funded by the Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Health and further enriched through partnerships with universities, private sector companies and leading health care organizations. For more information, visit www.michener.ca.
