Advice to applicants
Please note that the name of the “Hospital Visiting and Training Accreditation Programme” changed to “Accreditation of Training in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care” on 1 January 2020. Both names relate to the same programme, and the HVTAP and ATAIC accreditations meet the same standards and have the same value. Only the name was changed to better reflect the activity, the programme is unchanged.
Certificates delivered for accreditation visits carried out until 2019 will mention the name “Hospital Visiting and Training Accreditation Programme”, even if delivered during the Awards Ceremony of Euroanaesthesia 2020. Certificates delivered for accreditation visits carried out as of 2020 will mention the name “Accreditation of Training in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care”.
All relevant documents (forms, procedures etc.) will be updated with the new ATAIC name gradually in the course of 2020.
Get your application documentsAbout
The Hospital Visiting and Training Accreditation Programme (HVTAP) is now the Accreditation of Training in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ATAIC)!
The ATAIC is offered on a voluntary basis to the academic departments of anaesthesia which apply for teaching accreditation in accordance with the European Training Requirements.
Each application is sent by the Head of a Department or Institute to the ESAIC Secretariat and reviewed by the ATAIC Joint Committee who will determine whether an accreditation or re-accreditation is applicable.
A questionnaire outlining the structure of the hospital, the composition of the staff and the organisation of teaching and training is then completed by the applicant and submitted together with supporting documents to the ESAIC Secretariat.
The questionnaires that each trainee of the applying department send individually to the ESAIC office constitute another important source of information for the visitors and reviewers (see the visit flowchart).
Why apply for ATAIC accreditation?
- The detailed ATAIC report gives recommendations on how to possibly improve the training of the residents, which can benefit both the personnel and the patients
- ATAIC accreditation is given jointly by the UEMS and by the ESAIC, giving a maximum of visibility and credibility to the accredited departments
- All accredited departments are listed on the ESAIC website
- A representative of each accredited department is invited to receive the official ATAIC certificate from the hands of the ATAIC Committee Chairperson during the Awards Ceremony of the Euroanaesthesia congress
- A preferential low registration fee for Euroanaesthesia will be offered to one representative of each accredited department
- Each accredited department is automatically invited to consider organising the On-Line Assessment
- Each accredited department is automatically invited to consider joining the Trainee Exchange Programme networks
- Each accredited department is automatically invited to consider joining the CEEA network
- Each accredited department is invited to consider hosting the EDAIC Part I examination provided that there is no nearby EDAIC Part I centre; additionally, the accredited department is exempted from the formal application to run the EDAIC Part I (opening an EDAIC Part I centre always requires the express approval of the Examinations Committee).
This team is made of three visitors appointed by the ATAIC Joint Committee: one from the ESAIC, one from the EBA and one from the country in which the hospital visit will take place. The latter is appointed by the National Society of Anaesthesiology of the visited country.
Site Visit
The 2-day visit consists of a detailed presentation of the hospital staff, the organisation of the hospital, the department (or the institute) and the training structure (see template visit schedule). This forms the basis for a discussion and evaluation of all aspects of the teaching and training process with the staff members involved.
The purpose of the evaluation is to complement and build upon the strengths of the department and to encourage development and change in order to address areas of weakness. This step is followed by an interview with trainees at different levels of training in the absence of supervising staff.
Report
The visiting team should formulate its conclusions, conditions and recommendations in a fully agreed and dated report. There should be two aspects to this recommendation: duration of approval and conditions for re-accreditation.
The draft report from the visiting team is discussed within the ATAIC Joint Committee and then sent to the visited centre to correct any factual errors.
After the report has been finalised, it is sent again to the visited centre (within 6 months of the visit), forwarded to the ESAIC and EBA Boards and is finally archived at the ESAIC Secretariat.
Certificate of Accreditation
Any department that has submitted an application for certification and has subsequently been visited and approved will receive a certificate of accreditation during the Euroanaesthesia Award Ceremony. Accreditation may be valid for up to five years depending on the visitors’ recommendations and the decision of the ATAIC Joint Committee.
Fee
International travel expenses will be covered by the applicable fee (see table below) but costs incurred within the country are met by the visited institution. The host or the National Society will also cover the cost of an independent interpreter should the visitor request it.
Accreditation or Re-accreditation: €3500. The price mentioned excludes 21% VAT.