Texas Tech Health El Paso has achieved Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, enhancing team-based training for health professionals in the region. This accreditation allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists to complete more continuing education hours together, ultimately improving coordination and patient safety.
The introduction of Joint Accreditation was marked by a campus reception on January 23, 2025, coinciding with Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day. This new approach consolidates continuing education approvals across multiple health professions, creating a unified system that emphasizes interprofessional learning. Such collaboration is essential for improving teamwork and patient care in a region that regularly faces healthcare provider shortages.
The accreditation process, which began 18 months prior, involved a thorough self-study and a review of continuing education programs from the previous two years. Texas Tech Health El Paso received formal notice of Joint Accreditation in December 2025, meeting the rigorous standards set by key accrediting bodies, including the American Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Adding to its accomplishments, Texas Tech Health El Paso decided to incorporate dental continuing education credits through the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program. This achievement places the university among only 200 organizations nationwide holding such a credential.
Cynthia Juarez, managing director of the Office of Continuing Professional Education, emphasized the significance of this unified accreditation, stating, “Rather than pursuing a third separate accreditation for dental continuing education, we applied for Joint Accreditation. Bringing these professions under one set of accreditation standards and criteria makes our planning more unified, streamlined and efficient.”
Addressing Regional Healthcare Needs
El Paso is currently grappling with significant healthcare shortages, which the new Joint Accreditation aims to alleviate. Training healthcare professionals to work efficiently as teams is increasingly vital. Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2025 indicates that poor communication among healthcare professionals contributes to one in four patient safety incidents. Hospitals implementing standardized teamwork training reported a reduction of preventable medical errors by 30% and a decrease in patient deaths by 28%.
Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of Texas Tech Health El Paso, highlighted the program’s goal: “This program is about improving the day-to-day experience of care for El Pasoans. Unifying accreditation helps our region’s health care teams train together, communicate better and deliver safer, more coordinated care for the people we serve.”
The Joint Accreditation mandates that at least 25% of continuing education activities be interprofessional, requiring healthcare professionals from various disciplines to learn together. Texas Tech Health El Paso currently hosts multiple continuing education events each month, including grand rounds, conferences, and online courses. This accreditation broadens the university’s interprofessional education, ensuring a cohesive learning experience throughout all stages of professional development.
The Importance of Ongoing Education
Continuing education plays a crucial role in maintaining healthcare professionals’ licenses in Texas. Team members must complete designated education hours throughout their careers, covering essential topics such as ethics, cultural competency, pain management, and emerging medical issues. This ongoing training is vital to ensure that healthcare practices remain current and responsive to new challenges.
Juarez noted the essential role that continuing education professionals play in this process. “They’re the ones who make sure our accredited continuing education is evidence-based, free of commercial bias, and meets accreditation requirements. Without them, this doesn’t happen.”
As Texas Tech Health El Paso continues to enhance its educational offerings, it remains committed to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Established as an independent university in 2013, the institution has graduated over 2,600 professionals in various fields over the past decade.
For more information about the Joint Accreditation and upcoming Continuing Education events, please visit the Texas Tech Health El Paso website.
