How do I become a surveyor with the Diagnostic Accreditation Program?

There are a number of steps involved in becoming a surveyor for the DAP. Firstly, you need to complete the relevant application form and submit it to the DAP. Following this, we will contact you to arrange a suitable date for you to attend an orientation session. We then ask that you complete your first survey within 3 months of attending orientation so that you are able to put everything you learned into practice.

 

How much time will it take up?

The majority of DAP Surveyors work full time at one of the many health facilities throughout British Columbia. Because of this, the DAP has tried to minimize the amount of time spent away from your current workplace. There are the following time commitments associated with being a DAP surveyor:

 

 Orientation

• 2 hours of pre-reading. Material will be provided 1-2 weeks prior to your orientation session
• 4 hours of in room training. The in-room training takes place in the DAP Vancouver offices. Additional time may be required if you need to travel to Vancouver

Surveying

• Each survey takes approximately 8 hours.
• Additional time may be required for travel.
• Occasionally, you will be required to travel the night before the survey and stay overnight.
• When traveling to remote locations, we try to complete multiple surveys in one trip meaning you may be away for up to 3 days.          

How many surveys will I have to do each year?

There is no minimum requirement for the number of surveys you complete each year. Ideally, we would like you to complete one survey every 6 months so that you maintain your surveying proficiency throughout the year.

 

I am an XYZ technologist; will I only survey XYZ departments?

You will only be required to survey in areas that you are currently practising in. For example, we will not assign an Ultrasound Technologist to evaluate a Mammography service or a Hematology Technologist to evaluate an Anatomic Pathology service.

 

Will training be provided?

Yes. In preparation for surveying, all of our Surveyors receive orientation that takes approximately 3-4 hours to complete. The orientation is provided at our Vancouver office. During the orientation we discuss the content of the standards/criteria and how to assess them, use of the surveyor protocols, how to record observations and make recommendations, and other important information for surveyors to know.

 

Where are orientation sessions held?

Orientation is held in our Vancouver office which is located at Suite 501-777 W. Broadway, Vancouver. There is parking at the rear of the building which can be accessed via the lane off Willow Street.

 

On what dates are the orientations?

The DAP endeavors to provide two orientation sessions per month, one Monday afternoon session and one Friday morning session. Please find a list of upcoming orientation dates below:

 

Monday, August 24, 2009              12:30pm - 04:30pm

Friday, September 11, 2009            08:30am - 12:30pm

Monday, September 21, 2009         12:30pm - 04:30pm

Friday, October 9, 2009                 08:30am - 12:30pm

Monday, October 19, 2009             12:30pm - 04:30pm

Friday, November 6, 2009               08:30am - 12:30pm

Monday, November 23, 2009           12:30pm - 04:30pm

 

 If you would like to attend one of these orientation sessions, please contact our Manager, Surveyor Operations, Nisha Esmail at 604 739 6656.

 

Do I get paid for the training?

We provide an honorarium for attendance at orientation. The honorarium is commensurate with the type of surveying that you will be conducting:

 

Management Surveyors       $200.00

Medical Surveyors              $250.00

Technical Surveyors           $162.50

 

The DAP will also directly pay for or reimburse all travel expenses associated with these activities in accordance with DAP policy. For orientation purposes, you are responsible for making your own travel arrangements. Expenses will be reimbursed when an honorarium form is submitted following the orientation session.

 

When after the orientation/survey will I be reimbursed for expenses?

Once we receive your honorarium form, it generally takes 7-10 business days for your cheque to be put in the mail.

 

How do surveyors get the time off to survey? Do they take a Leave Of Absence or vacation days to complete surveys?

It is up to each individual Surveyor. Some Surveyors take vacation days, some take unpaid leave and others have agreements with their health authority that allows them to survey a set number of sites per year. In this case, they are paid their normal wage by their health authority and the honorarium is paid to the health authority instead of the individual.

 

Are survey dates flexible to accommodate my schedule?

Surveys are generally scheduled 9 months in advance so there is little flexibility in the dates. We do a large number of surveys each year which allows you to choose surveys which accommodate your schedule.

 

Where would I survey?

Our surveys take place throughout British Columbia. You will not survey within your own health authority.

 

How do I get my surveyor package?

Surveyor packages are mailed to each surveyor 2 weeks prior to the survey date. The DAP prefers to send packages to work addresses as we use Medical Transport Service because they provide quick and effective delivery timeframes. 

 

What will be in a surveyor package?

Surveyor packages will contain background information on the facility being surveyed, survey protocols and travel information.

 

Will I be paid for surveying?

We provide an honorarium for all surveying. The honorarium is commensurate with the type of surveying that you will be conducting:

 

Management Surveyors       $400.00

Medical Surveyors              $500.00

Technical Surveyors           $325.00

 

The DAP will also reimburse all travel expenses associated with these activities in accordance with DAP policy. For survey purposes, the DAP will co-ordinate all travel logistics as we are often co-ordinating a team of surveyors. You will be consulted prior to bookings to ensure that you can commit to specific flight times etc. Flights are paid for by DAP but you will be responsible for hotel expenses and rental cars as well as meals throughout your survey trip. All expenses will be reimbursed when an honorarium form is submitted following the survey.

 

What happens after I’ve surveyed a site?

Following your on-site survey, the DAP will compile the Accreditation Report. The Accreditation Report is then reviewed by the DAP Accreditation Council who decide the Accreditation status for each facility.

 

Who do I contact for additional information?

Please contact Nisha Esmail at 604.739.6656 for further answers to any questions that you may have.