Special Edition - Expert Clinician

We have the answers to some of your questions!

View this email in your browser Not a Member? Become one today! NLN Expert Clinician FAQs The National Lymphedema Network ("NLN") aims to inspire clinicians to provide world-class care for people with lymphedema by promoting best practice guidelines and standards of care. To work towards this mission, the National Lymphedema Network established the NLN Expert Clinician ("EC") designation in 2021 to elevate the standards of therapeutic care being provided to patients with lymphatic diseases by implementing a mentorship program with expert clinicians in their fields with live competency-based assessment on multiple facets of current lymphatic treatment. As we develop this program, there are many questions that naturally arise. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers: How is the NLN Expert Clinician designation program structured? Moving forward, the NLN EC program will consist of a coaching-style format with field experts followed by a live, in-person competency based assessment. This is not a pass/fail format, but rather a way to mentor clinicians that will promote standardization of care and elevation of best practices. The assessment is included to ensure carry-over of the skills for patient safety and advancing research-based treatment. On the rare occasion that a participant does not meet the requirements to successfully complete the skills set forth in the compentency, an opportunity to participate in a future program is available. What topics does the NLN EC program include? The coaching and assessment progam includes, but is not limited to: manual lymph drainage; multi-layered short stretch bandaging; elastic taping; wound care; compression garment decision-making, measuring and fitting; body region-specific considerations, such as head and neck, genital, and breast/chest; pneumatic compression pump use and fibrosis treatments. An expert in each field will be providing the coaching and assesment to provide real-time feedback. What is the cost to participate in the NLN EC program? The application fee is waived for active NLN members, though is $75 for non-members. Once approved to participate in the live coaching and assessment program, the fee is $475 for both members and non-members. This includes registration for the 2022 NLN-Cleveland Clinic Conference as well. Is there a limit to the number of clinicians allowed to participate in the program? Yes. For each topic, the group size is limited to 15 people. This is necessary to allow each instructor to provide one-on-one assessment and coaching to those participating. Depending on the number of clinicians who are accepted to participate in the program, additional groups will be created. Will attending the 2022 NLN-Cleveland Clinic Conference fulfill the requirements to maintain my NLN EC desgination? Yes. Attendance at the annual in-person NLN Conference will satisfy all didactic and manual skills requirements. The NLN always strives to provide a well-rounded educational event that allows participants to improve their hands-on skills and research-based knowledge. For all other questions, please refer to the NLN EC policy below, as well as the dedicated webpage for the NLN EC program. Questions may also be directed to the Continuing Education Officer. NLN Expert Clinician Policy Click Here for More Information About the NLN Expert Clinician Program Copyright National Lymphedema Network 2022. All rights reserved. PO Box 1008, New York, NY 10276 (800) 541-3259 EIN 94-3068338 unsubscribe