What is an EC?
Education Consultants (EC) are experienced professionals in health care management, health information management, or dietary and food service management who are committed to life long learning and enjoy assisting others in this process. While not teachers in the traditional sense, ECs provide regular and consistent contact with the students by offering feedback and marking student assignments during the study year. If you would like more information about this exciting mentoring role, contact learninginfo@cha.ca or continue reading our information online.
What does an EC do?
- Establish a positive relationship with assigned students by exchanging background information
- Coach, support and direct students as they proceed through the study units
- Provide on-going written specific feedback to students for each assignment
- Assess strengths and weaknesses when grading assignments
- Submit marks for each study unit online
- Consult with CHA Learning, as appropriate
What are the requirements for becoming an EC?
- Must be a health care, health information or dietary and food service professional
- Must submit a current and up to date resume
- Must have current knowledge and at least 2 years experience in an applicable area of study e.g. CQI, Health Services Management, Food Service
- For Management Programs, a baccalaureate degree is preferred
- For the HIM Program, the EC must be a graduate of a CHIMA recognized HIM Program and be a current, active member of CHIMA
- For the HIM Program, the EC must have up to date knowledge of WinRecs
- For year two of the FSNM Program, the EC must be a registered dietician
- Must have access to a computer with an internet connection at home or at work, See Terms and Conditions for Registration for specific requirements
- All EC’s must be comfortable communicating with CHA Learning and their students via email, be willing to enter their marks online and be proficient in Microsoft applications
- Make a minimum commitment of 1 academic year (September to April) and be willing to sign an EC Partnership Agreement with CHA Learning
What are the time requirements for an EC?
- Approximately 1 hour/week for support and communication with students (usually by e-mail, but may be by telephone)
- Approximately 60-120 minutes to mark each student’s study unit
Why would I want to be an EC?
Many ECs enjoy the personal and professional development of working with, and learning from, local and international healthcare students. They are dedicated people who want to share what they have learned with others interested in life long learning.
Through an agreement with the Canadian College of Health Service Executives (www.cchse.org), Education Constulants for Health Services Management and for Long Term Care Management are eligible for 7 Category 1 Maintenance of Certification credits for each academic year.
Members of the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA) who serve as Education Consultants for CHA’s Health Information Management (HIM) program receive 1 credit per student per year (maximum 5 credits per year) to be applied toward CHIMA’s mandatory Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program. CHIMA members who serve on CHA’s HIM Advisory Committee receive 1 credit per meeting.
What an experienced EC told us
"Being involved in the CHA Distance Learning programs allows me to have contact with people working in healthcare across the country. This is why I do it -- because it keeps my finger on the pulse of what's happening in LTC, acute care, home care, etc. For the students' benefit, I feel the programs are very practical and very applicable. They hit on the right topics for people looking to advance their careers in health administration and management. The relationship between the Education Consultant and student can be mutually beneficial. I've really enjoyed my ten years of working with and learning from CHA students."
Allison Philpot
Education Consultant
Health Services Management
Education Consultants Role