Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation

A few years ago, we had a great conversation with Deanna Williams where we discussed the big question of, What does it mean to be a good regulator? There’s not a better or more fundamental question to ask for our CLEAR audience. As the regulatory landscape evolves and we face different challenges in our roles, it’s great to go back to some of the fundamentals and keep those concepts top of mind. Good regulators should ask the question, Can we demonstrate that there's value in what we do? Deanna urges regulators to move beyond being just good enough to asking, How can we be better? Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode76_Revisit_Good_Regulator_040924_transcript.pdf

From new trends like artificial intelligence and banishing diversity, equity and inclusion requirements, to some familiar ones like workforce mobility and licensure compacts, panelists will discuss current legislative initiatives and policy trends happening nationwide that are impacting occupational licensure in 2024. Join us for the legislative rundown with John Bremer from Federation of State Medical Boards, Nicole Livanos from National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and Kelly Parker from Propelus, developers of the continuing education compliance platform, CE Broker. CLEAR thanks CE Broker for being our Premier Education Partner this year. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode75_2024_Legislative_Rundown_031224_transcript.pdf

Jo Perini-Abbott and Addie Smith with the Oregon State Bar Alternatives to the Exam Task Force talk about the OSB's deliberative process to research alternatives to the traditional bar exam, including diploma privilege, an experiential law school pathway, and a supervised practice pathway. Hear about the requirements for the ultimately approved Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination (SPPE), its skill-focused method of assessment, and the potential impact on law schools and students. Jo and Addie also share how this new pathway will support diversity and equity in the legal profession. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode74_Alternatives_to_Exam_021324_transcript.pdf

One role of regulators is to make appropriate dispositions that adequately address a licensee’s or registrant’s conduct of concern. Often regulators determine that remedial interventions are necessary or advisable. Catherine Caldicott, Medical Director of PBI Education, helps define "intensive remedial interventions," gives some reasons that licensed professionals might need intensive remedial interventions, and talks about how regulators can find courses and course providers and make sure it's the right course for a particular licensee or situation. She also discusses the approved list method and its benefits for regulators and disciplined licensees alike. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode73_Remedial_Interventions_010924_transcript.pdf

This episode revisits a previous conversation about unconscious bias - what it means, how it can influence our decision-making, and what we can do to minimize its impact. We also announce new DEI resources for CLEAR members. CLEAR’s DEI Definitions workgroup has developed definitions of key terms frequently used in discussions about DEI. The workgroup carefully considered a range of definitions for each term and is constantly refining and reflecting upon this work. CLEAR’s External Resources for Regulators workgroup has compiled a list of resources related to developing, implementing, and measuring DEI initiatives within regulatory organizations. The documents, policies, and research resources are grouped by categories related to starting your DEI journey, foundational knowledge, policy documents, practice standards and practice guides for professionals, DEI-related courses and training, and DEI metrics. There’s a wealth of resources, many from fellow regulators, to support you on your DEI journey as we seek to remove bias and discrimination in the professional and occupational regulatory community. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode72_DEI_Resources_121223_transcript.pdf

The 2023 CLEAR Awards were presented in Salt Lake City during CLEAR's Annual Educational Conference. Our podcast host had the chance to catch up with the recipients and hear about the cases and accomplishments they were nominated for. In this part 2 episode, hear from Jayde Fuller with the AHPRA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit, recipient of the Regulatory Excellence Team Award, and Holly Childs and Jonathan Gordon with the Real Estate Council of Alberta, recipient of the Investigative Excellence Team Award. Listen to their insights from experience. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode71_2023Awards2_111423_transcript.pdf

The 2023 CLEAR Awards were presented in Salt Lake City during CLEAR's Annual Educational Conference. Our podcast host had the chance to sit down with the recipients and hear about the cases and accomplishments they were nominated for. In this part 1 episode, hear from John Crumley, recipient of the Investigative Excellence Award for an Individual; Ginny Hanrahan, recipient of the Regulatory Excellence Award for an Individual; and Dean Benard, recipient of the Service Award for Lifetime Achievement. Listen to their insights from experience, and tune in next month for part 2 with two more award recipients. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode70_2023Awards1_101023_transcript.pdf

Mukul Bakhshi with the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices for CGFNS International, Inc. shares information about the recently updated “Health Care Code for Ethical International Recruitment and Employment Practices.” He discusses the important balance of making sure people are treated fairly at the micro level while considering global macro level concerns about brain drain and healthcare infrastructure. He highlights the overall work to make the code more accessible and three specific standards that were updated. He shares several resources that regulators can refer to about mobility and international recruitment of healthcare workers. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode69_Ethical_Intl_Recruitment_091223_transcript.pdf

Get a sneak peek at the CLEAR conference plenary session, "Own Your Shift: Turn your season of change into your season of possibility." Tiffany Lanier, Change + Wellbeing Speaker and Founder of The Morning Shift Co., will share how to create meaningful impact in our lives, in our work, and in the world by pushing past the old paradigm of rise and grind and stepping into the new paradigm of what she calls "rise and shift." She talks about the mindset, tools, and resources that can help us be more equipped when the challenge of change arises and why it's important to acknowledge that we are human in the midst of these great changes and focus on wellbeing. Engage in further discussion on CLEAR's Regulatory Network (members-only, join here). Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode68_AECplenary_Navigating_Change_080823_transcript.pdf

Alicia Plemmons with the Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation shares new research her team conducted to explore the relationship between nurse practitioner full practice authority, nurse practitioner workforce diversity, and disparate primary care access. They compared the ethnic and racial composition of different state populations to the nurse practitioner workforce in those states and considered whether removing requirements for collaboration contracts and allowing full practice authority allows more practitioner mobility and greater access to care for underserved communities. "Addressing different ways in which new practitioners may be able to enter and serve marginalized, underrepresented communities before the [physician] shortages get worse - actually analyzing it right now before it gets worse - is really key to ensuring that we maintain accessible and quality healthcare for everybody moving forward." Engage in further discussion on CLEAR's Regulatory Network (members-only, join here). Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode67_Practice_Authority_Workforce_Diversity_071123_transcript.pdf

Jennifer Best with Nova Scotia College of Nursing talks about some recent policy and process changes the College made to streamline their licensing process for applicants from other provinces and from seven international jurisdictions to bring more nurses into the health system in Nova Scotia. She shares how the College analyzed data from ten years of applicants related to curriculum, entry-level competencies, and exam success rates to confirm comparable preparation to Nova Scotia scope of practice. The new process allows nurses from seven designated countries to apply directly to NSCN if certain eligibility criteria are met. Jennifer shares how these changes have affected license processing times and how the College put measures in place to make sure they weren't sacrificing quality and were safely putting nurses into the system. Engage in further discussion on CLEAR's Regulatory Network (members-only, join here). Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode66_Processing_Time_061323_transcript.pdf

Andrew LaFratte, Deputy Policy Director, shares an initiative that the Pennsylvania Department of State has developed to lessen the regulatory licensure burden for military veterans and spouses. Based on results from a veterans licensure survey they conducted, the Department recognized the need for better guidance on the transferability of military credentials and experience into occupational licensing requirements. The result - a Military Occupational Crosswalk to identify and relate civilian career opportunities and requirements to a veteran's military experience. Hear about the challenges faced by the veteran community when applying for licensure, the purpose of the Crosswalk, the development of the Crosswalk, promotion of the Crosswalk to the various stakeholders, the impact that it's had so far, and advice for other jurisdictions that may wish to undertake such an initiative. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode65_Military_Crosswalk_052323_transcript.pdf Related CLEAR webinar recording for purchase: The Effects of Occupational Licensure for Veterans and Military Spouses shares more about the results of the veterans survey

Dan Hereth, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, shares his agency's journey with a multi-year, multi-phase technology initiative. He focuses on how enhancements to the technology used for online license applications and renewals has resulted in better service to the citizens of Wisconsin. New cloud-based technology enables applicants to sit in the drive's seat of their application process to submit the documentation and move it forward, while Department staff are better able to identify applications that are ready for review and move those forward most quickly and efficiently. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode64_Empowerment_through_Technology_041123_transcript.pdf

Jan Robinson, Bradley Chisholm, and Micah Matthews explore the concept of sandboxes for professional and occupational regulators. What is a regulatory sandbox? It's important to think about it like a tool to relax legal and regulatory requirements to create a bit of safe space for experimenting. Experimentation is really necessary because we're working in complex systems, and so are those we regulate. Regulatory sandboxes can help regulators contribute to needed agility in the regulatory environment, while drawing clear lines where innovation can occur and being specific about where it cannot. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode63_Regulatory_Sandboxes_031423_transcript.pdf

Paul Leavoy, Managing Director - Regulatory Content and editor of Ascend magazine for Thentia, talks with CLEAR about regulatory news and current themes in professional licensing. He highlights how labor shortage issues are intertwined with licensing reform and license portability. He talks about some interesting interviews he's done with Dr. Marie Bismark about data trends in complaints and with NCSBN's David Benton about using technology and AI for complaints handling. He gives examples of states doing great work on licensing reform and licensure compacts. And he gives a peek at some research projects Thentia is working on: "Something that excites me is kind of painting a picture of tomorrow's regulator. If we flash forward with all the tools and technologies that are within our grasp - What does it look like 10 years from now?" Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode62_Trends_Thentia_021423_transcript.pdf

Marcial Boo, chair of the new Institute of Regulation in the UK, joins us for this episode. Hear about the membership and goals of this new professional body for regulators in the UK. Marcial shares some of the challenges facing regulators in the UK, many of them similar to challenges faced by regulatory organizations around the world. Marcial hopes that CLEAR members and members of the Institute of Regulation "can make connections, interact over time, and benefit from the insight that we each have on our different regulatory challenges." Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode61_Institute_of_Regulation_011023_transcript.pdf

Carol Puchailo with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba discusses the College's Inquiry to Audit (I2A) Project, an initiative the practice team took to critically think through their systems processes with a focus on improving communication. She discusses how the goal of quality assurance - always striving to get better - can also be applied to the college's own way of doing business, with a goal of improving communication to the public and to registrants. She discusses challenges of determining what information can be shared between the quality assurance team and the conduct team. She talks about the benefits to registrants and to college staff from clearly defining what an inquiry, consultation, review, and audit are and creating a map and flow chart to direct people through the process. "So, it's a process that worked well, and we felt that we were successful at it, but we had to always check in with ourselves. . . . It's going to be an ongoing conversation." Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode60_Inquiry_to_Audit_121322_transcript.pdf

Lisa McGiffert with the Patient Safety Action network and Carol Cronin with the Informed Patient Institute share research and recommendations from their report, Communicating about Physician Sexual Misconduct: How are state medical boards doing? They raise concerns about the ability to find information about physician sexual misconduct on state medical board websites. They highlight websites that are doing well at indicating the seriousness of the issue, providing information for doctors and for patients, and providing resources for those who have been sexually assaulted. They give recommendations about clearly stating a policy of zero tolerance, clear explanations for doctors and patients about sexual misbehavior, transparency about complaints, and the use of straightforward language. They also discuss recommendations related to education and training on trauma-informed care and implicit bias. Transcript: http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode59_Boards_Communicate_Sexual_ Misconduct_110822_transcript.pdf)

During CLEAR's return to our in-person annual conference in Louisville, we were able to sit down with Board members to discuss the 2022-24 strategic plan and some of the exciting initiatives underway to support CLEAR members. The conversation centered on CLEAR's role in facilitating peer learning and connections and forwarding innovative thinking to support the regulator of tomorrow. Hear about CLEAR's strategic priorities around developing a mentorship model; exploring the concept of regulatory sandboxes; addressing the regulator's role in responding to the workforce crisis; providing resources about innovations and lessons learned related to remote working patterns; and serving as a change agent related to diversity, equity and inclusion in professional and occupational regulation. Transcript: html (https://www.clearhq.org/page-1860760) or PDF (http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode58_CLEAR_Strategic_Plan_ 101122_transcript.pdf)

Katie Templeton, Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards Ethics and Professionalism Committee, shares details on FSMB's full policy on "Professional Expectations Regarding Medical Misinformation and Disinformation." She shares that addressing misinformation shared by practitioners is not something new - it falls under the professional duty and ethical responsibilities to be honest and truthful in all patient interactions and when speaking. She highlights the recommendations in the policy related to boards having a mis/disinformation policy, boards retaining their authority to handle their licensees without legislative overreach, addressing issues of mis/disinformation under the purview of professionalism and ethical duties, considering education or other rehabilitative measures to correct the conduct, and feeling confident moving forward with such cases based on sound regulatory considerations for public protection on the basis of ethical duty. Transcript: html (https://www.clearhq.org/page-1860756) or PDF (http://clearweb.drivehq.com/podcast_transcripts/CLEAR_podcast_episode57_FSMB_Misinformation_Policy_ 090822_transcript.pdf)