Texas Tech Health El Paso has secured Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, allowing healthcare professionals in the region—including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists—to complete more continuing education hours as a cohesive team. This accreditation facilitates a unified approach to training, enhancing coordination and patient safety.
The announcement came during a campus reception on January 23, 2025, coinciding with Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day. The new accreditation system streamlines the previously separate approval processes for various health professions into one coordinated path. This advancement is particularly significant for licensed health professionals across West Texas and southern New Mexico, who are mandated to complete continuing education hours to maintain their credentials.
The Joint Accreditation program enables Texas Tech Health El Paso to expand its offerings, moving beyond traditional individual training formats. This change aims to foster better communication among providers, reduce clinical errors, and ultimately deliver more effective care in a region grappling with persistent healthcare provider shortages.
Following an extensive 18-month process, the university received formal notice of Joint Accreditation in December 2025. This included a comprehensive self-study and a review of continuing education program files from the past two years, confirming that Texas Tech Health El Paso meets the national accreditation criteria established by the primary U.S. accrediting bodies: the American Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Impact of Joint Accreditation on Local Healthcare
El Paso’s healthcare landscape faces acute challenges due to a shortage of providers, making efficient team training essential. A systematic review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2025 highlighted that poor communication among healthcare professionals is linked to one in four patient safety incidents. Hospitals that implement standardized teamwork training can reduce preventable medical errors by up to 30% and lower patient deaths by 28%.
“This program is about improving the day-to-day experience of care for El Paso residents,” stated Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of Texas Tech Health El Paso. “Unifying accreditation allows our healthcare teams to train together, communicate more effectively, and provide safer, more coordinated care to the community.”
The Joint Accreditation mandates that at least 25% of continuing education activities be interprofessional, meaning health care professionals from various disciplines will learn together. Texas Tech Health El Paso currently hosts numerous continuing education events each month, including grand rounds, conferences, and online courses. This accreditation not only enhances ongoing professional development but also extends interprofessional education beyond undergraduate and graduate programs.
The Importance of Continuing Education
Continuing education is vital for healthcare professionals in Texas to maintain their licenses and ensure they stay updated on essential topics such as ethics, cultural competency, and emerging medical issues. This ongoing education is crucial for maintaining an effective healthcare system in El Paso, enabling it to respond to new challenges and incorporate the latest evidence-based practices.
Cynthia Juarez, managing director of the Office of Continuing Professional Education at Texas Tech Health El Paso, emphasized the role of continuing education professionals in this process. “They’re the backbone of this work,” Juarez remarked. “This includes our CE office staff, as well as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who serve as activity directors, planners, and speakers while still caring for patients and conducting research. Their commitment ensures our accredited continuing education is evidence-based and meets accreditation requirements.”
As Texas Tech Health El Paso celebrates this achievement, it continues its mission to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. Established as an independent university in 2013, the institution serves 108 counties in West Texas and has graduated over 2,600 professionals in the past decade.
For more information on the Joint Accreditation program and upcoming continuing education events, additional details can be found on the Texas Tech Health El Paso website.
