LTU’s IONM Program Receives ABRET Accreditation
In an operating room, a specialist’s eyes are fixed on a screen of neural signals, interpreting the body’s electrical whispers to ensure brain and spinal surgeries proceed without harm. At Lawrence Technological University, the program that trains these crucial professionals just earned a national credential.
LTU’s IONM Program Earns ABRET Accreditation
LTU’s Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) Graduate Certificate program has received accreditation from theAmerican Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists, Inc. (ABRET).
IONM is a technique focused on minimizing, reversing, or preventing neurological injury during surgery through the identification of changes in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve functions. Using advanced sensors and monitoring equipment, IONM professionals detect and interpret neurological signals throughout procedures to reduce the risks of debilitating deficits such as muscle weakness, paralysis, and hearing loss.
“These are behind-the-scenes heroes,” Yawen Li, associate professor and department chair of biomedical engineering, said.
Boosting Confidence in LTU Graduates
“This accreditation bolsters LTU’s IONM program, putting it on par with several other well-established and reputable programs around the country,” Jay Fanelli, the program director, said.
According to Li, the accreditation also makes employers more confident in hiring LTU graduates: “Employers now know our students are properly trained, have completed sufficient clinical cases, and meet all professional criteria for the field,” she explained.
Obtaining this accreditation also helps students prepare for the Certification In Neurophysiological Intraoperative Monitoring (CNIM) board examination, which is evaluated by ABRET.
Preparing Students for Success
While not the first IONM program in Michigan, LTU is the first open to both LTU and non-LTU students. The three-semester program begins with three days of didactic instruction and two days in the simulation lab. The remaining two semesters are clinical rotations across multiple sites. “Through partnerships with leading health systems, IONM service providers, and academic institutions, we offer students access to dozens of clinical sites spanning multiple states and surgical environments,” Fanelli elaborated.
“Being part of LTU’s IONM program has truly been a life-changing experience. The instructors care deeply about our growth, and the program strikes a great balance between hands-on learning and real-world preparation. Seeing the program earn ABRET accreditation confirms what we already knew: this is a program that goes above and beyond to prepare us for success,” said Troy Herrick-Thomason, a recent graduate.
The first cohort of 10 students graduated in August of this year, all of them with jobs, a handful received multiple offers.
Looking Ahead
“As the population ages, the need for neurological surgeries and interventions will increase, and each of these procedures requires intraoperative monitoring to ensure patients’ neurological functions are preserved,” Li explained.
The program will be seeking CAAHEP accreditation next and also hopes to develop a more extensive, two-year master’s program to provide deeper, more comprehensive training for students. “I see a clear parallel between our perfusion and IONM programs,” Li noted. “Both are practiced in the operating room by board-certified professionals operating advanced equipment, with the shared, critical goal of ensuring patient safety. I would like to see an expansion of our programs at LTU.”
With technology playing an increasingly central role in healthcare, programs such as perfusion and IONM in an engineering college are major differentiators for LTU. Through collaborative research and industry partnerships, our graduates are prepared to tackle emerging trends, new technologies, and the fast-paced environment of healthcare before entering the field.
Click here to learn more about the IONM program.
By: Nurzahan Rahman
