For immediate release June 17, 2008

Media contact: Mary L. Pless 410-455-4548

CCBC Sleep Technology is the first such accredited program in Maryland
One of only 13 accredited programs nationwide

Baltimore County, Md. -- The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) has awarded accreditation to the Community College of Baltimore County – in partnership with Sleep Services of America, Inc. – for its Polysomnographic Technologist Certificate program. This is the first CAAHEP-accredited Polysomnographic Technologist program in the mid-Atlantic region and one of only 13 accredited programs nationwide,

This endorsement is a result of a rigorous two-year process. A team of five health education administrators was instrumental in working to bring about this approval. The team includes Michael Delayo, program director from CCBC and SSA; Dr. Nancy Collop, program medical director from Johns Hopkins Health Systems; Dr. Steven Scharf, medical advisor from University of Maryland Health Systems; and CCBC's Michele Jancewski, director/Allied Health and Suzy Blank, distance learning specialist.

Jancewski stressed the significance of this accreditation to the community as a whole. “CAAHEP is considered the highest accreditation standard in the industry,” she explains. “The staff of CCBC and SSA combined their efforts to meet the new training requirements established for Polysomnographic technologists. Our goal was to continue to offer quality instruction at an affordable price. We are proud to be the first accredited program in the state of Maryland."

Along with certification and licensure, accreditation helps assure a well-prepared and qualified work force to provide health care services. By 2012, all Registered Polysomnographic Technologist exam candidates will be required to have completed a CAAHEP-accredited sleep technology program, so the program has the potential to benefit all of the states served by SSA.

CCBC continues to be a leader in offering health care career education and other work force training to the Baltimore community. For information on this or other health and allied health programs, call 410-455-4700.

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About CCBC
The Community College of Baltimore County is celebrating 50 years of providing the residents of Baltimore County and beyond a quality, affordable education. Rooted in the community since 1957, CCBC educates nearly 65,000 students each year, including half of all Baltimore County residents attending college in Maryland as undergraduates. Offering more than 50 different associate degrees and 100 certificate programs, CCBC is ranked among the best in providing undergraduate education, work force development, technology, health care training and life enrichment options to citizens throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan area. CCBC also provides customized employee development training to more than 100 companies annually.

For CCBC, it has been an amazing 50-year journey.