Re: '96 AAHP Exam Results

["Wesley M. Dunn" <WDUNN@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us>]

Maybe I'm just out-of-synch, but as someone who has been on the 
receiving end of the ABHP examination notice a few times, I don't 
find the ABHP's response as being that far out of line.  Yes, it 
would be nice to know ASAP.  On the other hand, the "ambush" question 
is valid.  Sure, it is exhilerating (to some of us, at least), 
when you find out you actually did pass.  But it is also rather 
stressful, especially if you find out you didn't pass.  Finding out 
with a vulture witness could be extremely unpleasant.

According to Scott Medling's note, more people failed than passed.  
Don't they have any rights?  And, quite frankly, I'm unconvinced 
an extra week or two matters (it certainly won't in a few years).  
Sure, it'd be nice to tell the family you passed.  But do you really 
want to immediately face the family if you didn't pass?  

I find a few of the previous responses here rather appalling and quite 
unprofessional.  Instead, you should be thankful that individuals 
like Scott have put in so much time and effort to ensure the 
examination process works and that they have also taken the effort 
to create a website.  Regardless of whether you agree or disagree 
with the policy (and I agree that it is valid to debate it), 
professionalism should be demonstrated.   And, as Ning Liu suggests, 
let the ABHP know what your thoughts on the matter are.  

I should also point out that the ABHP does NOT post the names of the 
individuals who don't pass, contrary to what Ning Liu's note may 
imply.  So you would need to know whether an individual took the exam 
or not.

Wes

> Date sent:      Tue, 26 Nov 96 11:57:18 -0600
> Send reply to:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> From:           Ning_Liu@NOTES.YMP.GOV
> To:             Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Subject:        Re: '96 AAHP Exam Results

> 
> 
>   I checked the AAHP's Web page, and here is the rationale behind not
>   posting the results by candidate's ID numbers:
> 
>    "However the board is concerned also about the privacy of the
>   candidates, and consequently has decided to delay publishing names of
>   successful candidates on the web until the candidates have had the
>   opportunity to receive written notification. In making this tough
>   decision, the overriding concern was avoiding placing candidates in
>   awkward situations:  e.g. candidate comes into work. His co-worker or
>   employer, who saw the web page the previous evening at home, invites him
>   into his office and shows him the web page listing "sucessful candidate
>   numbers" and says "well, did you pass?" The candidate, who did not happen
>   to have web access at home, is totally surprised and unprepared to
>   respond.
> 
>   The board feels that each candidate has the right to learn the results at
>   home before anyone else knows, before having to face coworkers or
>   employers."
> 
> 
>   If I run into a situation like that, I would simply say "May I borrow the
>   list?" and "Thank you for the info."  As far as the test result is
>   concerned, privacy is never an issues because eventually we all will know
>   who passed and who did not from the Newsletter or the Member Directory.
> 
>   Let's assume that the Board's concern is a potential risk to the
>   candidates.  The greatest benefit would be making the results available
>   to the candidates in a much faster fashion by taking the advantage of the
>   new information technology.  Now we have the technology, but we are
>   afraid of the minimum potential risk associated with it.  Isn't it the
>   same thing that public perceives radiation?
>   
>   If you, either as a candidate or as a member of the society, would like
>   to take advantage of the new information technology, you should send a
>   e-mail to the AAHP Webmaster, Mr. Scott Medling (medlines @
>   songs.sce.com), or the President-elected, Mr. Ron Kathren (rkathren @
>   tricity.wsu.edu).  We do appreciate the Board's concerns, but we should
>   let the Board hear what members' opinions are regarding risk and benefit.
>   Just remember, while you might be able to share the good news with
>   families and friends at the turkey time, are you willing to take the risk
>   as the Board suggested?
> 
>   Ning Liu
>   SAIC, Las Vegas
> 
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Wesley M. Dunn, CHP                        512-834-6688
Deputy Director, Licensing                 512-834-6690 (fax)
(Texas) Bureau of Radiation Control        wdunn@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us
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