Amber (Bedi) Cutler, Marketing and Public Relations Manager with Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Care in Windsor, VT, has successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling her to use the APR professional designation. The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program.
The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the profession. The Examination is designed for public relations professionals with five to seven years of job experience and/or a bachelor's degree in a communication field. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting his/her portfolio to a Readiness Review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based Examination, are granted the APR.
"Earning the APR reflects a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession," said Elizabeth S. McMillan, APR, 2016 chair of the Universal Accreditation Board. "Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organizations and clients."
The computer-based portion of the Examination is administered throughout the year at more than 300 Prometric Testing Centers. The Readiness Review is conducted prior to the computer-based portion of the Examination by a panel of three Accredited members of one or more of the nine organizations participating in the UAB. Professionals earning the APR must maintain their credential through continuing professional development, providing leadership to the profession and serving their local communities. There are approximately 4,300 active APR’s globally.
Cutler joined the staff at MAHHC in 2011. At the Hospital, she is active in many aspects of healthcare communications, including community education, healthcare reform, focus groups and special events. She also acts as the Hospital’s Public Information Officer for Emergency Preparedness. Prior to Cutler’s tenure with MAHHC, she worked as the Development Office Manager at Kurn Hattin Homes in Westminster, Vermont. In addition to supporting public relations and development efforts there, she gained experience and expertise in event management while developing an affinity for the Central and Southern Vermont regions.
According to Paul Calandrella, Chief Operating Officer at MAHHC, “As the sole staff member dedicated to public relations and communications at Mt. Ascutney Hospital, Amber ensures that our mission continues to be heard by our community, patients and employees. This is no small task given the ongoing changes in healthcare and the evolving role of Mt. Ascutney Hospital as an affiliate of Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system and member of the OneCare Vermont state-wide Accountable Care Organization. The APR designation reinforces what Amber brings to the table as a respected member of our team here.”
“We are very appreciative of Amber’s initiative and effort in earning her APR,” said Gay Landstrom, Interim CEO of MAHHC. “She is a conscientious and talented manager and we congratulate her on this significant achievement.”
“Earning the APR is a career highlight for me,” says Cutler. “I’m confident that the knowledge and insight I gained throughout the process combined with over 20 years work in public relations, will allow me to be a more effective leader in my role as counsel at the Hospital and as a communicator in our community. Continuing education is critical, especially in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare; to practice, improve and apply what I learn and experience is key to maintaining a high standard of service to the public.”
Cutler has been a long-time resident of Springfield, VT and currently resides in Chester.
About the Universal Accreditation Board
The UAB was established in 1998 by a coalition of public relations professional organizations that today includes the Agricultural Relations Council, Asociaci6n de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico, Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America, Religion Communicators Council and the Southern Public Relations Federation. Each organization contributes resources and senior-level volunteer members who represent all segments of the public relations profession.
For more information about the UAB and the APR designation, visitwww.praccreditation.org.
About Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center
Founded in 1933, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is a not-for-profit community hospital including the Critical Access-designated Mt. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, Vermont, and Ottauquechee Health Center in Woodstock, Vermont. Affiliated with Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the Hospital provides people in communities across the Upper Connecticut River Valley with primary care and a comprehensive suite of specialty services, along with 25 inpatient beds, an Emergency Department, a therapeutic pool and an acclaimed Rehabilitation Center including ten inpatient beds. Mt. Ascutney Hospital is a recipient of the national Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service, one of the most prestigious awards in healthcare, and is accredited by both the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) at the highest level possible.