If you want to become a UCARE member, we would like to give you some information about the application process.
Download the UCARE application form below. Please note that certified ACARE centers have premium access to becoming an UCARE and should therefore use the UCARE-ACARE application form. All other centers should use the UCARE application form.
Upon receiving your application, we will look for auditors and coordinate an audit visit. Every certified center can audit other centers.
After the audit visit, the UCARE steering committee will review the audit report and inform you about the results. If the audit was successful you will receive a certificate from us that is valid for two years. After these two years we will coordinate a re-audit with you.
UCARE recommends remote auditing and re-auditing during the pandemic
The UCARE Steering Committee has successfully completed a pilot project to access remote audits. Based on the outcome of remote audits and re-audits performed, we recommend to use this approach during the time of the pandemic until further notice. It is also still possible to do audits face to face, but we acknowledge the need to keep all network members safe and to reduce the risk of infection, which is facilitated by remote auditing. When remote auditing is done, it is important for auditors and applicant UCAREs to communicate before the event and for applicant UCAREs to provide their auditor with as much information and documentation as possible, prior to the audit.
A video conference platform should be used for the audit and the UCARE office will be happy to help, if auditors or applicant UCAREs do not have access to such a platform. The UCARE office is ready to answer any questions on remote auditing that applicant centers may have.
Your online audit
How to prepare for an online audit?
The process of becoming a member of UCARE involves an audit in which an auditor from a certified UCARE center will determine if and how your center meets the 32 UCARE criteria. You will find these criteria in the "audit report" in the general audit package that will be sent to each applicant.
Audits may be conducted by any head or deputy of a certified UCARE center, and, due to the current situation, we ask that the audit should take place via online conferencing.
In order to help the auditor to gain a deeper insight into your center than a normal online-audit would allow for, we ask that you send pre-prepared materials to the auditor before the audit takes place.
These materials should show how your center meets the 32 UCARE criteria and may include photos, certificates, and any other documents that you feel are appropriate to send to the auditor (please keep confidentiality laws in mind!).
Below you will find an example of such preparation by UCARE center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, that we think is exemplary.
In this episode, our host is joined by Professor Kiran Godse who shares his experiences of treating CSU in India. Professor Godse provides unmissable insights into the practicalities of CSU care, including economic considerations, as well as his plans to increase the UCARE network’s presence in India and facilitate wider dissemination of educational resources.
Our next, free UCARE LevelUp Fireside Chat takes place on May 19th, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. CEST. Join us as 4 UCARE physicians meet to discuss on the following topic: Challenges in developing a scientific project in urticaria
The faculty will be: Emek Kocatürk Göncü Koc University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey – Senior UCARE physician Jonathan Bernstein University of Cincinnati...
Professor Jonathan Bernstein joins the UCARE LevelUp podcast "All things urticaria" to discuss chronic urticaria (CU) care in the USA. In this episode, Professor Bernstein shines a light on the challenges faced by US-based physicians and highlights the potential benefits of conducting further research into the diverse population living with CU in North America.