Two state-based abortion-related bills passed this month that include ultrasound provisions. As a reminder, the SDMS Board of Directors set a policy in place over a year ago as a result of a recommendation from the SDMS Government Relations Committee that the legislative sponsors of any state-based bills of a pro-life and/or pro-choice nature that include ultrasound provisions would be contacted by the SDMS and provided copies of our relevant position statements. These include following SDMS positions Sonographer Credentialing (Certification) (http://www.sdms.org/positions/credentialing.asp), Education Program Accreditation (http://www.sdms.org/positions/edaccreditation.asp), and Lab/Practice Accreditation (http://www.sdms.org/positions/labaccreditation.asp).

The SDMS takes take no position with respect to the pro-life/pro-choice content of pending legislative bills, but rather takes the approach that the issue is one of setting standards for any individual who has the transducer in their hand providing sonography services.

South Carolina H. 3355: The South Carolina legislature passed a bill requiring an ultrasound be performed by a physician or an allied health professional one hour prior to an abortion so that women seeking abortions will have the option of viewing the fetus. Early versions of this bill contained requirements for service provision by a ‘certified provider’ as we had recommended, but this language was replaced by the ‘allied health professional’ in its final form. Governor Sanford says he will likely sign the bill.

Echo Essentials Needed to Diagnosis Diastolic Dysfunction
Jeffrey C. Hill, BS, RDCS, FASE

The assessment of diastolic function can be a challenging part of the echocardiogram. Are the filling pressures normal? Are they elevated? These questions are particularly important in symptomatic patients with a “normal appearing” filling pattern. The assessment of diastolic function requires an integration of different echocardiography modalities, including PW Doppler, annular Doppler tissue imaging, and color M-Mode. Learn from this case-based session how to evaluate diastolic function and be confident making the diagnosis.

To view this presentation:

• SDMS Members (One Adult Echocardiography [AE] CME credit available - requires SDMS member login) http://www.sdms.org/members/3364/

Organ transplantation has increased dramatically in the recent past as more medical centers are performing and perfecting transplantation. Patients are being followed more and more by their local physicians and not necessarily where the surgery was done. For this reason, it is important for sonographers to have a basic knowledge of the types of transplanted organs, as well as what to look for and include in a diagnostic sonogram during post-transplant care.

To view this presentation:

• SDMS Members (One Abdomen [AB] CME credit available - requires SDMS member login) http://www.sdms.org/members/3365/

To view the presentations, you will need a computer with speakers or headphones, Internet access, a web browser with Adobe Flash Player (and Adobe Reader 8.0 or later to view the transcript) installed.

A tutorial on using the online presentation interface available at: http://www.sdms.org/seminar/tutorial/tutorial.htm

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is also available at: http://www.sdms.org/members/3354/3354faq.asp

Attendees:
Registration for the 2008 SDMS Annual Conference will open in May, 2008. Keep an eye out for your registration brochure in your mailbox! For registration deadlines, pricing and other information that will help you plan your trip to Connecticut this fall, please visit: http://www.sdms.org/meetings/quickinfo.asp.

Vendors:
Check out our exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities still available at http://www.sdms.org/meetings/resources/2008EP.pdf.

Cast your vote and let your voice be heard! Your profession is counting on you.

The SDMS 2008 Elections will ‘go live’ on Monday, May 30 with the opening of the SDMS ‘Virtual Voting Booth’ and run through Friday, June 30. To cast your vote, simply go to: http://www.sdms.org/members/vote/default.asp

Candidate pictures and statements can be accessed at the SDMS Virtual Voting Booth. You must be an SDMS member in good standing to vote. SDMS membership categories which include the ‘right to vote’ are:

• Active
• Fellow
• Advanced Practice Sonographer
• Associate

• At-Large Director (3 positions)
• International At-Large Director (1 position)
• Finance Committee (1 position)
• Nominating Committee (2 positions)

SDMS is collecting available information about legal cases (civil or criminal) involving sonography and/or sonographers. This includes cases involving referring/interpreting physicians or employers. Examples of legal cases might include, but not be limited to, medical malpractice, wrongful death, sexual assault against a patient, sonographer hiring or termination, worker's compensation, etc. This would also include cases that were filed in a state or federal court (regardless of whether they went to trial or were settled out-of-court). We are also interested in legal cases where sonographers have provided expert testimony on behalf of either the plaintiff or the defendant. SDMS will use the information provided to examine common legal issues that may be need to be addressed in it's educational or advocacy activities.

Note: We are NOT asking you to violate any confidentiality requirements imposed by a court, employer or state/federal agency (e.g., HIPAA). Include ONLY whatever you can legally and ethically provide. Please provide as much information as you can.

6. SDMS Educational Foundation Scholarships Awarded

The SDMS Educational Foundation awards scholarships to students attending CAAHEP accredited programs three times each year: March 30, July 31 and November 30. These scholarships are funded through your donations to the Foundation and from the sale of the Foundation's products. The following is a list of scholarship recipients for the March 2008 deadline:

The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography is pleased to offer our latest educational products and specialty items. SDMS members receive a 10% discount on the retail price of each of these items!

The 2008-2009 SDMS Product Catalog will appear in your May-June issue of Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

8. SDMS Sonography Puzzles

SDMS Sonography Puzzles are a series of online crossword and word search puzzles that sonography educators can incorporate into their educational programs or can be used by students and sonographers just for fun. The puzzles are interactive and a fun way to learn sonography-related terminology.

A new puzzle will be added each month and announced in SDMS Sound News. The puzzles may feature a broad or specific topic theme (e.g., anatomy or kidney anatomy). The interactive puzzles can be completed online (using Adobe's free Flash player) or you can print the puzzle for later use.

This month's puzzle, titled "Obstetrical" was submitted by Colombe McGowen, RDMS of Fresno, CA.

The News & Notes column includes links to web-based news articles of interest to sonographers. The articles do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the SDMS. To submit articles, send the URL to webmaster@sdms.org.