SDMS Sound News

January 31, 2001
Volume 3, Issue 1

Table of Contents

1. Are You Working Naked? Better Check!

"Am I personally liable?" Recently, a SDMS member raised an important question about whether she is covered under her employer's professional liability coverage after she leaves their employment. While most sonographers who are employed in facilities are not going "naked" (without professional liability coverage), many sonographers are not adequately protected with the liability coverage provided by their employers ("partially-clad"?). The member had received a notice from her employer's Human Resources Department stating that the professional liability insurance policy provided by the employer is a "claims-made" policy. This means the coverage is triggered by the date that the claim is actually made instead of when the incident happened. In the event of the employee's termination, any claims brought after the date of termination will not be covered (even if the alleged incident happened prior to the end of employment).

This is precisely the difference between a "claims-made" professional liability program versus an "occurence-based" policy. In an occurence-based model, you are covered by the policy at the time the incident occurred. Sonographers are much better protected by occurence-based policies, but administrators may be inclined to opt for the generally lower premiums associated with the claims made approach. This is another reason why all sonographers, regardless of their employment situation should have individual insurance coverage.

That's why SDMS solicited professional liability insurance for its members with ONLY OCCURENCE-BASED COVERAGE. For more information on the benefits provided with the SDMS plan, visit:

2. New Rules for Stark II Law (Federal Self-Referral Act) Hold Positive Changes for Sonographers

On January 4, 2001 the federal agency responsible for setting the rules for reimbursement of health care services for Medicare and Medicaid, HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration), published the first set of the final rules that will be used to administer the Stark II Laws. The Stark II laws are the federal laws that set the restrictions on "self-referral", specifically the restrictions placed on physicians for self-referral arrangements. The reason that the HCFA rules are important, in addition to setting the boundaries for Medicare reimbursement (a critical source of revenue for many hospitals and hospital systems), is that the HCFA reimbursement-related rules are often picked up and "modeled" by other private third party payers. Healthcare reimbursement drives the system for both providers and patients. All sonographers and vascular technologists should have an interest in keeping up with these regulations because they either directly or indirectly affect the ways in which ultrasound services are administered, and in some cases these decisions can affect provider jobs and careers. The most significant issue addressed in the latest round of Stark II regulations related to sonography is the issue of direct supervision. These new regulations provide for broader supervisory arrangements provided for under the general supervision definition. For more information:

3. SDMS Fights for Sonographer Rights!

The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography continues to fight for the rights of sonographers by opposing 'direct supervision' requirements. In a letter to the Louisiana Medicare carrier's medical director, the Society urged the carrier to change its policy (published in the November 2000 Medicare Provider News), which requires more than general supervision for basic ultrasound services. SDMS argued that many vascular, neurology, obstetrical, and cardiac practices performing quality in-office ancillary ultrasound find it physically impossible to comply with a direct supervision requirement. The Society pointed out that an inflexible definition of direct supervision will add nothing to the quality of the service provided and urged the Louisana Medicare carrier to change its proposed IDTF policy to be in accordance with the Federal HCFA policy.

4. JDMS Report

The first issue of the JDMS published by Sage Science Press is scheduled to arrive at the homes of SDMS members in early February. With this issue, SDMS members can earn one CME credit FREE by completing the CME test on the SDMS website (you will need your SDMS member number)*. Both members and non-members can also complete the CME test and mail it to the SDMS office with a processing fee (see the JDMS for details). The CME article for the January/Februrary issue is "Multi-planar Three-Dimensional Neonatal Neurosonography: Initial Experiences and Potential Benefits" by Daniel Merton from Thomas Jefferson University. The CME article for the March/April issue will be "Aortic Insufficiency: Etiology, Pathophysiology, Natural History, and the Role of Echocardiography" by Michelle Bierig and Alan Waggoner from St. Louis University Health Science Center.

There are a number of changes in the submission and publication process (outlined in the Information for Authors). Authors no longer have to send a copyright release statement when submitting a manuscript for consideration. When the manuscript is accepted for publication, a copyright release form will be mailed to the authors and it must be signed prior to inclusion of the article in JDMS. The JDMS editorial office has received several inquiries about the submission of digital images. Submitted digital images must be a minimum of 350 dpi. Digital images will be accepted at the discretion of the editor and publisher. Because of the variations in quality, it is strongly recommended that authors include at least one set of glossy images with their submissions. A digital copy (preferably Microsoft Word) of the written manuscript is required.

There are two new columns in the JDMS that will debut in the March/April issue. Sandy Hagen-Ansert is coordinating a column that focuses on sonography education. A column reviewing websites, software, and electronic media that sonographers have used to enhance their practice or knowledge will also be a regular feature.

If you have suggestions, questions, or ideas for the JDMS, contact the editor at jdmseditor@sdms.org.

Note: Beginning with the Sept/Oct 2000 issue, we are extending the life of the CME articles/tests to provide our members with additional opportunities to obtain CME credits. Although the answer forms printed in these issues of JDMS may reflect a different date, the SDMS will now accept the CME tests for up to 3 years from the publication date. Future issues of JDMS CME tests will reflect this new policy.

5. Board and Fellow Nominations Due

Just a reminder, the last issue of News Wave contained the call for nominations for all Board positions that are up for election this year, and a call for SDMS Fellows. The deadline for submission of nominations is Monday, February 5. Individuals who submit a nomination must be a current SDMS member and must provide their SDMS membership number. Nomination is only the first step in the process. After the deadline for nominations has passed, all nominees are contacted and provided with an application packet and a 'consent to serve' form. If the nominee consents to serve and completes and submits the application materials, his/her name is then forwarded to the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee then reviews the files of all nominees and slates eligible candidates for election.

Board positions open for election this year include:

• President-Elect
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Region 1 Director
• Region 5 Director
• Region 6 Director
• Commerical Representative (Ex officio member)

Nominations are also being accepted for candidates for SDMS Fellows.

The nomination forms can be found in the Oct/Nov/Dec 2000 issue of NewsWave or on the SDMS website at:

6. Call for Volunteers to Serve on the SDMS Awards Committee

Volunteers are needed to serve on the SDMS Awards Committee. As a member of this Committee, you will assist the Chair in various aspects of the SDMS Awards and Competitions. These include Scientific Abstracts, Sonographer and Student Sonographer Poster Exhibit Competitions, W. Frederick Sample Award, etc. If you are interested in participating on this Committee, please submit your resume to Regina Matthews, staff liaison, via fax: (214) 473-8563 or via email rmatthews@sdms.org.

Deadline: February 28,2001

7. Advanced Practice Sonographer® (APS®) Member Update

The SDMS "Advanced Practice Sonographer®" member designation continues to generate a great deal of interest throughout the profession as the awareness of the APS® designation grows. There are now 50 APS® members throughout the country. An APS® roster is maintained on the SDMS website - check out the roster to see which of your peers has met the rigorous APS® requirements.

If you are looking for a way to take the next step on your career ladder, you might want to check and see if the APS® designation is right for you.

One of the requirements for the APS® designation is confirmation of current CME status with the ARDMS national registry. The confirmation process has now been made easier. The ARDMS now grants APS® candidates the opportunity to submit a CME confirmation release form which allows the ARDMS to send a candiate's CME record directly to the SDMS office for processing.

Recent comments from SDMS members who have contacted SDMS regarding the APS® designation include:

"This is one of the best things that SDMS has done for the profession. The APS® allows those of us who have dedicated our careers to Sonography to recognize our work and effort. I'm proud of the SDMS for taking this step."

"Thank you SDMS for creating the APS®. It's been a long time coming, and it was really needed."

"When I read about the APS® in News Wave, I said, "YES!!!, this is for me. I just hope that I'm the first one approved from my state."

A copy of the APS® membership application can be viewed/printed on the SDMS website. Or call the SDMS office at (800) 229-9506 and an APS® application will be sent to you via mail or FAX.

APS® Resources

8. Wanted: Sonographer PDA Users

During the past year, the use of personal digital assistants (PDA) has skyrocketed. Devices based on the Palm operating system (e.g., Palm Pilot, Visor) and the Windows CE operating system (e.g., Compaq iPaq, HP Jornada) are being used in a variety of health care applications. We would like to hear from SDMS members who are using these portable devices so we can learn (and share with other members) about how you are using them to assist in your job or help manage your life.

Send an email to:

9. News & Notes

The News & Notes column includes links to web-based news articles of interest to sonographers. To submit articles, send the URL to webmaster@sdms.org.

• Development of Novel Imaging Technologies - National Institutes of Health
  http://services.sciencewise.com/content/index.cfm?objectid=2123
• Ultrasound Research Interface
  http://services.sciencewise.com/content/index.cfm?objectid=3957
• American Academy of Family Physicians Calls for Universal Health Care
  http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/01/12/aafp.health.insurance/index.html
• Ultrasound Ergonomics Firm Looks at Workplace Risks
  http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?Sec=nws&Sub=thd&pag=dis&ItemId=2205&d=1

10. Important Dates