SDMS Sound News

January 31, 2002
Volume 4, Issue 1

SDMS Sound News is a way of sharing important or time-sensitive news with our members. It supplements our print newsletter, News Wave and provides links to new information and services available on the SDMS web site. SDMS Sound News is published monthly. An archive of past issues is available at http://www.sdms.org/lists/soundnewsarchive.asp

Table of Contents

1. Model Job Description - Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
2. 2002 SDMS Awards and Competition Guidelines and Application Now Available
3. Keep the SDMS 19th Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia On Your Mind
4. From the SDMS Discussion Forums: IDTF Master List Needed
5. SDMS Releases Vascular Technology National Certification Review
6. Vascular Pioneer - Eugene Strandness, Jr. MD Passes Away
7. New JDMS CME Tests Available Online
8. From The SDMS Discussion Forums: Recent Research Articles Question Value of Mammography
9. News & Notes
10. Important Dates

This issue of SDMS Sound News is sponsored by the SDMS Educational Foundation.
1. Model Job Description - Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
SDMS has released a MODEL job description for the position of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. This model job description is basic and may be used as is or modified as necessary to meet other specific requirements of employment. The model job description can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format for easy modification.

For more information, visit:

  http://www.sdms.org/members/resources/dmsjobdescription.asp

2. 2002 SDMS Awards and Competition Guidelines and Application Now Available
SDMS announces its annual awards program recognizing research completed by our members. In an effort to continue to build the unique body of knowledge that forms the profession of diagnostic medical sonography (DMS), we urge our members to accept the challenge of taking on research questions critical to the specialty. Winners of the following awards and competitions will be honored at the SDMS 19th Annual Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia October 3-6, 2002.
  • Scientific Presentation Competition
  • Sonographer Poster Exhibit Competition
  • Student Sonographer Exhibit Competition
  • W. Frederick Sample Award

For more information, visit:

  http://www.sdms.org/pdf/awards.pdf

3. Keep the SDMS 19th Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia On Your Mind

Mark October 3-6, 2002 on your calendars and plan to attend THE conference of the year! With over 60 courses in five educational tracks, a huge exhibit hall, let-loose social events, there is something for everyone. In addition, check out these valuable pre-conference offerings:

A Day with the Experts: A unique format offering live lectures and scanning demonstrations by recognized experts in the field. Participants will enhance their knowledge and skills by seeing these experts in action. Through special audiovisual techniques, participants will see both the scanned images and the "expert view" showing positioning of both the patient and sonographer.

MSI Tutorial: By popular demand, this critical occupational injury is featured for the third year in a row. This year's session will assist participants in evaluating and adapting their workplace environment for optimal ergonomics. Live ergonomically correct scanning demonstrations will be provided.

Educators Tutorial: A special session designed specifically for sonography educators. Innovative teaching and testing methods will be shared with emphasis on student mentoring. In addition, live ergonomically correct scanning demonstrations will be provided to assist you in clinical instruction.

Complete course offerings will be detailed in the brochure available in April. Remember, last year's conference was a sellout--plan to register early! The Early Bird Registration deadline will be August 9, 2002. The Hotel Reservation cut-off will be September 3, 2002.

4. From the SDMS Discussion Forums: IDTF Master List Needed

    We have tried to acquire, unsuccessfully to date, a "master list" of IDTFs (Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility) -- probably best known by most sonographers and vascular technologists as mobile testing services from Medicare. There are several issues that are currently moving to the "front burner" which will directly affect the IDTFs. We would like to communicate with these organizations based on their vested interest in the outcome of these pending issues, but we first must know who they are, where they are, and some basic contact information.

    We would like for SDMS members to provide us with information on IDTFs that they know of. This would include:

    1. Organization's Name
    2. Mailing Address
    3. Phone no.
    4. Name of Contact person (if available)
    5. Email address (if available)

    This information could be posted on this discussion forum or forwarded to the attention of Don Haydon at the SDMS Headquarters: 2745 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 350, Plano, TX 75093-8730 dhaydon@sdms.org

     Posted 1/9/02

The SDMS Discussion Forums are located on the members-only area of the SDMS website.

For more information, visit:

  http://www.sdms.org/lists/foruminfo.asp

5. SDMS Releases Vascular Technology National Certification Review

The latest in the SDMS National Certification Review series, Vascular Technology, is now available for purchase. Whether you are preparing for national certification examination, or in need of a refresher, this is a "must have" publication. The review module also provides an excellent instructional outline for educators to use in the classroom.

SDMS Member Price: $40
Non-member price: $65
SDMS CME credits: 6

For information on the entire review series, visit:

  http://www.sdms.org/products/ncer.asp

6. Vascular Pioneer - Eugene Strandness, Jr. MD Passes Away

RE: Significant Loss to the Vascular Lab Profession

His passing is a great loss, but what he and his colleagues at UW led the vascular community towards is his lasting monument.

One of my most persistent memories was watching Dr.Strandness lecturing on an old UW Symposium Tape series, describing the UW Vasc Lab's early experiments with carotid duplex.

Quoting from memory, I recall that in his lecture he spoke of the day that their pioneering diagnosis of ICA occlusion by duplex was disproved by subsequent angiography. He recounted the quiet meeting over coffee afterwards, in which the researchers mulled over what went wrong, and ultimately, started down the road to the criteria that we all take for granted.

Improvements in technology have made duplex vascular diagnosis more certain, but the pioneering advances came from scientific inquiry and curiosity, rather than subsequent technology. Isaac Newton is reputed to have said " I can see as far as I do because I stand on the shoulders of giants."

Surely all of us working in the non-invasive vascular field stand on the shoulders of great scientists like Dr. Strandness.

My condolences to all who had the priviledge to work with him in person.

    - Rich Dempsey
[via email: 01/07/2002]

7. New JDMS CME Tests Available Online

Two new CME articles and CME post-tests have been posted on the website from the Jan/Feb 2002 issue of the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS).

  • Contrast-Enhanced Hepatic Sonography, Daniel A. Merton, BS, RDMS [1.0 CME credit]
  • Feasibility of Performing Real-Time Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography During Clinical Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography in Technically Difficult Patients, S. Michelle Bierig, BSRT, RDCS, RDMS, and Steven C. Herrmann, MD, PhD [0.5 CME credit]
  http://www.sdms.org/members/JDMS/default.asp

8. From The SDMS Discussion Forums: Recent Research Articles Question Value of Mammography

There have been a series of recent articles appearing in newspapers and other media questioning the value of mammography in the detection of breast cancer. The articles and the potential impact on sonography are the subject of a "discussion thread" in the Breast specialty area of the SDMS Discussion Forums.

The SDMS Discussion Forums are located on the members-only area of the SDMS website.

For more information, visit:

  http://www.sdms.org/lists/foruminfo.asp

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.

10. Important Dates
2002
Feb 4 Sonography Awareness Month Slogan Contest deadline
Feb 4 Nominations due for Finance Committee Members and Region 3 & 4 Directors
Feb 4 Nominations due for Fellows
March 31 SDMS Educational Foundation Scholarship deadline
April 5 Annual Conference Puzzle the Pro - deadline for "bizzare" cases
April 5 Annual Conference Interesting Cases deadline
May 10 W. Frederick Sample Award deadline
June 3 Scientific Presentation Competition deadline
June 7 Student and Sonographer Poster Competition deadline
June 30 ATL Echocardiography Awards deadline
June 30 Bracco Diagnostics, Inc. Research Award deadline
June 30 DuPont Contrast Imaging Award deadline
June 30 GE Medical Systems Excellence in Sonography Award deadline
June 30 Graduate Research Award deadline
June 30 Medison 3D Sonography Award deadline
July 31 SDMS Educational Foundation Scholarship deadline
July 31 SDMS Educational Foundation CME grant application deadline
August 9 Annual Conference Early Bird Registration deadline
Sept 3 Annual Conference Hotel Reservation cut-off
Oct 1-31 Sonography Awareness Month
Oct 3 - 6 SDMS 19th Annual Conference
Hilton Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 30 SDMS Educational Foundation Scholarship deadline
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(c) Copyright 2001. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Dallas, TX. All Rights Reserved.