SDMS Sound News

April 30, 2002
Volume 4, Issue 4

Table of Contents

1. We've Moved!

This issue of SDMS Sound News is a little late due to our move to the new SDMS headquarters! Click here to take a quick tour.

Please update your records -- our new address is:

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
2745 N Dallas Pkwy Ste 350
Plano, TX 75093-8730

Our phone numbers, email addresses, and website will all remain the same.

   View a map of our new location

   Get our new "SDMS Virtual Business Cards"*

* Outlook^® Vcard: If you use Microsoft Outlook (and some other email software), you can download a Vcard (virtual business card) to your Outlook Contacts.

2. It's Time to Register for the SDMS 2002 Annual Conference

Over 60 courses in five tracks, Ob/Gyn, Abdomen, Vascular, Cardiac, and Practice Strategies. Earn up to 18 SDMS CME credits in the 2 1/2 day program. An additional 9.5 credits are available through Pre-Conference Tutorials and "Lunch and Learn" offerings.

A registration brochure is in the mail to you with complete program details and registration information. Check your mailbox and get the scoop!

Step 1:

Step 2:

Register for the Conference! New option this year---online registration when paying by credit card. It's fast, it's easy, and you'll reserve your spot in all of the courses that you want.

  http://www.sdms.org/meetings/register.asp

Remember, registration is limited for the Pre-Conference Tutorials and Lunch and Learn sessions. Our entire program sold out last year…so don't wait to request the check from your accounting department. Get approval and register early---Early Bird deadline is August 9 for big savings.

Step 3:

Make your hotel reservations at the Hilton Atlanta. Complete the Hotel Reservation Form in the back of the Conference Brochure or on the SDMS website and send it to the Hilton to reserve your room. Our hotel sold out last year so reserve your space early!

     Hilton Atlanta Hotel
     Phone: 404-659-2000 or 800-445-8667
     Fax: 404-222-2967

NOTE: to receive the discounted room rate, you must identify yourself as a SDMS Annual Conference attendee.

For more information, visit:

3. Online Membership Renewal System Available

We are pleased to announce the availability of our new online Membership Renewal System. This fast and secure method of updating your membership information and dues payment is a great time-saver!

For more information, visit:

4. Call for Nominations for the SDMS Joan P. Baker Pioneer Award

The SDMS Awards Committee will soon finalize nominations for this coveted award and welcomes your input!

The SDMS Joan P. Baker Pioneer Award was established to honor sonographers who have made outstanding contributions in the profession. Unlike the SDMS Fellow recognition, which honors those members who have contributed in multiple areas of the profession, the Pioneer Award is awarded to those members who have made focused contributions and have created innovative new directions for sonography.

To be eligible for nomination, the sonographer must have been a SDMS member for at least one year and be ARDMS registered in one or more specialty areas.

Please submit your nominations via email to Sandra Riggins, Awards Committee Staff Liaison at sriggins@sdms.org no later than June 3. The Awards Committee asks that you include a short, specific description/explanation on what it is that distinguishes your nominee from his/her peers and the reason(s) you feel this individual deserves this recognition.

5. Call for Judges for the SDMS 2002 Awards Program

The Awards Committee is looking for qualified individuals to serve as judges for this year's Awards Program. SDMS Awards and Competitions consist of the Scientific Presentation Competition, the Sonographer and Student Poster Exhibit Competition, the W. Frederick Sample Award, and the Kenneth R. Gottesfeld Award.

Answer the call to serve and preserve the integrity of this important program!

If you are interested in serving as a judge, please submit your letter of interest, indicating which competition you are interested in judging, along with your resume to Sandra Riggins via email at sriggins@sdms.org or mail to the SDMS Headquarters, 2745 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 350, Plano, TX 75093-8730. Your expression of interest must be postmarked no later than June 24, 2002.

For more information, visit:

6. Call for Course and Faculty Proposals for SDMS 2003 Annual Conference

PROPOSALS DUE BY SEPTEMBER 2, 2002

Our Annual Conference is designed for sonographers by sonographers. We want your input! The SDMS Conference Management Committee (CMC) will begin planning the 2003 Annual Conference shortly after the conclusion of the 2002 Conference in Atlanta. To assist the CMC in its continuing efforts to provide a conference that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations, you are encouraged to submit course and faculty proposals for the 2003 Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. All proposals will be considered by the CMC during the 2003 Annual Conference planning meetings.

For more information, visit:

7. Educational Foundation Donations

When you receive your annual membership renewal notice, you have the opportunity to help support the SDMS Educational Foundation by adding a donation to your SDMS membership dues payment.

The SDMS Educational Foundation supports and encourages the highest standards in the field of sonography through educational assistance. The Foundation operates solely from donations and contributions which are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The Foundation provides a number of educational grants and awards to members each year.

And now with the online payment option, you can easily add your donation when you pay your membership dues. http://www.sdms.org/membership/renew.asp

For more information about the SDMS Educational Foundation and the various grants available to SDMS members, visit:

8. Are You Working Naked? Better Check Again!

"Am I personally liable?" 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"?). If your employer's professional liability insurance policy is a "claims-made" policy, you may not be adequately protected. Claims-based 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 made after the date of termination will not be covered (even if the alleged incident happened prior to the end of employment).

This is 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 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 professional liability insurance for our members is OCCURENCE-BASED COVERAGE. The fee for this coverage is extremely competitive and restricted to SDMS members.

For more information, visit:

9. 2001 Member-Get-A-Member Results Announced

The SDMS would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2001 Member-Get-A-Member Campaign. Your support of SDMS and your encouragement of colleague and student involvement with the Society are to be commended.

The top recruiter for the 2001 campaign is Diane Kawamura, PhD, RT, RDMS at Weber State University! Congratulations Diane! As part of Diane's prize package, her dues will be waived for 2002 and she and one of her students will receive a complimentary admission to the SDMS Annual Conference in Atlanta.

Congratulations also go to these individuals who ranked as Top 10 recruiters:

• Michael Hartman, MS, RT, RDMS, RVT
• Cheryl Zelinsky, BA, RT, RDMS
• Robert Lilly, RDMS, RDCS
• Janet Money, RT, RDMS, CNMT
• Joan Clasby, RT, RDMS, RDCS
• Lori Hyder, RDMS
• Jean Spitz, MPH, RDMS
• Jody Arnold, RDMS, RT(R)
• Christina Watts, RT, RDMS, RVT

10. 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

Sonic Flashlight Sees Through Flesh (source: Popular Mechanics, May 2002)
  http://viaserver.bioe.pitt.edu/stetten/george/rttr/

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
  http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/

It's Not Just Nurses Anymore
  http://www.aft.org/press/2002/041102.html

Intraoperative RFA has advantages over percutaneous technique
  http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?Sec=sup&Sub=ult&Pag=dis&ItemId=53261

Ultrasound beats biopsy for tamoxifen-related endometrial polyps
  http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?Sec=sup&Sub=ult&Pag=dis&ItemId=53198

11. Important Dates