SDMS Sound News

May 31, 2002
Volume 4, Issue 5

Table of Contents

1. We've Moved! Part II

Due to problems encountered with our new telephone company, we have had to change our telephone and FAX numbers. However, our 800 number, email addresses and website address all remain the same. We apologize for any difficulties you have experienced if you have tried to contact us during the past month.

Please update your records -- our new address/phone numbers are:

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
2745 N Dallas Pkwy Ste 350
Plano, TX 75093-8730
(214) 473-8057 / (800) 229-9506
(214) 473-8563 FAX

   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. Online Annual Conference Registration Takes Off

Our new online Annual Conference registration system allows you to register online 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

NOTE: The Online Registration System requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.05 or higher -OR- Netscape 6.2 or higher. You may download these browsers for free at their respective websites.

With over 60 courses in five tracks (Ob/Gyn, Abdomen, Vascular, Cardiac, and Practice Strategies), you can earn up to 18 SDMS CME credits in the 2 ½ day program. An additional 9.5 credits are available through Pre-Conference Tutorials and "Lunch and Learn" offerings. Remember, registration is limited for the Pre-Conference Tutorials and Lunch and Learn sessions. When registering online, you can see exactly how many seats remain in each Pre-Conference Tutorial and Lunch and Learn session.

Our entire program sold out last year --- so register early --- Early Bird deadline is August 9 for the biggest savings! If you misplaced the SDMS 2002 Conference Registration brochure, you can download a copy at:

  http://www.sdms.org/pdf/ac2002reg.pdf

And don't forget to make your hotel reservations at the Hilton Atlanta. Complete the Hotel Reservation Form in the back of the Conference Brochure and send it to the Hilton to reserve your room. Our hotel also 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 about the conference, visit:

3. Time to Vote! SDMS Election Being Held

The SDMS 2002 elections began on June 3. Members who are in the following membership categories (refer to your SDMS membership card) may vote in the election: DMS, TEC, APS®, FEL. In addition to the Finance Committee election, there are two regional director elections (Regions 3 and 4). You can only vote in a regional director election if you live in that region.

For the first time, SDMS has created two ways in which eligible members can vote:

OPTION 1: Cast your vote by mailing in your official ballot (watch your mailbox - your ballot was mailed via first-class mail on 5/31/02)

- OR -

OPTION 2: Vote online in the SDMS Online Voting Booth. Eligible members should have received an email message on June 2 with instructions on how to access the SDMS Online Voting Booth.

Before casting your vote, please read about the SDMS 2002 candidates (information is included with your ballot and will be available online). If you have questions that you'd like to ask the candidates, you can do so in the Candidate Discussion Forum that's part of the SDMS Discussion Forums.

The voting deadline is July 1, 2002 at 11:59 PM (central). Your ballot must be postmarked or you must have voted online before the deadline. The election results will be compiled and reported in SDMS Sound News and News Wave.

4. Sonography Awareness Month - Plan NOW!

Sonography Awareness Month is held annually to create awareness of the role sonographers play in the medical community and to recognize their contributions to healthcare. This is the second year that the entire month of October has been dedicated to recognizing these hard-working professionals. This year’s logo is "Sonographers — Yes, we SCAN!"

This year's logo appears on a whole line of promotional products including posters, balloons, mugs, stickers, buttons, and T-shirts. This year, we've included a new item in our Sonography Awareness Month promotional product line, Mints - these buttermints are a delicious way to celebrate Sonography Awareness Month. Each mint is individually wrapped and has the Sonography Awareness Month logo printed on it. Fill your candy jar with these mints and offer them to patients and co-workers.

To assist you in planning and promoting Sonography Awareness Month, we have prepared a Sonography Awareness Month Promotion Guide. It's filled with ideas for promoting Sonography Awareness Month and educating the public on your role in the delivery of healthcare. The packet includes logos, sample press release, sample proclamation, public service announcement, and more... The guide is free and is available online.

For more information, visit:

5. Online Membership Renewal Saves Time

Check your membership card...is it time to renew your SDMS membership?

In far less time than it will take you to write out a check and mail it with your membership renewal form, you can complete your membership renewal online using a credit card! We accept American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards on our secure server. Your credit card information is encrypted during the transaction and we DO NOT store your credit card information on our servers.

When you complete the simple online renewal process, a confirmation receipt is displayed and a copy is emailed to you. The confirmation receipt can be printed and used for reimbursement and/or tax-related purposes. This fast and secure method of updating your membership information and dues payment is a great time-saver!

For more information, visit:

6. New Product: Scrub Top

Send a message...Image is Everything! SDMS has a new sonography pride product - scrub tops. These scrub tops are polyester/cotton blend, unisex, reversible, v-neck, short-sleeved with left chest pocket. The Image is Everything logo is silk-screened on the pocket of one side.

An SDMS order form is available online at:

7. New JDMS CME Test Available Online

A new CME article and CME post-test has been posted on the website from the May/June 2002 issue of the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS).

• Correction of Diaphragmatic Hernias Using Fetal Interventional Procedures, Julie M Pattavina, RT(R), RDMS [1.0 CME credit]

8. 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

Sonographic findings in focal fibrocystic changes of the breast
  http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?Sec=sup&Sub=ult&pag=dis&ItemId=55417

Ultrasound-History Forum & Archives
  http://forums.obgyn.net/ultrasound-history/

Transanal excision safe, effective for downstaged rectal cancers
  http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?Sec=sup&Sub=ult&Pag=dis&ItemId=55429

Clinical Utility of Bilateral Whole-Breast Ultrasound
  http://www.usreview.com.au/janfeb02.htm#CLINICAL

9. Important Dates