SDMS Sound News, Volume 7, Issue 4

Volume 7, Issue 4 April 30, 2005 ISSN 1543-0448

In This Issue...

ARDMS Approves Revision to Prerequisite 2
SDMS Annual Report Available Online
Texas Attorney General Obtains Agreements With Four Keepsake Ultrasound Imaging Companies
SDMS Pullover Fleece Jacket on Sale!
Frequently Asked Questions About SDMS Membership Now Available Online
2005 SDMS Annual Conference Registration Brochure Mails in May!
News & Notes
Important Dates

This issue of SDMS Sound News is sponsored by GE Healthcare, a PLATINUM sponsor of SDMS.

GE Healthcare is the leading global pharmaceutical provider of diagnostic imaging products. GE Healthcare is dedicated to providing healthcare professionals with products that expand and improve their diagnostic capabilities and contribute to the treatment of disease. With a focus in cardiovascular imaging, GE Healthcare markets Optison (Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres for Injection, USP) for use in echocardiography.

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



	SDMS Member: %%FirstName%% %%LastName%% Membership Expires: %%ExpDate%% Email Address: %%Email%%



	1. ARDMS Approves Revision to Prerequisite 2 From time to time, ARDMS reviews various aspects of its policies and procedures, including eligibility standards. At the request of the ARDMS Certification Committee, ARDMS staff sought comments from the community – from November 2003 to July 2004 – concerning ARDMS Prerequisite 2 (accrediting agencies) as applicable to the United States and Canada. The SDMS responded to the ARDMS request, and you can find the SDMS Board of Directors' Position Statement and read the SDMS responses at http://www.sdms.org/news/callforaction.asp For the ARDMS revision to Prerequisite 2, please visit: http://www.ardms.org/publicsite/prereq2.htm



	2. SDMS Annual Report Available Online 2004 will be remembered as yet another successful year for the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and its members. The Society's future focus was refined through a new strategic plan, our membership continued to grow, and SDMS continues to be a recognized leader in the field of sonography. Each SDMS member should be proud of the work accomplished by the Society on your behalf. The 2004 SDMS Annual Report is now available in PDF format. This report offers a great overview of the growth, goals, and new benefits of the SDMS. You'll also find highlights from the membership, education, advocacy, and financial departments. Go to http://www.sdms.org/pdf/AnnualReport2004.pdf to view the 2004 SDMS Annual Report (2.27 MB).



	3. Texas Attorney General Obtains Agreements With Four Keepsake Ultrasound Imaging Companies Sonograms prohibited unless conducted with physicians oversight On April 7, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced agreements with four ultrasound imaging companies operating in Texas – three in the Dallas area and one in Austin – not to operate ultrasound equipment unless they have physician oversight, as required by law. The companies had been offering fetal sonograms in storefront settings to pregnant women as keepsake photos and videos, often referred to as “ultrasounds for fun.” The businesses also must refrain from violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and federal law by misleading clients and advertising their services as having entertainment value without the need for physician involvement. For more information, visit: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=885



	4. SDMS Pullover Fleece Jacket on Sale! This charcoal gray fleece pullover jacket features anti-pill finish, twill-trimmed neck, elastic cuffs, side vents, and the SDMS logo embroidered on the left chest. Available sizes are S, M, L, XL, and XXL. This sale ends May 31, 2005. To order, call 1-800-229-9506 today! Please mention discount code PR4532 when ordering. SDMS Member price: ~~$34~~ $25 Non-member price: ~~$50~~ $36



	5. Frequently Asked Questions About SDMS Membership Now Available Online In response to membership questions received via the phone, email, and through the Member Satisfaction Survey (www.sdms.org/survey/satisfaction.asp), the SDMS Membership Committee was charged with developing and implementing a list of "frequently asked questions", which members can easily access through the SDMS website. At the completion of this considerable project, the committee would like to present the Membership FAQ (www.sdms.org/members/memberFAQ.asp). This helpful tool is now available and offers an extensive list of questions and answers relating to all facets of SDMS membership. Some FAQ information is restricted to SDMS members and cannot be accessed by non-members, but because SDMS Headquarters receives a high volume of calls about membership, the committee also developed a FAQ for non-members (www.sdms.org/membership/membershipFAQ.asp). This additional feature will provide 24-hour assistance to those interested in SDMS membership. If you have a question about SDMS membership or benefits, please feel free to email it to membershipdept@sdms.org. The FAQ will be reviewed and updated regularly so that we can continue to provide you with a superior level of service.



	6. 2005 SDMS Annual Conference Registration Brochure Mails in May! 2005 SDMS Annual Conference Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion October 6 - 9, 2005 Between the sparkling city skyline, the spectacular shopping, staying in a four diamond hotel, and learning from the stars of the sonography profession, you are sure to be DAZZLED at the 2005 SDMS Annual Conference! With over 60 courses in five specialty areas, you can design your own program based on your personal learning needs. Your registration brochure should arrive in May. It will also be available online at www.sdms.org/meetings on May 13, when online registation will begin.



	7. 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 Ultrasound for Astronauts http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/technologies/16feb_ultrasound.html 4D Ultrasound Shows Promise for Improving Fetal Echocardiography http://www.ardms.org/newswire/04112005/04112005.htm#4D Ultrasound Differentiates Fracture From Metastasis in the Ribs http://www.ardms.org/newswire/04112005/04112005.htm#fracture MSK ultrasound shows signs of neglect http://www.dimag.com/showNews.jhtml?articleID=159907383

8. Important Dates

2005
May 13	W. Frederick Sample Award Deadline
May 20	Scientific Presentation Competition Deadline
June 30	SDMS Educational Foundation Research Awards deadline
July 1	Sonographer Poster Exhibit Competition Deadline
July 1	Student Sonographer Poster Exhibit Competition Deadline
July 31	SDMS Educational Foundation Scholarship deadline
July 31	SDMS Educational Foundation CME Grants deadline
Oct 1 - Oct 31	Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
Oct 6 - 9	2005 SDMS Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas
Oct 10 - 11	SDMS Board of Directors Meeeting, Dallas, Texas
November 30	SDMS Educational Foundation Scholarship deadline

Dallas DAZZLES! SDMS 2005 Annual Conference - Dallas, TX - Oct. 6-9, 2005



	NOTE: To be removed from the recipient list (including all future "SDMS Alerts" and future issues of "SDMS Sound News"), please send your request to: membershipdept@sdms.org. Be sure to include your name, email address, and SDMS membership number. NOTE: Viewing and/or printing some of the web pages highlighted in *SDMS Sound News* may require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or above. You can download a free copy at the Adobe website. Questions, suggestions, or comments? Send an email to webmaster@sdms.org © Copyright 2005. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Plano, TX. All Rights Reserved.