1. SDMS Contributes to Katrina Disaster Relief
   
2. ARDMS Revises Prerequisite 2
   
3. OSHA and SDMS Alliance Update
   
4. Society Considers Options for Achieving Credentialing Objective
   
5. Walk-ins Welcome at 2005 SDMS Annual Conference
   
6. Call for Course and Faculty Proposals - Deadline Extended
   
7. October is Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
   
8. News & Notes
   
9. Important Dates
   

Please consider making a donation to these disaster relief organizations:

http://www.redcross.org

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org

Other groups to consider helping through donations are listed at:

"Graduates of a program, accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), United States Department of Education (USDOE) or Canadian Medical Association (CMA) that specifically conducts programmatic accreditation for diagnostic medical sonography/diagnostic cardiac sonography/vascular technology"

The revision will be effective January 1, 2006, and will be reflected in the ARDMS Information and Examination Application Booklet.

According to the explanation provided by ARDMS on their website, the ARDMS routinely reviews its policies and procedures, including eligibility standards. At the request of the ARDMS Certification Committee, ARDMS staff sought input from the sonography community (SDMS provided multiple responses including testimony at the public hearing that was held in Washington, D.C.) concerning accrediting agencies applicable to the United States and Canada. In its original form, Prerequisite 2 stated that an ARDMS credentialing candidate applicant must have completed one of the following: “CAAHEP-approved [Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs] or CMA-approved [Canadian Medical Association] ultrasound/vascular technology education program.”

The question was whether this Prerequisite should be retained in its current form, or, if revised, what accrediting agency or agencies and their characteristics, and what reasonable, objective factors describing quality diagnostic medical sonography/diagnostic sonography/vascular technology education programs, should be added to Prerequisite 2. SDMS strongly encouraged that Prerequisite 2 be left intact, unchanged in its original form. The rationale supporting the Society’s recommendation was that broadening the number of agencies that grant sonography education accreditation was likely to result in a diminution of educational standards for the profession. The effect of the change leaves the prerequisite essentially unchanged since CAAHEP is the only accrediting agency recognized by CHEA at this time.

After consideration of the issues, the ARDMS Certification Committee invited public comment. ARDMS staff reviewed over 600 comments on eight questions presented for review. Staff considered the comments, the broad range of opinion they represented, information concerning the certification and other organizational interface with the education accreditation system, and ARDMS. In addition, further solicitation of comment was sought by a subcommittee of the ARDMS Certification Committee at a public hearing in November 2004.

The SDMS and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have signed a formal Alliance Partnership agreement. As a result of this partnership agreement, a new OSHA/SDMS Alliance area is now available on the SDMS website at http://www.sdms.org/OSHA/default.asp with links to resources designed to help you in the reduction and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).

In addition, an OSHA/SDMS Alliance Safety Island will be featured in the 2005 SDMS Annual Conference Exhibit Hall in Dallas, Texas where sonographers will have the opportunity to have their scanning techniques evaluated by an ergonomics expert. There will be three stations set up with ultrasound equipment, where sonographers will get one-on-one training in ergonomically correct scanning techniques. A fourth station will provide information resources on the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

This review included a presentation and analysis by a CQU consultant who had previously served as Medical Director for a large state Local Medicare Carrier (LMC). LMC’s have been the primary target for CQU credentialing and/or accreditation policy activities. Additionally, input was also provided in the form of a recent MedPAC (advisory committee that advises Congress on Medicare related matters) report to Congress. MedPAC recommendations that captured the attention of the CQU included:

• “The Congress should direct the Secretary (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) to set standards for all providers who bill Medicare for performing diagnostic imaging studies. The Secretary should select private organizations to administer the standards.”

• “The Congress should direct the Secretary (Health & Human Services) to set standards for physicians who bill Medicare for interpreting diagnostic imaging studies. The Secretary should select private organizations to administer the standards.”

The group consensus that emerged from this meeting was that continuing the previous CQU focus on LMC’s as a target for sonographer credentialing/lab accreditation activities was going to be very difficult. As an alternative strategy, Congressional response to the MedPAC recommendations will be monitored and responded to as opportunities arise.

The 2005 SDMS Annual Conference in Dallas will be one of the largest ever! September 9 is the mail and online registration deadline, but on-site registrations are welcome, space permitting. Please stop by the SDMS registration desk at the Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion. Registration desk hours are:

Thursday, October 6: 6:30 am to 8:30 pm
Friday, October 7: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 8: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday, October 9: 7:30 am to 12:30 pm

We may still have limited seating in our pre-conference tutorials on October 6 and Lunch & Learn educational sessions on October 7 and 8. Check availability at the registration desk.

If you can’t make it to the educational sessions, an exhibit hall pass is only $25. Our exhibitors range from ultrasound equipment manufacturers to recruiters.

Hotel Reservations: The deadline for reservations and the SDMS Annual Conference room rate is September 4. If you are planning to attend the conference, but have not yet made your hotel arrangements, you may contact the Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion directly at 1-800-233-1234 to check room availability. However, the SDMS room rate will not be guaranteed after the September 4 deadline.

Each year, the Conference Management Committee tries to plan an annual conference that meets YOUR professional and personal needs. But, in order to do so, we need YOUR help. We need your expertise, and your experience. In short, we need you to GET INVOLVED and GET ACTIVE by submitting a course(s) and/or faculty proposal(s) for next year’s annual conference. We have extended the deadline for submission to November 2, 2005. Please visit http://www.sdms.org/pdf/call4courses.pdf for how to submit your proposal(s).

The SDMS Annual Conference is noted for its cutting-edge educational offerings specifically geared to the needs of the clinically practicing sonographer. We rely on our membership to keep us ‘in tune’ with the ‘needs and wants’ of sonographers. 2006’s Annual Conference will be in the “Mile High” city of Denver, a beautiful location to join your colleagues and friends in sharing your expertise by participating as a faculty member, or suggesting what “hot” topic you’d like to see presented. It’s easy to do, so, JUST DO IT! All proposals are reviewed and acted upon. Let’s continue to make the SDMS Annual Conference THE Premier Sonography meeting that it is in the industry.

Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month is a collaborative effort of the AIUM, ARDMS, ASE, CCI, SDMS, and SVU, who share the common goal of familiarizing and educating the public about medical ultrasound and its importance in health care.

To assist ultrasound professionals with planning activities for Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month, a free promotional kit, which includes an ultrasound fact and terminology sheet, a list of suggested activities, logos to use in promotional materials, and information on how to involve the media and local government, is available at: http://www.sdms.org/resources/muam/default.asp.

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