News

• Oregon Amends Medical Imaging Act

  The 2013 Oregon Legislature approved a measure (HB 2014) requiring medical imaging procedures to be performed only for a medical purpose. The legislation has been signed by Governor John Kitzhaber, MD and is effective on January 1, 2014. A copy of the final enrolled bill is available at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/measpdf/hb2100.dir/hb2104.en.pdf

• Just released! 2013 SDMS Advanced Sonographer Survey Report

  In early 2012, SDMS conducted a survey among sonographer members from the SDMS, AIUM, SVU and registrants from ARDMS and CCI to better understand differences that may exist between sonographers and those who have an advanced role. As an exclusive member benefit, SDMS members may access this comprehensive report for free. To download your copy [more]

• SONOGRAPHY COMMUNITY GATHERS TO REVISE THE PROFESSION’S SCOPE OF PRACTICE

  Sixteen (16) organizational members of the Scope of Practice and Clinical Standards Revision Task Force gathered in Dallas, TX on May 18-19, 2013 to begin the revision process for the profession’s Scope of Practice and Clinical Standards. [more]

• SDMS Announces the New SDMS Job Board

  SDMS is proud to announce the new SDMS Job Board, the profession’s best resource for connecting sonographers with potential employers. [more]

• Just released! 2013 SDMS Sonographer and Sonography Educator Salary & Benefits Reports

  How do you compare to your colleagues? As an exclusive member benefit, SDMS members may access these comprehensive reports for free. To download your copy [more]

• SDMS OPPOSES PROPOSED GOVERNMENT CUTS TO ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY REIMBURSEMENT

  The SDMS has gone on-record opposing a series proposed cuts to echocardiography reimbursement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is proposing cuts to echo code reimbursement of 42%; a figure that is in addition to previous cuts of 30%. The letter that SDMS filed, on behalf of its membership, can be accessed on the Society’s website at: http://www.sdms.org/pdf/CMSEchoLetter082409.pdf. SDMS has raised concern about the implications to patient care should these cuts be implemented. These concerns include:

  • Increasing the costs to Medicare for imaging services
  • Reducing the access to Medicare recipients
  • Reducing the quality of patient care

  If implemented, these cuts are projected to have a direct effect on sonographers who are currently providing echocardiography services, particularly those who are employed in physician offices. One of the projected outcomes, should these proposed cuts be implemented, will be to funnel patients into alternative imaging modalities such as MR, CT, and angiography. These alternative imaging procedures are more invasive and more expensive than traditional echocardiography exams, and the alternative imaging options have higher rates of adverse risks.

  SDMS remains committed to providing high quality patient care, and to support the role of sonographers in the delivery of diagnostic medical sonography.

• Oregon Governor Signs Sonographer Licensure Legislation

  On July 28, 2009, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a sonographer licensure bill (HB 2245) into law. The new law makes Oregon only the second state in the United States to require licensure of sonographers. SDMS has worked closely with other sonography-related organizations and Oregon sonographers to help craft the language in new law. The law renames and restructures the Oregon Board of Radiologic Technologists to the Oregon Board of Medical Imaging (OBMI) and ensures representation of sonographers on the Board.

  The sonographer licensure law requires Oregon sonographers to become licensed by OBMI effective July 1, 2010. Beginning on January 1, 2014, all sonography licensees would be required to hold a national sonography certification/credential (or be currently enrolled as a student). While the Oregon bill is far more detailed than the sonographer licensure law that passed in New Mexico earlier this year, additional administrative rules/regulations will be developed over the next year to fully implement the new law. SDMS will be continue to monitor developments regarding sonographer licensure in other states. If you are aware of licensure efforts, please be sure to let SDMS know by contacting Don Kerns at dkerns@sdms.org.

• New Mexico Sonographer Licensure Law Signed
  On April 6, 2009, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed the historic bill that, for the first time in the United States, requires licensure of sonographers. The bill adds sonographers (and MRI technologists) to the list of medical imaging professionals licensed by the State of New Mexico. [more...]

• SDMS and ARDMS Restart CME Credit Reporting Program
  On July 1, 2008 the SDMS launched the new SDMS CME Management System and SDMS CME Tracker system. In conjunction with ARDMS, SDMS has also re-implemented the automatic reporting of SDMS CME credits for SDMS members to the ARDMS. The expanded SDMS CME Tracker system allows CME credits from all SDMS CME activities approved under the new SDMS CME Management System to immediately appear in the member’s online SDMS CME Tracker transcript. [more...]

• SDMS Establishes a Political Action Committee
  The SDMS has established the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Political Action Committee (SDMS PAC) to assist in its efforts to promote issues related to Diagnostic Medical Sonography at the Federal level. The SDMS PAC is an essential component in the Society’s efforts to represent the interests of the membership. It enables the association to send a strong, collective, bipartisan message to members of Congress that the sonographer members of SDMS are committed to support those candidates in Congress that are engaged and supportive of our efforts to further the interests and policy positions of the SDMS. [more...]
• Press Release: SDMS Membership Exceeds 20,000:

On August 14th, 2007, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) welcomed Rebecca Elijah, BS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT of St George, Utah to the association as its 20,000th member. Growth of Sonography Professional Association ‘Phenomenal’! [more...]
• Press Release: The SDMS recognized the international winners of various awards and competitions at a star-studded special awards dinner. The first-ever awards dinner was held as part of the SDMS' 2006 Annual Conference being held at the Colorado Convention Center. The conference is the largest ever held by the Society with more than 1,700 participants. [more...]

• Press Release: The SDMS urged caution in light of media reports about a Yale University study that showed ultrasound used on mice fetuses could adversely affect brain cell development. [more...]

• SDMS Hosts National Sonography Advanced Practice Consensus Conference - The SDMS hosted the national Sonography Advanced Practice Consensus Conference July 21-23 in Washington, D.C. Sixteen medical and ultrasound-related organizations participated in the conference. [more...]

• News Release: FOCUS on the Future

Beginning April 1, 2006, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) will no longer offer continuing medical education through the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Instead, SDMS will continue to focus on its status as a recognized continuing medical education provider for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). [more...]
• CME Article: Quality in Ultrasound: Credentialing and Accreditation Explained
  An article appearing in the Nov/Dec 2004 issue of the SDMS News Wave explains the role of credentialing and accreditation. SDMS members can read the article and complete an online post test to earn 1 CME credit. [more...]

• SDMS/OSHA Form Alliance for Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
  On Tuesday, October 26 the SDMS and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) signed a formal Alliance Partnership agreement in Washington, D.C. This Alliance document addresses SDMS/OSHA collaboration on the provision of resources and information to SDMS members and others within the medical community on issues related to the reduction and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). [more...]

• Societies Join Together to Promote Medical Ultrasound Awareness
  Recognizing the importance of increasing public awareness of medical ultrasound and promoting its value in healthcare, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) has joined together with the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), and the Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU) to sponsor Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month in October 2004. [more...]

• Industry Standards for the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sonography
  Industry standards for the prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) are now available thanks to the efforts of professionals from key constituencies within the diagnostic medical sonography field. These include professional organizations and equipment manufacturers, as well as credentialing, accreditation, and governmental agencies. Members of these groups attended a consensus conference hosted by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) in Dallas, Texas on May 13-14, 2003. Joan P. Baker, MSR, RDMS, RDCS, FSDMS, chaired this project to develop risk-reducing industry standards that serve to address the multifaceted problem of WRMSDs in sonography. [more...]

• SDMS Responds to Major Workforce Issue:
  The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) hosted a Consensus Conference on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) in Sonography on May 13-14, 2003 in Dallas, Texas. Joan P. Baker, MSR, RDMS, RDCS, FSDMS, chaired this project to develop risk-reducing industry standards that serve to address the multifaceted problem of WRMSD in sonography. These industry standards address the role of employees, employers, educators, medical facilities, and equipment manufacturers in reducing the incidence/impact of these injuries on the workforce. These industry standards will also assist all stakeholders in making informed decisions. The final industry standards will be disseminated worldwide. [more...]

• Government Recognizes Diagnostic Medical Sonography as Independent Profession
  The Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the diagnostic medical sonographer as an occupation that is separate and distinct from the radiology technologist. [more...]