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Letter from the Chair
 Dear Colleagues,
My first year as Chair of the ARDMS Board of Directors has made for a busy and exhilarating 2008. It has been an honor to represent ARDMS during this exciting time and I want to share a few of the projects and programs ARDMS has been working on this year.
Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) Examination:
In April 2009, ARDMS will launch the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination. SPI will change the ARDMS credentialing process, as it will meet the fundamental principles and instrumentation requirements to earn the RDMS, RDCS and RVT credentials. The preparations for the release of SPI have been a monumental project and I want to extend my thanks to the countless hours that volunteers and staff have dedicated to the effort. For more information about the SPI examination, please visit
www.ARDMS.org/SPI.
Recertification:
The Recertification Task Force (RTF), comprised of Registrants and physicians who donate their time and expertise to ARDMS, began the careful process of developing this future program. The RTF held numerous conference calls and meetings and engaged Sonography organizations (AIUM, ARRT, ASE, CSDMS, SDMS, SVU) into the planning process. Although the program is still in the development phase and several years from implementation, I have a few important elements to share. W
e anticipate that Registrants will be able to take the recertification examinations online from their home or office computer. Additionally, the assessments will be inexpensive and likely consist of approximately 25 to 50 questions. I encourage Registrants to visit the ARDMS website
frequently for the latest news and updates regarding the recertification program.
Advanced Item Types:
ARDMS has begun developing Advanced Item Types (AIT) which will move the examinations a step closer to assessing practical, hands-on Sonography skills. Eventually, AITs will allow the candidate to interact with Sonography controls on a simulated console and modify the image. Development of the AITs has progressed much faster than expected and candidates may see versions of AITs on ARDMS examinations as early as 2009.
Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI):
The RPVI credential, launched in 2005, continues to expand. To date, more than 600 physicians, including cardiologists, radiologists, and surgeons, have earned the RPVI credential. International interest in the credential continues to increase and this Fall ARDMS will administer the examination in Beijing to almost 70 Chinese ultrasound physicians.
ARDMS today bears little resemblance to the organization I joined over a decade ago and the changes have all been very positive. As exciting as this year has been for me, I look forward to 2009 and the continued evolution of this great organization.
Steven A. Leers, MD, RVT
Chair, ARDMS Board of Directors
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Please note that the SPI examination and the proposed recertification program are two distinct programs and are not interrelated. Please see the articles below for additional information about both programs. |
Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) Examination
In April 2009, ARDMS will launch the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination. SPI will meet the fundamental physical principles and instrumentation requirement needed to earn the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) and Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credentials*. ARDMS will begin accepting applications for the SPI examination in February 2009. Those seeking to earn an ARDMS credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT) will be required to apply for and pass both the SPI examination and a corresponding specialty examination(s). Once the SPI examination has been passed, applicants may earn additional credentials without having to take another physical principles and instrumentation examination. Active ARDMS Registrants who hold the RDMS, RDCS and/or RVT credentials, do not need to take the SPI examination in order to maintain current credentials. Active Registrants only need to take the SPI examination if earning a new credential. ARDMS policy does not permit a "grandfather clause" for active ARDMS Registrants or for those who have only passed one or more of the currently offered physical principles and instrumentation examinations - Ultrasound (UPI), Cardiovascular (CPI) or Vascular (VPI). ARDMS is pleased to announce that students may apply for the SPI examination prior to graduation under the new SPI Requirement. The SPI Requirement, which will be featured in the 2009 ARDMS application scheduled for release in February 2009, will allow a student to apply if the following education and documentation requirements can be met:
Education:
Successful completion of a general, medical or sonographic physics class/seminar/course.
Documentation Required with Application:
1) A transcript reflecting successful completion of a graded general, medical or sonographic college, post secondary or higher education physics class (with a grade of C or above); or
2) A CME certificate denoting successful completion of a general, medical or sonographic physics seminar, physics review course, or physics correspondence course, signed by the Program Director, denoting a minimum award of 12 ARDMS-accepted CME credits.
The SPI section of the ARDMS website features up-to-date information and helpful resources to assist you in preparing for the SPI examination. You may also sign-up to receive e-mail notifications about the latest SPI updates.
The following is a list of the current SPI articles and resources on the website:
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Update on the ARDMS Recertification Efforts
In December 2007, ARDMS announced that it was beginning to explore a recertification program based on the following principles:
§ Maintain ARDMS' ongoing mission to promote quality care and patient safety through
the certification and continuing competency of ultrasound professionals;
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Meet recommendations of the ISO-ANSI and NCCA (the organizations that accredit ARDMS);
§ Reflect the present day entry-level practice of Sonography;
§ Be simple for ARDMS Registrants to comply with;
§ Be affordable;
§ Benefit patients and the Sonography community; and
§
Co-exist with Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs.
Over the past year, volunteer members of the ARDMS Recertification Task Force, members for the community advisory work group (which includes representatives from leading Sonography organizations) and ARDMS staff have spent many hours deliberating and developing the basic components of the recertification program to include:
§ The ability for Registrants to take the recertification examinations online from their
home or office computer, not in a testing center;
§ That the assessments will be affordable; and
§
Examination content will likely consist of specialty-specific questions.
The formal implementation of a recertification program is still several years away and ARDMS is committed to keeping Registrants and the Sonography community informed every step of the way. The recertification section of the ARDMS website
features a complete listing of articles and press releases. Updates about the recertification program will also be featured in future issues of Registry Reports.
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ARDMS Welcomes New Members to the Board of Directors
ARDMS welcomes three new Board of Directors members, each adding a profound level of expertise, experience and dedication to the field of Sonography and ARDMS as an organization.
Kerry Weinberg, RDMS, RDCS, RT(R) is the Director of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at New York University and currently serves on the ARDMS Certification Committee as well as the Exam Development Committee. Credentialed in 1978, Ms. Weinberg has actively been involved in the direction and philosophy that has shaped the ARDMS and made it the organization it is today. When asked about her career interests, Kerry said, "Part of being a professional is being active in the profession, being credentialed and seeking continuous education to stay current with technical advances and trends in the profession."
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"Since I started volunteering with the ARDMS in 2004, I have felt both fortunate and honored to be working alongside such talented professionals both on the ARDMS staff as well as my fellow volunteers. The dedication and commitment to quality is foremost at every meeting I attend," said David Stolte, RDMS, RDCS, one of ARDMS' newest board members. David is the manager of the Noninvasive Cardiology Swedish Health Systems and is a member of the ARDMS Certification Committee, the Exam Development Committee, and the Recertification Task Force. He is currently the Adjunct Faculty Instructor for Seattle University and served a second term as the
Chair of the ARDMS Adult Echocardiography Exam Development Task Force. David first earned his credentials in 1999 and has since dedicated much appreciated time and expertise to various ARDMS committees, programs and processes.
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Daniel A. Merton, RDMS, FSDMS, FAIUM has been actively involved with various ARDMS committees for close to eight years. He has served as both member and Chair for the Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation Examination Development Task Force as well as being an active member of the ARDMS Exam Development Committee. He currently holds the position of Technical Coordinator of Ultrasound Research and Clinical Instructor for the Jefferson Ultrasound Research and Education Institute in addition to being the Adjunct Associate Professor of Drexel University School of Biomedical Engineering Science and Health Systems. He has been actively involved with
ARDMS since the 1980s where he functioned as an examination proctor at a Philadelphia testing center. When reflecting on the future of ARDMS, Daniel said, "ARDMS is entering a critical junction with the challenge to continue delivering quality examinations in existing specialties as well as to provide new users of the modality with a means to demonstrate their competency through successful completion of newly developed examinations that are tailored to the essentials of their disciplines." Daniel has spent twenty-two years performing cutting-edge research activities in the Sonography community and adds an invaluable level of experience and commitment to our outstanding Board of Directors.
A Board of Directors composed of Sonographers, vascular technologists, physicians, research scientists and one public member, governs ARDMS. The board creates the policies, defines the direction of, and maintains ARDMS' ongoing mission to promote quality care and patient safety.
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Spotlight on a Sonographer, Lori Green
Most of us can remember our favorite teacher: the one who made a remarkable difference in our lives; the one who encouraged, strengthened and deepened our need for learning; the person who lives everyday with the sole purpose of advancing us on our educational journey. Nominated by a colleague of 13 years, our Spotlight is on Lori Green, BA, RT, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, President and founder of the The Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.
Lori is the teacher we all want to have. Although teaching was something she always wanted to do, her career didn't start out this way. In 1978, she completed x-ray school and started out as a Registered Radiologic Technologist. Her first opportunity to work clinically in Sonography came in 1979 at an outpatient clinic. While employed with this clinic in 1980, Lori volunteered to take classes to learn about using 2D cardiac imaging and Duplex scanning for vascular applications.
Lori successfully obtained her ARDMS credentials in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) in 1982 followed by Abdomen ('83), Adult Echocardiography('85) and Vascular Technology ('87).
In 1982, she accepted a position as a clinical specialist with a major ultrasound manufacturer. Being only one of three people covering the United States for a company that developed equipment using revolutionary technology, she now educated other sonographers on how to use the new equipment. While traveling and training others, she received many inquiries on how one can gain experience cross-training in the area of sonography. Areas such as abdominal, OB/GYN, vascular, cardiac and registry preparation were of particular interest to many she encountered.
What Lori did next would result in life changing events for her and others. She drafted a proposal concerning advanced educational facilities in the field of sonography. When presented to her employer, it was refused. The company was in the business of manufacturing and distributing equipment, not education, as they explained to her. With perseverance, Lori searched endlessly for investors, turning to previous employers and colleagues. Every time, she met resistance. Comments such as "..you'll never make it without an MD after your name", and "...crazy to ruin your reputation by doing something like this..." were heard repeatedly. Banks denied loan
applications due to her novice entrepreneurial background. Lori was not going to let these roadblocks stop her. With confidence in her endeavors and only $500 in savings, she attacked the project head on and was on her way to realizing a dream!
Beginning in 1985, for the first 3 years, the business was operated from a home office and courses conducted at area beachfront hotels. Loaned equipment was received through relationships with equipment sales representatives and local medical facilities. Combined with the marketing talents of her husband Gil and with great resourcefulness, The Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute became a reality. The school offered classes in sonography with specialties in the areas of abdominal, OB/GYN, adult echocardiography, vascular, and registry preparation. Recognition for providing quality education combined with the increased demand for offering additional courses resulted in a
move to a dedicated education facility in 1988. Courses were initially taught primarily by Lori but, she is quick to point out, the business has successfully grown over the years through established relationships with other sonography experts and equipment manufacturers combined with the dedication of staff, guest speakers and hands-on instructors who share in the mission of improving the quality of healthcare through increased knowledge.
Today, with over 24,000 physicians, sonographers and other allied health professionals who have attended the various CME programs, the school boasts 6,600 square feet of meeting space. Programs are offered in specialty areas of abdomen, OB/GYN, carotid, peripheral vascular and cardiac ultrasound. Specialty courses are also offered for advanced vascular and cardiac applications, registry preparation, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, critical care, musculoskeletal, fetal echo and vascular interpretation. On-site education is also available for groups on a request basis. Over 110 self-directed education products are offered including registry preparation materials, DVDs,
textbooks, protocol manuals and case presentations. As of 2007, Internet accessibility was made possible and includes one-hour webinar lectures and live-interactive or on-demand registry reviews. The organization also has the distinction of being accredited by the ACCME to provide AMA PRA CAT 1 credits for all educational activities. Lori is a member of the AIUM, ASE, SDMS, SVU and SCCM and frequently lectures throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Lori is a prime example of that teacher everyone wants to have. She had a dream and despite many obstacles, made it happen. Her strongest desire and commitment has always been helping others in their advancement in sonography through education. As Lori stated, "Anyone can accomplish whatever they want in life by having faith, believing in oneself and putting forth the effort required to make it happen. Having a degree and certifications are essential, but neither entitle nor guarantee success. You must be willing to work hard to achieve a worthwhile goal. Sonographers play an important role to provide quality healthcare and the sonography
profession offers many opportunities for those who are willing to make the necessary commitment." There is no doubt that she has made a remarkable difference for each healthcare professional who has walked her halls. What a brilliant example of dedication!
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To nominate an ARDMS Registrant for the Spotlight on a Sonographer series, please send an e-mail to communications@ardms.org with the subject line Spotlight Nomination. In your e-mail, please provide your name, e-mail, and phone number along with the name of the Registrant you are nominating. Also, please include a few sentences about why you are nominating the person.
Thank you! |
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ARDMS Survey Invitation
ARDMS would like to offer an online networking community for Registrants, volunteers, and industry colleagues. By participating in this brief, three question survey, you will assist us in selecting the best online community. Your valuable input is always greatly appreciated.
To take the survey now, please click on the following link:
ARDMS Online Networking Communities Survey
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ARDMS 2009 Annual Renewal Fee
ARDMS is now accepting payments for the 2009 Annual Renewal fee*.
To maintain Active status with ARDMS, Registrants must remit payment for the 2009 annual renewal fee on or before December 31, 2008. For your convenience, ARDMS accepts secured online payments using Visa or MasterCard by visiting www.ARDMS.org/login.
Cost of Annual Renewal Fee:
$60 USD* (Active Status)
$10 USD* (Retired Status)
Cost of Annual Renewal Fee RPVI:
$90 USD* (Active Status)
$10 USD* (Retired Status)
* All transactions are billed in US Dollars (USD).
By paying your 2009 annual renewal fee, you will be attesting that: (1) you are in compliance with all ARDMS rules and policies (available online at www.ARDMS.org/policies
), including ARDMS CME requirements; and (2) you shall continue to comply with all ARDMS rules and policies on an ongoing basis, as may be amended from time to time, without prior notice.
To maintain Active status with ARDMS, payment must be received in the ARDMS office on or before December 31, 2008 or your credential(s) will be revoked. To have your credential(s) reinstated, you will need to submit the annual fee as well as a $150 administrative fee to be received in the ARDMS office by February 28, 2009. If you fail to do so, your credential(s) will remain revoked and you will be required to retake all necessary ARDMS examinations and pay all applicable fees to regain Active status.
Please note, you will be receiving an official paper invoice by mail in mid-November 2008 and can also pay using this method. You will receive the invoice if you have not paid your fee online as of November 1st. If you receive this notice and have already paid online, please disregard it.
Canadian Registrants - Please note that effective immediately, ARDMS will no longer offer a separate Canadian fee due to a continuing change in the US dollar. Therefore, all checks must be made payable in US dollars. You may also visit www.ARDMS.org/login
to make your payment online and take advantage of the most current exchange rates. If you do not comply, your payment will not be accepted and will be returned to you.
Check the status of your payment online to assure that we have received and processed your payment and to obtain your receipt of payment.
For more information, send an e-mail to RSgeneralinfo@ardms.org or contact the Registrant Services department directly at 1-800-541-9754. Don't forget to visit www.ARDMS.org
for news and updates.
*When paying your renewal fee please pay online or remit payment using the paper invoice that will be mailed to all Registrants who have not yet paid as of November 1st. DO NOT send payment to the ARDMS office as this will significantly delay the processing of your payment.
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Three Year CME Period Reminder
Attention Registrants! The next CME Audit, for Registrants with a 3-year period of 2006, 2007 and 2008, is scheduled to begin March 2009 (please note that this audit period also includes those who earned their initial credential in 2005). If your 3-year cycle ends in 2008 please be sure that you have 30 ARDMS-accepted CME credits by December 31, 2008. You can check the
ARDMS website for a list of acceptable CME providers as well as additional information regarding the CME Audit procedures. Also, please be sure to read the "ARDMS and SDMS Restart CME Credit Reporting Program" article in this edition of Registry Reports
. Finally, keep an eye out for the 2009 winter edition of Registry Reports, as you will find Tips to Having a Successful Audit.
ARDMS and SDMS Restart CME Credit Reporting Program
ARDMS and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) have reestablished a program for continuing medical education (CME) credits to be reported to ARDMS through the SDMS CME Tracker. ARDMS Registrants who are members of the SDMS, should now have SDMS CME credits automatically reflected on their secure personal ARDMS transcript.
In the past, the SDMS CME Tracker only recorded the CME credits issued by SDMS for its CME programs such as the SDMS Annual Conference, National Certification Examination Reviews, and CME articles in the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. To date, ARDMS has posted over 130,000 CME credits to the transcripts of ARDMS Registrants who hold membership with SDMS. The SDMS CME Tracker has been recently expanded, and by June 30, 2009 will track all CME credits issued by other SDMS-approved CME providers.
"ARDMS is continually exploring ways to enhance the benefits we provide to our Registrants," said ARDMS CEO and Executive Director, Dale R. Cyr. "The secure daily electronic transfer of CME data from SDMS, a leading CME provider, gives ARDMS Registrants an easy and efficient method for recording and storing earned CME credits."
The resumption of the CME reporting program will simplify the ARDMS CME Audit process for thousands of ARDMS Registrants. With SDMS approved CME credits automatically reflected on ARDMS transcripts, Registrants selected for audit who have the required 30 CME credits already listed in their secure account, will be immediately compliant and will not have to submit any further supporting documentation.
"I am excited that ARDMS and SDMS have collaborated on the CME reporting program," said recently audited ARDMS Registrant Pat Grier, RDMS. "Next time I'm audited, I'll check my ARDMS transcript on the ARDMS website
, and note the CME credits listed thanks to the reporting program, and if the total is less than 30, I'll simply send ARDMS copies of the certificates from other approved CME providers to show I've earned the required number of credits."
The satisfaction of ARDMS Registrants is a primary organizational objective. Beginning in 2009 ARDMS will explore establishing CME credit reporting agreements with other ARDMS-approved CME providers.
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ARDMS Gives Back
ARDMS will be working with the Manna Food Center and Toys for Tots by hosting a food drive and collecting toys to help less fortunate families during the upcoming holiday season!
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