In this Spring issue of Registry Reports...   Letter From the Chair   Licensure of Sonographers - New Mexico Leading the Way   SPI Examination - Quick Reference   Spotlight on a Sonographer - Nechama Goldman   ARDMS Prerequisite & Requirement Eligibility Program (PREP)   Examination Extension and Cancellation Policies   ARDMS Welcomes Dr. Chaoyang Wen   Recertification - Online Resources   Community Announcement -  Simplify the Lab Accreditation Process with the Echo ToolBox™      Letter From the Chair   Dear Colleagues:   Spring is here, and all of us at ARDMS are excited to report on new efforts that are "blossoming" this season.  To start off, on April 6th, New Mexico became the first state to require licensure for Sonographers!  I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank the entire sonography community, especially those working on pushing the bill, on this historic decision in the sonography community. You may find more information about the new licensure law by reading the Legislative Update article in this issue of Registry Reports.    Also on April 6th, ARDMS launched the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination. The SPI offers a new pathway of earning ARDMS credential(s) and we all look forward to growing the numbers of Sonographers with ARDMS credentials. The Prerequisite and Requirement Eligibility Program (PREP) also launched in April to assist first-time applicants in selecting the appropriate application prerequisite or requirement.   As we work towards enhancing our programs and efforts, we hope you will join us by spreading the importance of becoming credentialed and promoting quality patient care.   Sincerely,   Steven Leers, MD, RVT Chair, ARDMS Board of Directors   Back to Top   Licensure of Sonographers - New Mexico Leading the Way   On April 6, 2009, New Mexico became the first state to require licensure of sonographers. Under the new law, sonographers and MRI technologists will be added to the list of medical imaging professionals required to be licensed in the state of New Mexico.  The bill, signed by Governor Bill Richardson, says that the state will recognize "national credentialing/certification organizations" as a means for earning the licensure, thus no state licensure examinations will be required.      In the coming months, New Mexico will be working to develop the administrative rules, policies and procedures of this new bill (such as how to apply for the licensure and which credentialing/certification organizations will be recognized).    The ARDMS Legislative and External Affairs Committee will continue to monitor the developments of the New Mexico law and will provide updates via the ARDMS website and in future editions of Registry Reports.     Additional Online Resources Regarding the New Mexico Sonographer Licensure Act:   New Mexico Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Health and Safety Act (New Mexico Legislature Website)                                                                   New Mexico Sonographer Licensure Law Signed (SDMS Website)                                                                       Frequently Asked Questions: New Mexico Sonographer Licensure Law (SDMS Website)                                                       ARDMS Position on Licensure Requirements:                   The ARDMS mission is to "promote quality care and patient safety through the certification and continuing competency of ultrasound professionals."  ARDMS supports sonography licensure laws that recognize leading national credentialing programs, identify continuing medical education requirements, charge affordable fees and are overseen by a regulatory group that includes sonography professionals.     "Ultimately, ARDMS would like to see all personnel performing sonography meet a quality standard such as obtaining ARDMS credentials," said Dale R. Cyr, ARDMS CEO and Executive Director.                     Other Pending Licensure Legislation:                   ARDMS expects that other states will adopt licensure laws and believes that ARDMS will be an accepted standard to meet state requirements.  At this time, Oregon is the only other state considering a sonography licensure law.      ARDMS Role in Legislative and Licensure Issues:                   The ARDMS Legislative and External Affairs Committee is a volunteer group of sonographers and physicians that monitor recommended policies to the ARDMS Board of Directors regarding legislative, regulatory, professional and the health and patient care environment that affects the mission of the ARDMS.    Additionally, ARDMS participates in several national multi-society alliances that seek to establish credentialing and educational standards for sonography professionals.   What are your Thoughts on Licensure Programs for Sonographers?                   ARDMS welcomes comments from Registrants and the sonography community about licensure programs for Sonographers.  Please send an email to communications@ARDMS.org and indicate "Licensure" in the subject line.    Back to Top   SPI Examination - Quick Reference   On April 6, 2009, ARDMS launched the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination.  SPI meets the Principles and Instrumentation requirement needed to earn the RDMS, RDCS and RVT credentials.  Below is a quick reference list of online resources relating to the SPI examination.  For the most current SPI examination information, please visit www.ARDMS.org/SPI .       Online SPI Resources and Articles:   SPI Section of the ARDMS website - www.ARDMS.org/SPI   Recently the ARDMS, in conjunction with SDMS, hosted a webinar on the SPI examination.  Please log on to www.ARDMS.org/SPI to access the full recorded version of the webinar.   SPI Practice Examinations   SPI Content Outlines   What the SPI Examination Means for You      As the SPI examination meets the Principles and Instrumentation requirement for the ARDMS credentials, the UPI, CPI and VPI examinations are no longer offered by the ARDMS.               *The SPI examination does not apply towards the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) credential.   Back to Top   Spotlight on a Sonographer - Nechama Goldman, RDMS, RVT   In the District of Columbia (DC) metro area, it is rare to find someone who enjoys their two hour work commute simply because the job rewards are so much greater.  Nechama Goldman's passion for Ultrasound and drive to educate the public and other Sonographers about the importance of being credentialed is worthy of recognition and appreciation.        Nechama is grateful to her father for guiding her to choose a career in sonography.  In high school, Nechama participated in a program which allowed her to shadow a Sonographer and truly get a feel for what a typical day is like.  She then continued to explore the field by volunteering over four hundred hours to a local hospital in the Ultrasound Department. As one of four students in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, Nechama combined her love of photography and science, thus sparking her career as a Sonographer.     Nechama is a strong believer in credentialed and competent Sonographers, as well as accredited labs. "As a Sonographer, we have the ability to make a difference and go the extra mile.  We are not just button pushers." She continues, "If there is a standard everyone should meet, no matter how many years of experience they may have, then it should be fulfilled."  Nechama has instituted protocols for offices and clinics to ensure that proper guidelines for scanning are in place.     In addition to being a full-time Sonographer and raising her six children, Nechama dedicates her time to a sonography mentor program at a local high school. She recalls her early experience and is eager to educate students about the exciting sonography career opportunities. Going above and beyond her duties, Nechama created a brochure that she shares with her students about the top ten things they should strive for when pursuing a career in sonography.  At the top of her list is the importance of attending an accredited school and getting credentialed when completing the program.       When asked about patient care, Nechama spoke openly about the importance of primary physician and Sonographer relationship and how it ultimately leads to superior patient care.  "I don't want anyone falling through the cracks," Nechama points out when she refers to the importance of following through with a patient.  "As a student, I was told to pretend the ultrasound room is your living room.  When you bring a patient to your 'quarters' they are your guest and you are the hostess.  Make sure they're comfortable, the room is clean and you're polite," recalls Nechama.  This is a lesson she applies everyday at work.  Nechama truly defines the role of going above and beyond when it comes to patient care.  Back to Top ARDMS Prerequisite & Requirement Eligibility Program (PREP)   ARDMS has launched the new Prerequisite & Requirement Eligibility Program (PREP). To ease in the application process, the prereq PREP program asks first-time applicants a series of questions about their educational and/or clinical experience. Based on the answers provided, PREP recommends a prerequisite or requirement under which to apply.  After receiving the recommendation, applicants are encouraged to apply online   and begin the ARDMS credentialing process.   For more information on this and other programs offered by the ARDMS, please visit www.ARDMS.org or call 800-541-9754.     *The PREP program does not apply towards the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) prerequisites.   Back to Top   Examination Extension and Cancellation Policies   To request an extension for a 90-day eligibility period: If the individual has scheduled an appointment with Pearson VUE (testing vendor), he/she must: Cancel the appointment by contacting Pearson VUE at least four (4) business days prior to the scheduled appointment. Pearson VUE will provide the individual with a cancelation number. Submit an extension request to ARDMS at least four (4) business days prior to the last day of the examination's eligibility. The request must be made in writing and include the individual's name, ARDMS number, phone number, cancelation number provided by Pearson VUE and the name of the specific examination(s). Once ARDMS has verified that the stipulations noted above were met, an Examination Extension Letter will be mailed indicating the new eligibility period.   If the individual has not scheduled an appointment with Pearson VUE (testing vendor), he/she must: Submit an extension request to ARDMS at least four (4) business days prior to the last day of the examination's eligibility. The request must be made in writing and include the individual's name, ARDMS number, phone number and the name of the specific examination(s). Once ARDMS has verified that the stipulations noted above were met, an Examination Extension Letter will be mailed indicating the new eligibility period. To request a cancelation and refund of an examination:  If the individual has scheduled an appointment with Pearson VUE (testing vendor), he/she must: Cancel the appointment by contacting Pearson VUE at least four (4) business days prior to the scheduled appointment. Pearson VUE will provide the individual with a cancelation number. Submit a cancelation request to ARDMS at least four (4) business days prior to the last day of the examination's eligibility. The request must be made in writing and include the individual's name, ARDMS number, phone number, cancelation number provided by Pearson VUE and the name of the specific examination(s). Once ARDMS has verified that the stipulations noted above were met, the examination(s) applicable fee will be refunded in the manner in which it was paid. If the individual has not scheduled an appointment with Pearson VUE (testing vendor), he/she must: Submit a cancelation request to ARDMS at least four (4) business days prior to the last day of the examination's eligibility. The request must be made in writing and include the individual's name, ARDMS number, phone number and the name of the specific examination(s). Once ARDMS has verified that the stipulations noted above were met, the examination(s) applicable fee will be refunded in the manner in which it was paid. Back to Top   ARDMS Welcomes Dr. Chaoyang Wen   Over the years, ARDMS has worked with the Chinese Ultrasound Doctor's Association in Beijing, China, to lay the ground work for administering ARDMS examinations in China.  ARDMS Chair of the Board of Directors, Dr. Steven Leers and ARDMS CEO and Executive Director, Dale Cyr, were able to spearhead the partnership during the recent visits to China.  On March 15th, ARDMS staff welcomed the General Secretary for the Chinese Ultrasound Doctor's Association and ARDMS Registrant, Dr. Chaoyang Wen.  Dr.Wen is an Associate Professor at 301 Hospital in Beijing, China.    Dr. Wen was instrumental in coordinating the administration of the Registered Physicians in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) pilot examination in Beijing, China.  Working closely with ARDMS and Dr. Jie Tang, President of the Chinese Ultrasound Doctor's Association, Dr. Wen supervised all aspects of pilot registration for the RPVI examination and coordinated the initiative amongst fellow physicians. Having recently earned his RPVI credential, Dr. Wen was moved when he was presented with his RPVI certificate and pin at the ARDMS office.       "As examination development experts, ARDMS will be assisting the Chinese Sonography community as they move towards building and delivering national Chinese sonography standards through credentialing," noted Dale Cyr.    ARDMS is looking forward to extending the growing relationship with sonography professionals in China.   Back to Top Recertification - Online Resources   ARDMS is developing a recertification program that is expected to launch in several years.  Please visit and bookmark the recertification section of the ARDMS website (www.ARDMS.org/Recertification) for the latest updates.  Currently the recertification section features the following postings:     Update on ARDMS Recertification Efforts       What's the Deal with Recertification?     ARDMS Hosts Recertification Community Advisory Meeting     Recertification: An Initial Communication   Back to Top   Community Announcement -  Simplify the Lab Accreditation Process with Echo ToolBox™    The ARDMS is proud to be part of a field of experts in sonography and to share recent announcements from other organizations in the field of sonography.   Simplify the Lab Accreditation Process with Echo ToolBox™   In response to the increased demand for lab accreditation and its commitment to quality in echocardiography labs, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) developed Echo ToolBox™ (ETB).  The innovative, web-based program helps facilitate the accreditation process.  Getting a head start on the accreditation process with ETB is a great idea as the application deadlines of August 1st and November 1st are quickly approaching.     Since its launch in January 2008, over 200 labs nationwide are using ETB to reduce the time spent on lab accreditation.  The results include money saved and a more seamless and successful navigation through the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) accreditation application process.  ETB is a user-friendly and comprehensive tool that walks participants through the application process.  It offers "wizards" to guide labs through creating policies and protocols, identifies gaps in the lab's application and improves a lab's ability to meet ICAEL minimum standards.     United Healthcare is the only payer requiring echocardiography labs to apply for accreditation as a requirement for reimbursement (by the fourth quarter of 2009), but it is becoming apparent that accreditation will be linked much closer with reimbursement in the near future.  While reimbursement is a very important reason to become accredited, being an accredited lab also demonstrates a lab's long-term commitment to quality and self-assessment.  Going through the accreditation process helps labs create and achieve realistic goals with quality care in mind.      Learn more and register for ETB online at www.echotoolbox.com. If you are attending ASE's Scientific Sessions, June 6-10 in Washington DC, please stop by the ASE booth or visit one of the live ETB theater demonstrations.   Back to Top Registry Reports. Copyright 2009.  American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The ideas and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of ARDMS.