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Letter from the Chair
The Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination will debut in Spring of 2009. As this is a major shift in the ARDMS credentialing process, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight the changes. First, the launch of the SPI examination will make the process of earning credentials, especially multiple credentials, much more streamlined.
With the introduction of the SPI examination, the Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation (UPI), Cardiovascular Principles and Instrumentation (CPI), and Vascular Principles and Instrumentation (VPI) examinations will disappear in Spring 2009. The SPI examination will meet the fundamental principles and instrumentation requirements for the RDMS, RDCS, and RVT credentials.
As an active ARDMS Registrant, please rest assured that you are not required to take the SPI examination to maintain your current credentials. You will only need to take the SPI examination if you want to earn a new credential. New applicants will be required to take and pass the SPI and a corresponding specialty examination to earn their first credential. I am also pleased to share that students who can document successful completion of a general, medical, or sonographic physics class, seminar, and/or course may sit for the SPI examination. An article featured in this issue of Registry Reports
and posted on the ARDMS website provides additional details on how the launch of the SPI examination may affect different people. Please click here to read.
The SPI examination will test ultrasound physics and hemodynamics common to all ARDMS clinical specialties. The specialty examinations will then incorporate the principles and instrumentation content areas specific to their own specialty. Once the SPI examination has been passed, the candidate may test in any of the other specialties without an additional physics (principles and instrumentation) examination.
The SPI Examination Development Task Force and the ARDMS Testing Department have spent years preparing for the transition to the SPI examination. The extensive preparations have culminated in a new examination paradigm and the introduction of new advanced item types. An advance item type is a question designed to test the relevant real world work day skills and knowledge of sonographers by using questions that have varying types of candidate interactions. The testing system can accommodate 2-D, and eventually 3-D images, motion-videos, and representations of actual equipment instrumentation experiences.
The item (question) bank for SPI is rapidly growing as items from the UPI, CPI, and VPI tests are moved and edited for the new SPI examination. Items that are specific to specialty areas have been moved into the item pools for those examinations.
From October 22 to November 13, 2008 ARDMS will administer a pilot version of the SPI examination. Those interested in possibly taking the pilot version of the SPI examination are required to first complete on online screening survey. The survey, open from April 23 to June 6, 2008, may be accessed by clicking here
. Applicants who fill out the survey may be eligible for the pilot examination at a reduced price ($140). After the pilot examinations have been administered and psychometric validation performed, an official score will be reported. A passing score on the SPI pilot examination will meet the physical principles and instrumentation requirements for the RDMS, RDCS, and RVT credentials!
Participating in the pilot exam is a unique opportunity and will help ARDMS attain the smooth implementation of the new program towards which they have been working. This is an exciting new change for ARDMS, our Registrants, students, and the Sonography community. For the latest updates and information about the SPI exam, please visit www.ARDMS.org/SPI.
Steven A. Leers, MD, RVT
Chair, ARDMS Board of Directors
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Spotlight on a Sonographer: Diane Loretz Seagroves
After nearly 30 years of serving as a sonographer, Diane Seagroves RVT, is ready to pursue gardening and enjoying the beautiful view of the Olympic Mountains. However, Diane is not ready to give up her commitment for spreading the importance of obtaining ARDMS credentials in the field of sonography.
Diane first earned her ARDMS Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential in 1983. Since then, she has made a tremendous impact in the local medical and the sonography community. Diane started her career as a vascular technologist working for Brookside Hospital in Richmond, California. Quality exams, patient safety and attending to patient concerns became a priority in her career.
In 1989, Diane was fortunate to be recruited by a group of vascular surgeons who recruited her into opening up a vascular lab for them in Olympia, Washington. "I knew that I belonged as part of that group because we shared the same views on patient safety and patient care," recalls Diane, "and that is ultimately the driving force of becoming a sonographer." This office was one of the first 35 vascular labs accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL).
In her career, Diane helped develop the protocol for pre-op Dialysis Access mapping used as the primary protocol for Fistula First. She has also been actively involved in writing to congress to help further the field of sonography. Diane was a member of an ultrasound professionals coalition that was formed to educate those in legislative power about the field of sonography in Washington state. Dale Cyr, Executive Director and CEO of ARDMS, was also one of the members of the coalition.
Diane continues to be an advocate for obtaining credentials in the field of sonography. "The one thing that is most important is to continue pursuing requiring credentials in the areas in which you can scan. Medical decisions are made based on the results and it is imperative to scan correctly."
ARDMS is honored to have Diane Seagroves as a Registrant and promoter of patient care.
"The patient is why we're here," concludes Diane.
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SPI Examination and You
In Spring 2009, the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) will introduce the new Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination. The SPI examination will meet the fundamental principles and instrumentation component for the RDMS, RDCS, and RVT credentials.
Not sure how the new SPI examination will affect you? Don't Worry! ARDMS has created this informational article to guide you in the right direction!*
Currently, I...
Am an active Registrant:
The ARDMS would like to assure active Registrants that they are not required to take the SPI examination to maintain current credentials. Active Registrants will only need to take the SPI examination if they want to earn a new credential. Say, for example, that you currently hold the RDMS credential - meaning you passed the Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation (UPI) examination and a corresponding specialty such as Abdomen (AB)**. In the Summer of 2009, after the release of the SPI examination, you decide that you want to earn the RDCS credential. To do so, you will need to take the SPI examination and a cardiac specialty examination (Adult, Pediatric, or Fetal
Echocardiography) to obtain the RDCS credential. Then, if you decide in the future to obtain the RVT credential, you would only be required to take and pass the Vascular Technology (VT) examination as you have already taken and passed the SPI examination. Registrants wanting to earn additional specialties within an existing credential will only need to take the specialty examination.
Passed only a physics examination (not SPI) before Spring 2009: Candidates who have passed a physics examination (UPI, CPI, VPI) still need to take a specialty examination to earn a credential. Once a credential is earned (and the person becomes an active Registrant), then additional specialty examinations can be taken. Just as is the case now, once a credential is earned, Registrants can go onto earn additional specialties within that credential. Active Registrants will only need to take the SPI examination if they want to earn a new credential.
Passed only a specialty examination before Spring 2009: Say someone passed their Adult Echocardiography examination and as of Spring of 2009 has not yet passed the Cardiac Physics & Instrumentation (CPI) examination. Upon the release of SPI, any future attempts by that person to take/pass a physics examination would be done so by taking the SPI examination. The CPI examination would no longer be offered nor would any of the other physics examinations. As of Spring 2009, only the SPI will be offered.
Am a student: Students in a sonography/vascular technology related program, who can document successful completion of a physics class with a grade of C or better, or a physics review course, will be permitted to apply for and take the SPI examination prior to graduation. Students may begin applying for the SPI examination in 2009. Additional details, including specific prerequisite information and the date applications will begin to be accepted will be posted on
www.ARDMS.org.
Am considering earning a credential in 2008/2009: New applicants, candidates and Registrants that are working towards earning ARDMS credentials may wish to focus on taking multiple specialty examinations over the next year. Upon the release of the SPI examination in Spring 2009, those who have taken and passed specialty examinations and the new SPI examination will have the unique opportunity of earning multiple credentials, without duplicating efforts relating to credential specific physics examinations.
Must earn a credential prior to Spring 2009 (my employer is requiring it): New applicants and candidates who are required to earn a new credential prior to the release of the SPI examination in Spring 2009 will need to follow the current examination pathways (specific physical principles and instrumentation and the corresponding specialty examinations).
ARDMS will share more detailed information regarding the SPI examination with Registrants, educators, students, and the sonography community over the coming months through postings on the ARDMS website (www.ARDMS.org), e-mails, newsletters, and press releases. If you wish to receive e-mail notifications about the latest SPI updates, please
click here.
*Please note that the information above does not relate to the logistics or processes of the examination, it serves only to guide Registrants, students, educators, candidates and prospects in the right direction. For more information about the SPI examination, please visit www.ARDMS.org/SPI.
**If a Registrant wishes to earn an additional specialty within their current credential, they DO NOT have to take and pass the SPI examination.
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Serve as an ARDMS Volunteer
Volunteers are the cornerstone of the ARDMS' governance and examination development model. ARDMS is tremendously grateful to the Registrants who have committed their time and expertise to serve on the Examination Development Task Forces (EDTF), as members of the Board of Directors, and within the various subcommittees.
Below is a description of various volunteer positions within ARDMS.
Exam Development Task Forces (EDTF)
Development of all ARDMS credentialing examinations is overseen by subject matter experts who comprise the EDTFs. The EDTFs, elected to 3-year terms, are instrumental in the development, review, and editing of examination questions. The EDTFs are comprised of sonographers, vascular technologists, physicians, and scientists. The members of each EDTF are knowledgeable in the subject area of the particular examination and typically hold an ARDMS credential in that area.
Item Writer
Item Writers compose items (questions) for specialty examinations as instructed by ARDMS. At the beginning of their participation, ARDMS provides the training and tools needed to write effective items.
Item Reviewer
Item Reviewers edit and review items submitted by Item Writers, determining which ones will be added to a bank of test items (questions) that will supply future examinations. ARDMS provides the training needed for success in performing this peer review.
Board of Directors
ARDMS is governed by a 10-member Board of Directors and five committees - Board Development, Certification, Exam Development, Finance, and Legislative. The Board is comprised of elected Registrants who previously served as an EDTF member for a minimum of two terms. Sub committee members are appointed by the Chair of the Board of Directors.
If you're interested in exploring any of the above positions, please log on to your secured Registrant Resources section and fill out the Volunteer Position survey. This first step will be used to help ARDMS select candidates, as needed. Your interest will be recorded in the ARDMS database.
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Assessing the Satisfaction of our Registrants
ARDMS is dedicated to providing superior customer service to our Registrants and the sonography community. After all, it's our Registrants that help ARDMS achieve our mission of promoting quality care and patient safety through the certification and continuing competency of ultrasound professionals. In 2007 ARDMS launched an ongoing survey evaluation program to determine how we are doing in meeting these lofty goals.
The survey, entitled the Net Promoter Score (NPS), helps ARDMS to quickly garner the thoughts and opinions of our Registrants. The evaluation tool not only allows Registrants to communicate directly with the ARDMS but it serves as a quality assurance check for the organization so we know we are administering a topnotch certification program and the finest quality customer service.
Each quarter, a randomly selected group of active ARDMS Registrants receives an e-mail invitation to complete a short online survey. The first question in the survey asks Registrants to answer the following question using a zero (0) to 10 point scale: "How likely are you to recommend ARDMS to others?" Based on how a Registrant answers the first question, the survey goes on to ask more in-depth questions.
The final question asks if respondents would like ARDMS to follow-up with them regarding the survey and their responses. ARDMS staff and occasionally the Board of Directors then follow-up personally with respondents who answered "yes." It is not uncommon for a Registrant to be contacted by the Executive Director, Dale Cyr, or by Dr. Steven Leers, the chair of the ARDMS Board of Directors. By following up with respondents, we are able to definitively assess the reason(s) behind survey responses, proactively address concerns, and ultimately provide a higher level of customer service to our Registrants.
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ARDMS Endorses Sonography Curriculum
The National Education Curriculum (NEC) will soon be adopted by sonography educational programs in preparing students for certification and careers in sonography. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) was among the 18 participating organizations of the Sonography National Education Curriculum and has endorsed the NEC.
ARDMS participated in three development meetings organized by the Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS). Participants drafted a curriculum that could be utilized by the sonography education community throughout the country as a guideline for developing and establishing educational programs. The completed curriculum will be turned over to the JRC-DMS (Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography) for dissemination.
Sonography National Education Curriculum Participating Organizations include:
American College of Cardiology (ACC)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
American College of Radiology (ACR)
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)
American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT)
Canadian Association of Registered Diagnostic Ultrasound Professionals (CARDUP)
Canadian Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (CSDMS)
Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT)
Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)
Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU)
Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS)
Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU)
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Siemens World's Smallest and First
Pocket Ultrasound System
In hopes to raise awareness of future trends in sonography, ARDMS is pleased to feature the first in a series of articles that will explore new advancements and innovations. Some of the other topics we may report on include ways to improve work flow, ergonomics of sonography, image quality, and innovative applications. We will consult with Sonography professionals, researchers, educators, and equipment manufactures.
 The ARDMS recognizes that the field of ultrasound is essentially technology-driven and the pace of advancements have been steadily accelerating in recent years. So it is especially important that Sonographers keep up-to-date in the latest innovations in ultrasound equipment, as well as the new procedures and "best-practices" in patient care
that this equipment makes possible. It is to no surprise that healthcare providers continue to invest in innovation to drive workflow improvements.
In this issue, we will focus on Siemens newest medical solution as it unveils the world's first pocket ultrasound system. Weighing only 1.6 pounds, you may mistake it for your cell phone as you rummage through your pockets. However, the advancement and result of this latest ultrasound system are valuable and essential to improved patient care and workflow productivity. The ACUSON P10™ system was launched in October 2007. Siemens latest innovation, the P10 hand held diagnostic ultrasound system is intended to improve workflow reduction, particularly in cardiology, emergency care and obstetrics.
In emergency situations, the hand held ACUSON P10 system allows for earlier, faster and more accurate screening and triage decisions. In addition to cardiac and emergency care, the ACUSON P10 pocket ultrasound system offers applications in other medical specialties, most notably obstetrics where it can be used in labor and delivery. The device can help medical professionals determine fetal viability, fetal positioning, and amniotic fluid volume.
For more information about the ACUSON P10 system, log on to www.pocketultrasound.com.
Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG is continuously working on innovative imaging solutions. As one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry, Siemens is known for bringing together innovation and productivity to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes.
ARDMS welcomes additional topics suggestions and encourages your contributions to the series. If you would like more information on how to submit an article for the series, please send an email to communications@ardms.org with the subject line: My Contribution.
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Spring 2008
News You Can Use
Participants Sought for ARDMS Pilot SPI Exam
In October/November 2008, ARDMS will administer a pilot (trial) version of the SPI examination at the discounted fee of $140 USD. Piloting the SPI examination allows ARDMS to analyze data and determine the passing score before the formal launch in Spring 2009. ARDMS is seeking Sonography professionals and students interested in taking the SPI trial examination in October/November 2008. In order to be considered for the SPI pilot examination, you must first complete the free online ARDMS screening survey to determine eligibility. To take the survey, which will be open from April 23 to June 6, 2008, please visit:
www.ARDMS.org/SPIsurvey. To download the screening survey information flier, please visit: http://www.ardms.org/downloads/EmailFlyer.pdf
. If you are selected to take the pilot SPI examination and receive a passing score, it will serve as the principles and instrumentation component for the RDMS, RDCS, and RVT credentials. For more information about the SPI examination, please visit www.ARDMS.org/SPI.
Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Announces Merger of Its Five Individual Accrediting Bodies
The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) announced a merger of its five individual accrediting bodies. The five individual accrediting divisions within the IAC are:
To read more about the reorganization of the IAC, log on to www.intersocietal.org.
CME Audit Reinstatement Procedure
Registrants may fail the ARDMS CME Audit because (1) the CME documentation provided to ARDMS was not accepted and/or valid, (2) fewer than 30 ARDMS-accepted CMEs were earned during the three-year period, or (3) the required documentation was not received by the April 30, 2008 deadline. For more information about the ARDMS CME Audit reinstatement procedures,
click here.
2008 Application Booklets Now Available
The 2008 Examination Information & Application booklet is now available. To obtain a copy of the general application booklet, go to www.ARDMS.org/appbook. To obtain a copy of the Physicians' Vascular Interpretation application booklet, go to
www.ARDMS.org/pviappbook.
Recertification
ARDMS recently began investigating the development of a program to quantify ongoing professional practice standards, commonly referred to as "recertification". The ARDMS will continue to provide information on recertification at appropriate times throughout the investigative process and the sonography community will receive advanced notification and detailed information prior to implementing the recertification program. To read the press release,
click here.
Stay Connected...Update your E-mail Address Record
To ensure that ARDMS Registrants receive the most up-to-date news and notifications about their status and what's happening within the organization, ARDMS encourages you to update your contact information. Click here for details.
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