By Alexia Park
1st Year DMS Student
Montgomery College
Just When You Thought You Were Out Of The Woods
Do you remember when you just finished Sonography school and felt a huge sigh of relief? Do you remember when you passed the physics board and then received your credentials? Guess what? You are not out of the woods. As many sonographers are aware, one must obtain Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits periodically to maintain their credentials. In the near future, however, the three credentialing bodies will require sonographers to obtain recertification. Specifically, the three entities are as follows: American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Specific details of the recertification process will be announced in early 2010. What is anticipated is an affordable, user-friendly, computer based examination that practicing sonographers should not have any problems successfully passing. Many can breathe a huge sigh of relief as there will be no physics on the exam.
One exception to this rule is that “unlike ARDMS and CCI, ARRT will not require current registrants to be recertified….only those who become certified in 2011 and after will face recertification requirement including retesting.” Orenstein, SDMS News Wave, pg. 2, December 2009
This author feels that recertification is a positive step in the right direction as sonography is a constantly changing, fast-paced healthcare field. It is imperative that those who work in the field stay abreast of the latest innovations, precautions and techniques as taking care of the patient must be the first priority and only by knowledge and skill can that be accomplished. However, it is inevitable that not everyone feels this way and many will protest the necessity for this requirement.
How does the upcoming new requirement to obtain recertification make you feel? Do you think it is a fair policy and will benefit the ultrasound practice as a whole and hold clinicians to a higher standard? Or, do you feel it’s just another way for the certifying entities to nickel-and-dime you? Do you feel confident in your abilities that taking an exam based on your skill should not be a huge obstacle? Or does the thought of a skills-based exam have you running for the hills?
4 comments:
The recertification by retesting will be challenging. Of course, the intention is to reveiw for qualifing as a sonographer is good, but who wants to retake it? personally, i really don't know what i have opinion. I bet that we need to update as new techniques and information make up. i am wondering if there is anything else testing we can do
As such, it is a medical profession, and one of the more unique ones as well. There are unique things about it, like going to sonography schools and how easy it is to get into it.
I've been in this ultrasound career for 6 years now. I can still remember when I graduated, I never had the chance to enjoy my "freedom" due to the fact that I want to immediately practice my profession. I can say it really pays well but it also needs hard work and continuous study and training. Nice article! Lisa@ultrasoundtechnician
I've been in this ultrasound career for 6 years now. I can still remember when I graduated from my sonography college, I never had the chance to enjoy my "freedom" due to the fact that I want to immediately practice my profession. I can say it really pays well but it also needs hard work and continuous study and training. Nice article!
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