November 2, 2013

Volume 2, I ssue 1

Alaska Society of Radiologic Technologists

November 1, 2013

After a lapse in regular e-newsletters Cecilia & I have once again teamed up to promote better communication & encourage more participation among our Imaging Professional peers via this e-Newsletter. Whether you were among those in attendance at the Juneau conference & annual meeting or not, there have been some changes in our leadership since the April election. Our dedicated President, Samuel Christy has resigned after many years of volunteer services as President and Treasurer for which our affiliate is truly grateful. After a few teleconference Board Meetings our Alaska affiliate has a new line-up of officers and has also made some new commitments towards improving communication and promoting our profession through our affiliate. The ASRT offers its’ affiliates an opportunity to apply for a development program and an advocacy program. We have been approved for and will be utilizing each of these opportunities. As members, please step forward and volunteer. This would be a fantastic time to get involved! We value new ideas and hope to grow our membership.

Claudia Joan Tessier

R.T. (R)(M) CBDT

Message from the Editor

Contents

Message from the Editor 1

Upcoming Events 1

Letter from the President 2

C A R E Information 3

AKSRT new Website 3

NRTW free CEU’s 4

Alaska Licensure Update 4

Job Bank 4

Students Corner 5

Hawaii Workshop 5

AKSRT Officers 5

Claudia Tess ier

Editor

Upcoming Events

November 3rd-9th, 2013 Radiologic Technology Week January 11th -13th, 2014 AKSRT Hawaii (Maui) Workshop February 23 and 24th, 2014 AK Imaging Managers & PACS Administrators Conference @ Alyeska Resort May 9th-10th, 2014 Anchorage hosts AKSRT annual meeting & Educational Conference

.

The 2014 Student & Radiographer's Seminar in Atlanta - March 1-4, 2014. Link to details Atlanta Seminar

Letter from the President

Page 2 of 5 AKSRT Newsletter

AKSRT Newsletter

Page 3 of 5

In 1997 ASRT launched an aggressive campaign to protect patients

from overexposure to radiation during radiologic procedures and help

reduce the cost of administering health care.

Since the 1999 Congressional session, ASRT As the health care reform debate takes

shape in both the House and Senate on Capitol Hill, the American Society of

Radiologic

Technologists is asking medical imaging and radiation therapy

professionals to get involved and have their voice heard. The ASRT

encourages all radiologic technologists to contact their

congressional representatives and ask them to include the

Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical

Imaging and Radiation Therapy, or CARE, bill in discussions on

health care reform. By supporting the CARE bill, Congress can:

Reduce health care costs. Accurate diagnosis and fewer

repeat exams and delays in treatment will save the Medicare

program millions of dollars.

Maximize patient safety. Establishing certification

standards will ensure that all medical imaging and radiation

therapy personnel have the proper education and skills to

administer radiation safely.

Increase quality. Competent, educated and certified

technologists and therapists will increase overall exam and

treatment quality. Patients’ satisfaction is increased.

For more information about the CARE bill, visit the ASRT website

Support the CARE Bill

Contact Congress Now

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has long supported certification standards for all individuals performing medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures. The Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill will ensure that individuals performing all aspects of medical imaging and radiation therapy are qualified. The CARE bill will:

Reduce health care costs. Accurate diagnosis and fewer repeat exams and delays in treatment will save the Medicare program millions of dollars.

Maximize patient safety. Certified individuals perform exams and treatments safely, accurately and effectively while minimizing radiation exposure.

Increase quality. Competent, educated and certified technologists and therapists increase overall exam and treatment quality. Patients’ satisfaction is increased.

Call your Congressional representative and senators immediately. Ask them

C A R E

Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy

The AKSRT has a new website,

population of pages is a slow progress. We have a new committee

working on keeping it up updated. Soon we will also be on Facebook. Please visit our website and let us

know how we are doing!

AKSRT.COM

AKSRT New Website

Providing the

Alaska

Technologist with

a source of

Information and

Opportunities

AKSRT

We’re on the Web! www.AKSRT.com

CELEBRATE with Free CEU’s for NRTW

from Toshiba and Philips November 3rd to the 9th, 2013

April 2013at The 28

th Alaska Legislative session came

to an end with no action on the licensure legislation. Attempts to find a majority Representative sponsor or Senate sponsor were unsuccessful. Through the summer and into the fall, the committee will continue to seek a sponsor for the legislation. We are hopeful that the legislators will have more time to discuss the legislation when they are in their home districts and away from the issues they are focused on during the legislative session. In December 2012, the ASRT sent a survey to over 500 Registered Radiologic Technologist in Alaska to assess interest in licensure issues and to help the AKSRT recruit new members. There were forty-six responses to the survey. One of the questions on the survey asked if the survey participant supported licensure. Forty of the participants said they support licensure, two said they did not and four did not respond. Another question asked if they would be willing to do to show support for state licensure and listed five options. The results of responses were as follows:

Contact local a legislator to voice support: 21

Help to recruit other R.T.s to support licensure: 10

Serve on a AKSRT committee: 5

Participate in AKSRT grass-roots advocacy efforts like calls-to-action: 4

Attend a R.T. day at the state capitol: 14

Follow-up to the survey responses to licensure based questions began in late February and early March. Emails and calls are being made to all individuals who are interested in assisting with licensure efforts. The ASRT is encouraging the AKSRT to plan a R.T. day in Juneau in 2014. More details will be distributed at a later date. Please check out the latest version of the bill and additional legislative information at the links provided on the AKSRT website.

Donna Rufsholm, R.T. (R)(M) Legislative Affair Committee Chair 235-0360 work 299-2046 home Email: donna.rufsholm@acsalaska.net

Celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week with 14 free CEU’s by Toshiba &/or 2.5 CEU’s from Philips. Click on the link to go to our website for more information

Free CEU’s: for Members only- Password: NRTWfree (case sensitive)

Looking for Job

opportunities?

Look under the

ASRT Job Bank®

For more

information!

AKSRT Newsletter Page 4 of 5

Alaska Licensure Update

Exciting news! UAA will have the first graduating class of Ultrasound Techs in 2014. The 2 year course is a much sought after opportunity to start a great profession within the Radiology spectrum and also a great chance to further education to many Radiologic Technologists. Good luck to the students and we hope to have more information to share soon.

AKSRT Officers

SOCIETY OFFICERS

PRESIDENT: Robert McClung VICE-PRESIDENT: Clyde E. Pearce

SECRETARY: Maggie Willis TREASURER: Claudia Tessier

AKSRT COMMITTEES

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE 2014 Robert McClung Kathryn Slagle

Tiffany Peterson Jodi Izykowski

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Chair Person:

Donna Rufsholm, Rhonda Merrihew Claudia Tessier

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Maggie Willis

BYLAWS COMMITTEE Dale Collins

INCORPORATION Dale Collins

WEBSITE COMMITTEE Clyde Pearce

Claudia Tessier Cecilia Del Rio

NEWSLETTER CO-ORDINATORS Claudia Tessier Cecilia Del Rio

AKSRT Newsletter

Students Corner

Class of 2014 Anchorage: Andrea Juliussen, Andrea Kettler, Bethany Morgan, Blong Xiong, Brittany Pickard, Chris Porter, Kimberly Monfrey, Monika Liebig-Williams, Rebecca Williams, Robert Wise Fairbanks: Andrea Valentine, Srianna Chase, Christina Mullins, Rosa Sanchez Juneau: Hannah Clancy, Whitney Rose

Kenai: Zane Peterson

Don’t miss the opportunity. The AKSRT is sponsoring a Winter Workshop in Maui, Hawaii January 11-13, 2014. For more information, including an application form and location go to: http://www.angelfire.com/ak3/alaskana/hawaii2011.html. RE: ECMU931 AKSRT Jan 2014 – Activation Meeting/Convention & Group Department PO Box 68900 SEARG Seattle, WA 98168 Phone: 800-445-4435 The Discount Code ECMU931 has been activated and is available for booking. To use your Discount Code go online to: http://www.alaskaair.com/ alaskaair.com and input the Discount Code when searching for flights. The discount will be applied to any flights meeting the contract parameters. By clicking the “?” next to the discount code box after entering the code you may view a detailed description of the rules. You and your guests may also use the Discount Code by calling Alaska Airlines Group Desk; however a $15.00 per person ticketing fee will apply. Please check your contracts for validity dates, rules and restrictions. Please advise all travelers to verify all current baggage allowances and fees as well as travel policies on http://www.alaskaair.com/ prior to travel. If you have questions about the Discount Code, please contact the Group Desk at 800-445-4435

Coming Hawaii Workshop

Class of 2015 Anchorage: Marlena Acord, Kristen Bell, June Berrett, Crystal Jacbson, Hannah Lee, Whitney Martinez, Candice Mckinnon, Evan Miller, Ashley Mueller, Kandis Price, Erica Shafer, Madison Swiderski, Carolyn Tate Fairbanks: Brianna Conley, Michael McCrae, Jessica Rosser Kenai: Nina Gunell, Kevin Sturgill Ketchikan: Elizabeth Lawson

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