The Sonography Licensure Coalition: Influence through cooperation
Background:
An effort is underway in Oregon to create a new “Oregon Board of Medical Imaging” to establish licensure standards for a variety of imaging professions, including sonography. Seven organizations, including the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU), Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) and the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) are actively engaged in creating a community response to this state-based initiative and have for a Sonography Licensure Coalition (the ‘Coalition’) to discuss the related legislative and regulatory issues. Much of the activity related to this initiative has been undertaken by the current Oregon Board of Radiologic Technology (OBRT). The Coalition participated in multiple public hearings.
We anticipate that the Coalition will be engaged in this effort for at least another two years, as legislative and regulatory issues are addressed.
Legislative Work Group
A Legislative Work Group has been convened to craft licensure bill language for the 2009 Legislative Session. The Coalition will have one representative and there will be one general sonography community member. The Coalition’s representative is Frank Krause and Doug Roberts will represent the general sonography community.
National implications of the Oregon bill
Oregon, should a sonography licensure bill pass, will be the first in the United States to license our profession
At a meeting during the ACC Scientific Sessions, members of ASE’s Sonography Council hosted many of the Coalition members at an informal roundtable discussion. There was consensus that significant progress is being made in Oregon, and that the group will remain active in addressing licensure bills which may arise in other states once the Oregon bill goes into effect.