Continuing Medical Education

SDMS Launches New CME System

SDMS has gone “high tech” with the launch of the new SDMS CME Management System and its expanded SDMS CME Tracker system. Our new systems will revolutionize the way SDMS-approved CME providers apply for and document SDMS CME activities. Please take a few minutes to review the new 2008 SDMS CME Policies and Procedures at http://www.sdms.org/pdf/sdmscme.pdf. Here are just a few of the new enhancements:

• Our new online application and approval process will let you quickly enter all the required information. Alternatively, if you need to submit some of the materials by mail, the online system will give you submission instructions and a checklist so you do not forget anything.
• You can now enter (by typing or copy/paste) or attach and upload required documentation including timed agendas, faculty, promotional materials, etc.
• Online credit card payment of the application fee is now accepted (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa).
• You can now apply for CME activity approval for up to 3 years (plus a discount on application fees) instead of annual applications.
• You now have the ability to designate multiple activity directors under the same CME provider. Each activity director can manage their own CME activities and general users can be assigned to perform data-entry task.
• Corporate/Business/Institution (CBI) membership will now qualify every CME activity your company provides qualifies for member discount pricing, not just those CME activities handled by an individual SDMS member.
• No more mailing/faxing participant rosters – the new online system allows you to easily enter or upload participant rosters and print or email certificates. In addition, CME credits earned by SDMS members are automatically reported to the ARDMS!
• Soon, all SDMS-approved CME credits will be stored in the SDMS CME Tracker system!
• New digital signatures on CME certificates, means you will never have to sign a certificate again!
• Clinical Instructorship credit is now FREE to sonography educational program directors who are the educational program director at CAAHEP-accredited educational programs (current SDMS membership required). And, the number of clinical instructorship credits per calendar year has increased to 6 credits per year instead of 4!

Note: All applications postmarked before July 1, 2008 have the option of applying for CME approval under and subject to the previous SDMS CME Guidelines. Applications postmarked on or after July 1 will be returned and must be submitted online via the SDMS CME Management System. CME activities approved under the previous SDMS CME Guidelines may continue without change. However, when these activities expire, the CME provider must re-apply using the new SDMS CME Management System if they wish to have the CME activity re-approved.

Transition from Old to New!

Several of the beta test users of the new SDMS CME Management System asked to migrate all of their existing CME activities to the new system when it launched. The features cited by the beta testers as the most valuable were the CME Certificate Wizard, the addition of CME rosters to SDMS CME Tracker, and the use of the SDMS CME Tracker logo to promote their CME activity. CME providers can request that their existing CME activities be transitioned to the new system. CME provider must submit a “Transition Request,” which includes a list of the CME activities the CME provider wishes to move to the new system. The agreement lists several requirements and restrictions including, but not limited to:

• The CME activity must comply with the new SDMS CME Policies and Procedures for the transitioned CME activities.
• The CME provider must submit a complete online application using the new SDMS CME Management System for each transitioned CME activity.
• The CME provider must stop using the old CME File # (a new CME Activity Approval # will be assigned - the CME activity’s expiration date will remain the same – 3 year option is NOT available with transitioned CME activities).

SDMS will waive the application fee for existing SDMS-approved CME activities that have been approved by the SDMS Education & Meetings Department for transition to the new system. Transition is a good option if your existing CME activities are not expiring soon or you want to move completely to the new SDMS CME Management System. Only CME activities that have been transitioned to the new system or submitted as new CME activities using the online system will appear in the SDMS CME Management System. Existing CME activities that are not transitioned must continue to comply with the previous SDMS CME Guidelines (including submission of rosters via fax or mail) until they expire. CME rosters for these activities will NOT appear in the SDMS CME Tracker system nor can these CME activities be managed using the new online system.

To transition your existing SDMS-approved CME activities to the new SDMS CME Management System:

1. Register as a provider with the new SDMS CME Management System.
2. Once approved, download the “Transition Request” form from the download section of the SDMS CME Management System.
3. Mail in or fax the signed Transition Agreement to 214-473-8563, making sure to list the activities you want transitioned.
4. Complete the online application for each of the CME activities approved for transition to the new system – be sure to select “Check” as the payment type (do not send a check – application fee is waived).

Can I migrate my existing CME activity to the new SDMS CME Management System, even if it isn’t expiring yet?

Yes, you can start taking advantage of the features of the new online system now! To transition existing SDMS-approved CME activities:

1. Register as a provider with the new SDMS CME Management System
2. Once approved, download the “Transition Request” form from the download section of the SDMS CME Management System
3. Mail in or fax the signed Transition Agreement to 214-473-8563, making sure to list the activities you want transitioned
4. Complete the online application for each of the CME activities approved for transition to the new system – be sure to select “Check” as the payment type (do not send a check – application fee is waived).

SDMS CME Tracker System To Be Expanded

The SDMS CME Tracker system is also being expanded. Once CME activities are approved under the new SDMS CME Policies and Procedures, CME providers will begin to submit their attendance rosters...when then immediately appear in SDMS members' online CME transcripts. CME Records to be Reported to ARDMS Also, watch for upcoming information about re-establishment of automatic transfer of SDMS CME Tracker records to the ARDMS - an exclusive benefit of SDMS membership!

For additional information on getting your education activity approved for SDMS CME credit:

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Continuing Education Department
2745 Dallas Pkwy Ste 350
Plano, TX 75093-8730

Phone: 214-473-8057
Fax: 214-473-8563
E-mail: cme@sdms.org

For questions about your Registry certification or CME requirements, contact the appropriate registry.