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General Questions
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| Q. |
What is the SDMS? |
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| A. |
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a professional organization for sonography professionals and was founded in 1970 to promote, advance, and educate its members and the medical community in the science of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The Society achieves its purpose by:
- seeking the cooperation of similar organizations
- initiating and overseeing continuing education programs
- stimulating and encouraging research; encouraging presentation and publication of scientific papers
- collecting and disseminating information pertinent to the membership
- publishing a scientific journal and a newsletter
- reviewing and establishing policies regarding the professional status, legislative activity, and welfare of its members
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| Q. |
Who is a typical member of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography? |
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| A. |
A typical member of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography is anyone participating in or supporting the practice of diagnostic medical sonography.
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SDMS members include:
- Clinical sonographers
- Educators
- Research sonographers
- Radiologic technologists
- Sonography students
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Administrators
- Ultrasound-related corporations and businesses
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SDMS members' specialties include:
- Abdominal Sonography [67%]
- Adult Cardiac Sonography [25%]
- Breast Sonography [36%]
- Fetal Cardiac Sonography [2%]
- Neurosonology [14%]
- OB/Gyn Sonography [69%]
- Ophthalmology [1%]
- Pediatric Cardiac Sonography [7%]
- Physician Vascular Interpretation [<1%]
- Vascular Sonography [53%]
- Veterinary Sonography [1%]
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SDMS members practice in:
- Hospitals
- In-Patient clinics
- Out-Patient clinics
- Mobile facilities
- Educational institutions
- Independent diagnostic testing facilities
- Research laboratories
- Doctors' offices
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SDMS members live in more than 40 countries on six continents including:
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia
- Europe
- North America
- South America
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| Q. |
Who can join the SDMS? |
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| A. | Anyone participating in or supporting the practice of diagnostic medical sonography. [Please click on the membership category titles below for information specific to that category.]
| Active |
Any individual, currently practicing sonography or not, holding current registration by a national sonography credentialing body recognized by the Board of Directors (currently ARDMS only). |
| APS® |
Any individual, currently practicing, that has met the standards and qualifications for APS membership as set by the Board of Directors |
| Associate |
Any individual, currently practicing sonography that does not hold current registration by a national sonography credentialing body recognized by the Board of Directors (currently ARDMS only). |
| Supporting |
Any individual, currently not practicing sonography, that does not hold current registration by a national sonography credentialing body recognized by the Board of Directors (currently ARDMS only) |
| Student |
Any individual who is currently enrolled in a diagnostic medical sonography program. Application must be received before graduation. |
| Corporate/Business/Institutional (CBI) |
Any commercial firm or business directly or indirectly related with sonography and/or sonography education. |
The SDMS Bylaws outline the rules governing the operation of the Society. This document includes information about membership categories, as well as the governance structure and methods for the selection of the Society's Board of Directors, creation of committees, and the conduct of meetings. We suggest that you review this important information as it serves as the official rules of SDMS. The Bylaws can be found on our website at http://www.sdms.org/about/bylaws.asp.
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| Q. |
How much does SDMS membership cost? |
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| A. | Annual membership dues are established each year by the SDMS Board of Directors. The current dues structure is represented below:
| Membership Category | United States | Canada/Mexico | International |
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| Student | $40 USD | $40 USD | $50 USD |
| Active, Associate, or Supporting | $145 USD | $145 USD | $145 USD |
| Advanced Practice Sonographer | $179 USD | $165 USD | $194 USD |
| Corporate/Business/Institutional | $495 USD | $495 USD | $495 USD |
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| Q. |
What are the benefits I receive as a SDMS member? |
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| A. | SDMS has a wide array of benefits available for members. Each year these benefits are reviewed to determine whether they represent distinctive opportunities that can be presented exclusively to our members. We also examine member feedback through the Member Satisfaction Survey for suggestions for new benefits. A complete list of member benefits can be found on our website at http://www.sdms.org/membership/matrix.asp.
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| Q. |
How long will my membership be in effect? |
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| A. | You may apply at any time and receive a full year of membership. Once your membership application has been processed, your membership will be in effect for one year.
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| Q. |
How long will it take for my application to be processed? |
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| A. | Membership applications are processed in the order they are received, whether through the mail, online, or via fax. Typically you will receive your membership information and member card within two to three weeks of application receipt in our office.
Note: If you require expedited membership, please go online to join at http://www.sdms.org/membership/join.asp. Once you have completed the online application and submitted your dues payment, you will be emailed a member number with which you can access the SDMS Members Only website.
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| Q. |
How can I check on the status of my membership application? |
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| A. | You may call the Membership Department at 800-229-9506, but please allow 2 to 3 weeks to receive your membership card.
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| Q. |
How many CME credits are available to me once I join? |
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| A. | The SDMS website currently has over 60 CME activities available. The majority of CMEs originate from the JDMS and are valid 3 years from the time of publication. Other CME activities are added as they are developed. |
| Q. |
How many CME credits do I need to maintain my ARDMS registry?
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| A. |
The ARDMS requires that you complete thirty (30) CME credits every three (3) year fixed period. To simplify, SDMS suggests
you complete a minimum of ten (10) credits per year to comply with ARDMS requirements.
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| Q. |
How will the SDMS help me maintain my CME credits due to the new ARDMS audit system process?
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| A. |
The SDMS will continue to track all credits you complete through the JDMS, the SDMS website, SDMS products,
and the SDMS Annual Conference. The ARDMS will accept the SDMS CME transcript as verification of CME completion. You will not need
CME certificates for credits listed on the SDMS transcript. However, you will need to provide the ARDMS with certificates
from other CME courses you have completed.
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| Q. |
What discounts does SDMS offer to members? |
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| A. | If your employer would like to provide SDMS membership benefits to employees, volume discounts are available on membership. Please see http://www.sdms.org/membership/volume.asp for more information.
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| Q. |
Can I join the SDMS and register for the Annual Conference at the same time? |
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| A. | Annual Conference registration normally occurs from May to September (see http://www.sdms.org/meetings/ for deadlines). SDMS members receive SIGNIFICANT discounts on Annual Conference registration. If not yet a SDMS member, you may be eligible to join AND register at the same time to receive the discount. Applicants for Student and Advanced Practice Sonographer membership are not eligible to join and register at the same time because additional documentation and processing is required. Once a membership number has been issued, you can obtain the discounted Annual Conference registration rate.
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| Q. |
What is the best way to contact SDMS? |
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| A. |
There are four easy ways to contact SDMS:
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| Q. |
Who should I contact if I have a specific question for SDMS? |
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| A. | The SDMS prides itself on having the friendliest, most efficient staff in the industry. If you have a general question, please contact us at 800-229-9506. If your question is more specific in nature, please refer to the list of staff and their areas of responsibility at http://www.sdms.org/about/staff.asp.
Note: The SDMS Board of Directors has established a policy restricting information, service, and support to members only as this is part of the value of SDMS membership.
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Advanced Practice Sonographer (APS®) Membership
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| Q. |
What is an APS member? |
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| A. | APS is Advanced Practice Sonographer, and it is a sub-classification of the SDMS Active membership category. The APS is intended to serve as a model for recognition of clinical excellence and appropriate standards of education, training, and certification in a specialty by demonstrating advanced clinical experience and education.
If you have more questions about the SDMS APS membership category, more detailed information is available in the APS membership FAQ section at http://www.sdms.org/membership/apsfaq.asp.
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| Q. |
What is the cost of a SDMS APS membership? |
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| Membership Category | United States | Canada/Mexico | International |
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| APS® | $179 USD | $165 USD | $194 USD |
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| Q. |
What are the benefits of becoming an APS? |
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| A. | In addition to the benefits available to SDMS Active members, APS membership also provides:
- Professional and personal recognition of your clinical excellence,
- Professional recognition of your educational, training, scholarship and certification accomplishments, and
- Professional recognition of your career accomplishments with your ultrasound peers.
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| Q. |
Why are APS dues higher than the other individual SDMS membership categories? |
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| A. | The membership fee schedule is reviewed annually by the SDMS Board of Directors and the APS dues have been set to reflect the additional processing and verification time needed to ensure the applicant meets the APS standards. The process requires individual handling, and the process cannot be automated.
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| Q. |
What steps will I have to take to renew my APS membership? |
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| A. | Please see the "Annual Renewal Process" section of the APS application.
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| Q. |
What happens if I cannot meet the APS renewal requirements? |
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| A. | Your membership category will be changed to Active (ACT).
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Corporate/Business/Institution (CBI) Membership
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| Q. |
Is everyone within a business/organization a member of the SDMS with a CBI membership? |
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| A. | Often a business or organization will chose to become a member of the SDMS because there are membership benefits that are helpful to their business objectives. Many join because they are directly involved in the diagnostic medical sonography community through sales of equipment or accessories, provision of sonography educational materials, or distribution of other sonography-related products and services. Organizations in this membership category designate a "contact person" who will receive all SDMS member information, such as the JDMS, News Wave, and Sound News. This person will also be provided with a SDMS member number so that the Members Only area of the SDMS website may be accessed and member discounts can be utilized. Note: Only this person will be able to complete the many CME test activities available on the SDMS website.
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| Q. |
What are some benefits of CBI membership? |
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| A. | CBI membership provides benefits geared directly for businesses and institutions including:
- Priority notification of Annual Conference Exhibition opportunities,
- Discount on Continuing Medical Education Credit Application processing fees,
- CBI-member only discounts on SDMS mailing lists (electronic delivery only),
- One FREE registration for the SDMS Annual Conference (must be exhibiting to be eligible), and
- FREE logo on SDMS website (CBI member page).
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Student Membership
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| Q. |
What is the cost of a SDMS Student membership? |
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| Membership Category | United States | Canada/Mexico | International |
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| Student® | $40 USD | $40 USD | $50 USD |
Students will be assessed these dues amounts while they are enrolled in their diagnostic medical sonography program.
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| Q. |
Who is eligible for Student membership? |
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| A. | The SDMS Bylaws define a student as "an individual who is currently enrolled in a diagnostic medical sonography program". Membership in this category is contingent on written verification from the student's program director of current enrollment in the program and projected graduation date.
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| Q. |
What SDMS benefits are particularly helpful to students? |
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| A. | Based on feedback we have received from our student members, the top three benefits are:
- Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS) - Students receive a subscription to the JDMS, and it is often used in the classroom. The JDMS gives students the opportunity to acquaint themselves with their new career through "real life" experiences of their colleagues. The JDMS provides useful clinical information and case histories that help the students to better understand the profession.
- Salary and Benefit Information - The SDMS provides results from an annual member survey regarding current salaries and benefits in the SDMS Members Only area. Reports generated from the survey are personalized and provide easy access online 24/7 as you prepare for your career or annual salary evaluation.
- Networking Opportunities - With over 18,000 members (includes over 1,600 students) SDMS Discussion Forums and the SDMS Annual Conference provide an invaluable networking tool. Get information from sonographers and other students about professional issues "live" or "online".
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| Q. |
Does SDMS have a list of resources for sonography and vascular technology students?
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| A. | Yes, there is a helpful list of information and resources available on the SDMS website at http://www.sdms.org/career/default.asp.
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What is required to join as a Student? |
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| A. | To join SDMS as a student member, complete a student membership application and send it, along with a verification letter from your program director, to SDMS Headquarters. (A template verification letter is provided with the student membership application on the SDMS website at http://www.sdms.org/membership/student.asp.)
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| Q. |
What is a student verification letter? |
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| A. | A student verification letter is a signed verification on school letterhead from the student's program director of current enrollment in the program and projected graduation date.
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What if my program director informed me she has sent a student class list to the SDMS? |
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| A. | You may contact the SDMS to verify this information. If the SDMS does have your class verification on file, you do not need to send a student verification letter with your application. Please note on your application that your class list is on file.
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| Q. |
What happens when I graduate? |
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| A. | Students will be assessed an interim rate of $60 for their membership year immediately following their graduation. The following year, Associate or Active dues amounts will be assessed.
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Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS)
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| Q. |
Can I access the current issue of JDMS online? |
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| A. | Yes, in fact, members have online access to back issues through 1985. Through the new HighWire system you will also be able to access thousands of other online journals and Medline. More information is available at http://www.sdms.org/jdms/default.asp
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| Q. |
How do I earn JDMS CME credit? |
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| A. | Each issue of the JDMS will contain at least one CME activity; which, if successfully completed, will award you with continuing medical education credits. These articles and post-tests are posted on the SDMS website for members. Completion of the online post-tests is free for members. http://www.sdms.org/jdms/cme.asp. Note: You will be given only one opportunity to pass these tests with a minimum score of 70%.
Members may also send the completed printed test answer form from their JDMS to SDMS Headquarters for manual scoring. However, there is a processing fee of $10 for each test.
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| Q. |
How many credits can I earn each year? |
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| A. | The JDMS will offer you at least eight (8) CME credit opportunities each year. Many issues of the JDMS may include multiple tests, so it is possible that this number may be exceeded.
Important Reminder! All JDMS CME credits awarded to SDMS members will automatically be tracked through the SDMS CME Tracker program. Please see http://www.sdms.org/membership/cmetracker.asp for more information about this valuable benefit for SDMS members.
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| Q. |
How do I submit an article for publication in the JDMS? |
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| A. | Articles may be submitted either through the mail to the Editor, or through the online ScholarOne system. More information is available at http://www.sdms.org/jdms/authors.asp and http://www.sdms.org/jdms/submission.asp.
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| Q. |
Where can I get a copy of the Transfer of Copyright form needed for submitting a JDMS Manuscript?
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Before an article can be published in the JDMS, Sage Publications must receive a signed Transfer of Copyright form from the author(s).
All authors of an article must sign a copy of this form. This form may be printed from the SDMS website at
http://www.sdms.org/jdms/submission.asp. Once the author has completed
this form, it should be faxed to the SDMS Headquarters at 214-473-8563.
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| Q. |
Can I earn CMEs for writing an article for the JDMS? |
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| A. | Yes, if your article is accepted for publication in the JDMS, you may earn 10 CME credits. Complete guidelines are shown on the SDMS website at http://www.sdms.org/jdms/earncme.asp.
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Educational Resources
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| Q. |
Does SDMS have a list of resources for potential Students? |
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| A. | Yes, there is a comprehensive list of resources for SDMS student members located on the SDMS website at http://www.sdms.org/career/default.asp.
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| Q. |
What resources does SDMS offer for Educators? |
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| A. | There are numerous resources available to SDMS members to assist them in their role as educators. Some of the resources available on the website include:
- Member-Get-A-Member Campaign
- SDMS Membership: Students receive a special price on membership and Annual Conference registration
- Student Membership Application (and verification letter template)
- The Myth of Registry-Eligible
- Scope of Practice
- Clinical Practice Standards
- National Minimum Standards for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- SDMS Code of Ethics
- SDMS Sonography Glossary
- Expanding Knowledge in Health Education: Preparing a Scientific Poster
- Educators Tutorial - Held at the SDMS Annual Conference
- SDMS Educators Discussion Forum
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| Q. |
Does SDMS have information on work-related injury (WRMSD) prevention? |
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| A. | Yes, the SDMS website features a specific section dedicated to information about WRMSD at http://www.sdms.org/msi/default.asp. The SDMS also has a dedicated Discussion Forum for this topic as well.
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