Cath Lab Digest - April 2008 - (Page 40)

40 MEETING UPDATE APRIL 2008 The National Society of Radiology Practitioner Assistants (NSRPA) Holds 9th Annual Educational Conference for Medical Imaging Physician Extenders and Mid-Level Healthcare Providers Eileen M. Ferguson, RPA, RT(R)(VI), TJUH-Methodist Hospital Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Left) NSRPA Vice President James Abraham, RPA, RT, past (Left) NSRPA Vice President James Abraham, RPA, RT, past President Eric Burd, RPA, RT and new NSRPA President Wade President Eric RPA, RT and new NSRPA President Wade Carrington, RPA, RT(CT). Carrington, RPA, RT(CT). T he Ninth Annual Educational Conference of the National Society of Radiology Practitioner Assistants (NSRPA) was held at the Gold Coast Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas from February 1012, 2008. More than 200 radiology physician extenders and midlevel healthcare providers attended. The attendees included radiology practitioner assistants (RPA/CBRPA), radiologist assistants (RA/ARRT), and students from Weber State University’s RPA/RA program. Corporate sponsors, keynote speakers and invited representatives from the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), American Society of Radiologic Technologist (ASRT), and Certification Board of Radiology Practitioner Assistants (CBRPA) attended. Ranking and returning sponsors included: Angiodynamics, Bard, B. Braun, Burlington Medical, Cook Inc, Cardinal Health, and Elsevier Publishing. Radiology practitioner assistants are ARRT-registered radiographers who have completed the intensive 2year program at Weber State University, in Ogden, Utah. RPAs are medical imaging physician extenders who perform procedures and assist radiologists by jointly serving the public with state-of-the-art healthcare, access, education and increased patient services. Today, there are more than 350 registered RPAs representing 44 states. Eric Burd RPA, RT(R), past president of the NSRPA, opened the first morning of conference. Vice President James Abraham RPA, RT(R), then spoke of the RPA endorsement by the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) by citing the Radiology Practitioner Assistant as a SIR Clinical Associate Member. This is evident on the membership application located on the website: (www.sirweb.org/beMem ber/beMemPDF/Clnical_associate.pdf). Abraham stressed the growth of the RPA by affiliating and supporting other professional societies. In his last address as president, Eric Burd emphasized the growth of the organization during his terms from 68 members to its present number, 236, and graciously introduced the new President of the NSRPA, Thomas “Wade” Carrington, RPA, RA, RT(R)(CT). Terry Licciardi, President of the Certification Board for the Radiology Practitioner Assistants (CBRPA) spoke next, and introduced Steven Zegar RPA, RT(R), the newest member to sit on the Board of Directors of the CBRPA. The CBRPA is the certifying and licensing body which administers the national certifying examination. M. Diane Newham, MS RT(R)(CT) (QM)(M), Associate Professor at Weber State University (dnewham@ weber.edu) spoke on the status of the master degree program. The proposal is completed and that it will be a distancelearning course geared towards a thesis. Fellowships will also be available. Please refer to the NSPRA website (http://www.radiologypa.org) for updated information. Mr. Carrington then invited the open business meeting attendees for a discussion panel consisting of representatives from the ACR, ARRT, ASRT, CBRPA and the NSRPA to discuss the summit meetings between all parties to determine if a merger could occur between the ARRT and the CBRPA. The essence of the questions was based on the recognition of all entities for the RPA profession and if there will be a merger. Even though the summit meetings have been placed on hold due to an “impasse”, the overall consensus was as Charles D. Williams, MD, FACR stated, “…there are needs for the radiology physician extender.” Dr. Williams also stated that there are a few unresolved issues, i.e., reimbursement, that need to be addressed. While there remain unresolved issues for a possible merger, it was still unanimously agreed upon CBRPA Board member Steven Zegar RPA, RT and Roland CBRPA Board member Steven Zegar RPA, RT and Roland Clements, past CBRPA President. Clements, past CBRPA President. Guest representatives (left to right) Lynn May, Connie Mitchell, Brad Short, Dr. Charles Williams and Bettye Wilson. Dr. Charles Williams and Bettye Wilson. Guest Panelists that communication is key and all are willing to continue with the forward movement of the radiology-based physician extender profession. The first lecturer of the conference was Dr. Steven Gunberg, Chief Department of Radiology; Saint Joseph Medical Center, University of Colorado, http://www.radiologypa.org http://www.sirweb.org/beMember/beMemPDF/Clnical_associate.pdf http://www.sirweb.org/beMember/beMemPDF/Clnical_associate.pdf

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cath Lab Digest - April 2008

Cath Lab Digest - April 2008 Kaiser San Rafael Medical Center Orbital Atherectomy: A New Treatment for Complex Peripheral Arterial Disease Ask the Clinical Instructor: A Q&A Column for Those New to the Cath Lab Contents Clinical Editor’s Corner CEU Education Center The Missing Link in STEMI Interventions — Thrombus Aspiration during Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Predicting Stent Thrombosis Using A Clinical Risk Score Use of a New Guidewire: The Tigerwire Should I Stay or Should I Go? Weighing Options for New Opportunities Navigating Tortuous Coronary Sinus Anatomy Using a Bipolar Lead The National Society of Radiology Practitioner Assistants (NSRPA) Holds 9th Annual Educational Conference For Medical Imaging Physician Extenders and Mid-Level Healthcare Providers Cath Lab & Beyond: A Meeting Update The Ten-Minute Interview with… Dale Hansen RT, CVT Sometimes, You Just Know Twin Circumflex Arteries: A Rare Coronary Artery Anomaly What Do You Think? Meetings Calendar News from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Session and the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) Annual Scientific Sessions in Partnership with the ACC i2 Summit Clinical & Industry News Cath Laughs Classifieds Advertisers Index

Cath Lab Digest - April 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.