Renew Your Membership Today!
What's Inside
Message from the President
Contact the CDC
UConnect Video
See the Value Yourself
New Professional Guideline
Free CME
Tips for the Technologist
Message from the President
Debbie Pirt, AS RVT FSVU
It is almost the end of the year and it is not too late to invest in your future. No matter what your age, SVU is the perfect venue for professional development. According to Wikipedia “In workplaces, professional development refers to the acquisition of skills and knowledge both for personal development and for career advancement”.
Being a volunteer enables you to work on both the local and national level. If something interests you, pursue it and find out how you can be involved. Once you open yourself up to what is outside the exam room, you are on the way to becoming not only a better sonographer, but a vascular professional. If you read an interesting journal article bring it into work and discuss it. Engage your co-workers and physicians and the next thing you know you will be organizing a journal club. There are many ways you can increase your clinical knowledge and skills and grow in your career.
Join an SVU committee, such as a larger committee like the membership or chapter’s committee, if you want to get your feet wet on the national level. The membership and chapter's committee are more broad and have the need for more committee members. Or join the CME committee which is responsible for reviewing educational meetings and programs yet the number of their committee members remain small. Be a mentor or be a mentee. Learn something new or teach something you know even if it is within your own department. Speak at a meeting or help organize it; both jobs are equally important in the scheme of things.
SVU also provides ways for students to begin their professional development early in their careers. The Anne Jones Scholarship (which is accepting applications now) can help with tuition. Additional scholarship opportunities are available to attend the annual conference where there is a special luncheon and events geared to student attendees. Students can join committees and are eligible to run for the student representative on the SVU Board of Directors where they become a part of the governance of our society.
I am reminded of how much SVU has done for me over the years and how I have grown as an RVT and as a Program Director within my own job at the University of Pittsburgh, because of the individuals I have encountered through SVU. In addition to the educators there are the ones who encourage us to get involved and to be better.
Jeanette Brown, MBA, our Director of Market Development, has put together a list of the value of the membership benefits we receive in this issue. Take a look at the value SVU provides and when you receive you renewal reminder, don’t hesitate, continue to be a part of a great professional organization. You should open the door when opportunity knocks.
Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving everyone. It is a holiday devoted to family. Enjoy the sights and smells, the conversations and the meal prepared with love and shared with those that you love. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Contact CDC
Last month we shared with you that SVU had recently ventured into another branch of advocacy, patient advocacy. We have created a form letter which you can find here as well as under the Advocacy tab. We are asking our members to also send one to the CDC and to encourage other healthcare workers to do the same. With hospital acquired infection rates on the rise, this becomes a matter of importance not only for patient safety but for us as healthcare workers. The subject of cuff cleaning was a recent post on UConnect so we uploaded the series of articles written by Molly Cilliberti, RN in the library in case anyone missed them in eSpectrum.
Change Your Picture On UConnect
Last month we shared a video on how to post a discussion on UConnect, now it is time to update your profile picture. Put a face to your name by following these easy steps in the video below.
See the Value Yourself!
When looking at the benefits SVU members received, we wanted to share the actual dollar value of each piece. The total will shock you!
| Product |
Value |
| SVU CME Webinars |
$500 |
| JVU Subscription |
$440-$600 |
| JVU CME |
$120 |
| Live CME Educational Courses |
Three per year, totaling at least $300 savings |
|
Total: $1,360 - $1.520 |
The value above doesn’t take into account additional value such as savings on products, our new UConnect networking platform just for members and our professional guidelines. The renewal period is open and we encourage you to renew today and secure your membership for 2014.
New Professional Guideline Released
SVU recently updated Lower Extremity Venous Insufficiency Evaluation and is now available for members to download.
View the full list of guidelines.
Free CME
Did you know, as an SVU member, you have access to up to 36 free CME credits from JVU (includes three years' worth) and at least six CME credits through our webinar series? In 2013, we offered eight webinars, each offering 1 CME credit, five of them offering AMA PRA Category 1 CME CreditTM.
Take advantage of this exceptional member value today. View the journal or the webinar series.
Tips for the Technologist
- Body Balance
Many of us have become familiar with the term ergonomics and its importance to prevent injury. It is important to remind ourselves of the “little things” we can do to help ourselves in our daily routine of scanning. Read more.
Submitted by Anita Harrington, MS BS RDMS RVT, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA with contributions from Astrid Rothmund, Astrid Rothmund Lewis Physical Therapy, Medford, MA
If you would like to submit a tip to be included in a future eSpectrum, please email them to debpirt@gmail.com.
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