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www.a set .org
MARCH 2009
Volume 33, Number 1
w ww. as et . org
ASETnews
Representing the electroneurodiagnostic profession
Celebrate END Week April 19 – 25, 2009!
2009 END week
is sponsored by ASET and
DO Weaver & Co.
E
lectroneurodiagnostic week is celebrated annually during the 3rd week of April. It
is a week-long event to demonstrate pride in the profession and in the individual
accomplishments of electroneurodiagnostic technologists throughout the world.
It is also an excellent opportunity to educate others, recruit new students into the
profession and to promote END awareness in the community. Below are a few ideas for
your END Week celebration.
• Apply Fp1 and O2 on visitors to your booth/department and run a brief tracing,
asking the patient to blink, smile, move his/her head, close his/her eyes, and the like
• Download the END Week press release template from the ASET website and send
to your local media and allied health organizations in your community
• Have an open house in the END Department and give out brain erasers and add
fun things like Brain Jell-O molds
• Host a patient's health fair on epilepsy and END services
• Make art projects out of old paper EEGs for display
• Pass out informational brochures on a career in electroneurodiagnostic
technology, a patient’s guide to testing, or our most recent brochure describing
electroneurodiagnostics in layperson terms
• Put up a poster display in the hospital lobby or wherever educational materials
are allowed
• Recognize technologists in your department with END week gifts, such as a lunch
cooler, clipboard, or cool lighted pen; offer a special lunch for technologists
• Visit a 7th or 8th grade science class and talk about EEG, brain injuries and seizures
• Visit www.aset.org for more ideas and printable documents, including an
assortment of brain teasers
Continued on page 5 왘
IN THIS ISSUE:
6
ASET Membership 101 –
ASET Forums
11
ASET Sets the Gold Standard
14
Tech Tips:
Multidrug-Resistant
Organisms
18
ASET 2009
Annual Conference
Course Schedules
20
Interest Section Briefings
Call for Nominations for 2009 ASET
Distinguished Service Award
T
he ASET Distinguished Service Award honors individual members for exemplary
service and contribution to the Society and/or to the electroneurodiagnostics
profession. Awardees receive a congratulatory letter from the ASET President with
a copy to the recipient’s CEO and supervisor, recognition and award presentation at the
2009 Annual Conference, recognition in the ASET newsletter, and complimentary ASET
membership for the following member year. 2008 marked the first time the Distinguished
Service Award was given. Two very deserving members, Judy Ahn-Ewing, R. EEG/EP T.,
CNIM, and Lew Kull, R. EEG/EP T., CLTM, MA, were last year’s recipients.
To nominate an ASET member for this award, all you need to do is complete the brief
nomination form, and e-mail, fax or mail it to the ASET Executive Office along with the
required supporting documentation. The nomination form may be downloaded from the
ASET website by CLICKING HERE. The deadline for submitting nominations is May 15,
2009.
Contents
BOARD OF TRUSTEES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ASETnews
Volume 33, Number 1 • MARCH 2009
ASET S TAFF : S PECIAL S ERVICES
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESK . . . . . 4
MEMBERSHIP NEWS & SERVICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ASET FOUNDATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
TECH TIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
INTEREST SECTION BRIEFINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
CREDENTIALING ORGANIZATIONS . . . . . . . . . . 25
READY REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
WORKSHOPS, COURSES AND SEMINARS . . . . . . 27
CALENDAR OF EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ASET Staff from left to right. Back row, Arlen Reimnitz, Maggie Marsh-Nation,
Debi Rosa. Front row, Sarah Ecker, Lucy Sullivan, Faye Mc Nall.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Arlen Reimnitz
ASET Executive Office
6501 East Commerce Ave., Suite 120
Kansas City, MO 64120
816.931.1120 [1#]; 816.931.1145 fax
arlen@aset.org
ONLINE EDUCATION
Maggie Marsh-Nation,
R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
2013 Lime Creek Rd.
Kerrville, TX 78028
830.895.7460; 830.895.7461 fax
marshnation@stx.rr.com
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Faye Mc Nall, R. EEG T., MEd
319 Alewife Brook Pkwy
Somerville, MA 02144
617.764.5087; 617.628.7087 fax
faye@aset.org
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
MANAGER
Sarah Ecker
6501 East Commerce Ave, Suite 120
816.931.1120 [3#]; 816.931.1145 fax
sarah@aset.org
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS
Lucy Sullivan, R. EEG T., CLTM
3350 S 198th Rd.
Goodson, MO 65663
417.253.5838; 417.253.3069 fax
lrsullivan@hughes.net
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR
Debi Rosa
6501 East Commerce Ave, Suite 120
816.931.1120 [2#]; 816.931.1145 fax
debi@aset.org
O UR M ISSION
The ASET Newsletter [ISSN0886-5620] is published quarterly
by the American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists,
Inc., 6501 East Commerce Avenue, Suite 120, Kansas City, MO
64120, 816.931.1120.
Periodical postage paid at Kansas City, Mo.
The portion of the yearly dues required for subscription is $19.00.
Subscription by membership only.
Postmaster: Send address changes to ASET Newsletter,
6501 East Commerce Avenue, Suite 120,
Kansas City, MO 64120, USA
MARCH 2009 • Volume 33, Number 1
The American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists, Inc.
[ASET] provides leadership, advocacy and resources that promote
professional excellence and quality patient care in
electroneurodiagnostics. As a membership organization, ASET
advances the field of electroneurodiagnostics by serving member
needs, defining and endorsing standards of practice, providing
innovative educational opportunities, promoting the profession and
building coalitions in allied health and other communities of interest.
ASETnews
2
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By L. Elizabeth Mullikin, R.EEG/EP T., CNIM, MPA, MA, MNM
ASET’s Membership
Grows – Our society
will attain the largest
enrollment in history.
I
am pleased to inform you that ASET’s membership numbers have surpassed
previous years in the second month of this enrollment year 2009. Our greatest
growth is in Institutional memberships, which has increased 16%. Excluding
Institutional members, the overall membership enrollment has increased 14.5%, or 257
more new and renewing members compared to same period in 2008. The Membership
Committee is working along side the Board of Trustees and the Executive Office
executing a membership growth strategy not only to build our Society numbers but also
to cut through a challenging roadblock that plagues national organizations. With
foresight, the ASET Board of Trustees set forth a goal to identify electroneurodiagnostic
technologists who are found working in the field, who are not association members, and
who may not have opportunities for education as well as information about the
certification process. ASET’s Institutional member class enables the Society to identify
and capture information about electroneurodiagnostic technologists employed by
organizations, facilities and professional practice that would have otherwise been
overlooked. The break-through tactic for Institutional membership was adding specific
value added education programs and direct employee access to Society resources.
Timing is everything and the ASET Board of Trustees understands that during this time
of economic downturn specific categories of membership will support technologists in
their professional careers.
For enrolled members, ASET’s Member-Get-A-Member program is designed for a
member to earn a 2010 non-dues membership by signing up four new Active members.
“Trusteeships are so in”
The ASET trustee is increasingly important as the crucial success factor for ASET.
Over the last several years the Board of Trustees has transitioned into a “strategic board.”
Two of the fundamental roles for the trustees are to ensure continuity of leadership and
to ensure that a sound strategy for the success of the Society is in place. The Board of
Trustees represents interests of the member.
The great value of the board is how the trustees guide the executive director through
major decisions. This is where trustees really add value. An effective board is a “trust”
of experience, intellect and energy. Put together they are an enormous asset and
resource for the Society. Your governing board is defining tomorrow.
We will continue to build the value of ASET while deepening the hallmarks of quality
in education, advocacy and service for a positive momentum in our professional lives
that mark our tradition of 50 years. As we reflect on 50 years of tremendous advances,
a persistent passion for our field and neurological diagnostics in patient care know that
this brings us together as “society” to sustain us throughout complex circumstances and
to build our future. This is what makes the foundation of ASET. 쎲
ASET OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
L. Elizabeth Mullikin,
R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, MPA, MA, MNM
Pasadena, CA
626.710.0250
elizabeth.mullikin@huntingtonhospital.com
PRESIDENT ELECT
Leisha L. Osburn,
R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, DABNM, MS
Indianapolis, IN
317.962.8563
losburn@clarian.org
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Kathy Johnson, R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT
Huntington, WV
304.526.1880
kathy.johnson@st-marys.org
TRUSTEES
Kimberly Ann Ellis, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Tampa, FL
Janet K. James, R. EEG T., R. NCS T.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Sharyn Katz, R. EEG T.
Valhalla, NY
Brian Markley, R. EEG/EP T., R. NCS T., BS
Silver Spring, MD
Michelle Nagel, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, BS
Greenfield, IN
Sandra Nylund, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, BS
Great Falls, MT
Riki Rager, R. EEG T., BS
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kristin Roberts, R. EEG/EP T., AS
Long Beach, CA
Mark Ryland, R. EP T., RPSGT, R. NCS T., MA
Parma, OH
Michael Vanasse, R. EEG T.
Providence, RI
Lois Wall, R. EEG/EP T.
Durham, NC
ASETnews
3
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESK
ASET Board Adopts Position Statement in
Support of END Licensure
By Arlen Reimnitz
I
n 1991, ASET was neutral on the
position of licensure for the END
profession. It had, however,
developed a model licensure bill in the
event individual states wanted to pursue
such action. Due to dramatic changes in
the health care environment since that time, a review of the
Society’s position on licensure was requested by the Board in
August 2003. Included as part of that review was the
commissioning of a white paper from an outside consultant to
objectively present information about occupational regulation.
As the result of that review, in 2004 the ASET Board of Trustees
adopted a new position statement on occupational regulation. The
statement reads in part, “The American Society of
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists supports programmatic
educational accreditation, appropriate electroneurodiagnostic
credentialing, compliance with evidence-based national practice
standards, adherence to the END scope of practice, and
occupational regulation. These requirements will help ensure safe
practices quality care, and pertinent education and skills for the
profession of electroneurodiagnostic technology. Occupational
regulation of END practitioners may be in the form of licensure,
statutory certification, or registration.”
Since 2004, ASET has been moving toward oversight for the
END profession. Also since 2004, the health care environment has
continued to undergo shifts and changes, and the area of
occupational regulation of the allied health professions has not
been unaffected by these changes. For examples, respiratory
therapy has received licensure in almost all 50 states; interests
representing polysomnography has been working on licensure in a
number of states, including most recently the states of California,
New York, Hawaii, and Kansas. Therefore, at its February 2008 midyear meeting, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the
recommendations of the Governmental Advocacy Committee to
authorize the committee to draft a position statement in support of
licensure for the END profession, and to draft a model practice act
for board consideration. At its February 2009 mid-year meeting, by
unanimous vote the Board of Trustees adopted the following
position statement on licensure:
“Occupational regulation is a necessity in many allied
health fields to protect the health, safety and welfare of
patients. Regulation gives clearly defined scopes of practice for
each occupation and defines who is qualified to be a
professional in each field. The public benefits as a result of the
professionals being able to concentrate on clearly established
guidelines and requirements within their scope of practice.
Although there are existing certificates and registrations for
the electroneurodiagnostic profession, these are voluntary and
are not a requirement for employment or to practice. Although
becoming a registered or certified technologist in one or more of
the modalities that comprise electroneurodiagnostics is an
indication to the public and employers that a person has
sought and achieved competency, it is not a guarantee that the
public is universally protected as it allows for individuals who
do not take the voluntary examinations to practice.
To assure the public that each electroneurodiagnostic
procedure performed is conducted by only qualified personnel,
it is necessary to have in place a regulation that is enforceable
by law. ASET believes that occupational regulation in the form
of state licensure is the most effective means to establish legal
authority for the scope of practice for electroneurodiagnostic
professionals.”
Also by unanimous vote, the ASET Board of Trustees approved
a model bill for the state licensure of the electroneurodiagnostic
practice as recommended by the Governmental Advocacy
Committee. The model bill provides the basic structure and
provisions for what should be included in END licensure
legislation at the state level. The model bill includes: providing for
licensure and regulation of electroneurodiagnostic technology;
providing for and documenting the registration and licensure of
END practitioners; regulating the field of END technology in a
state; creating a state END licensure board; creating a state END
licensure board fund; providing for an appropriation to the state
board from the fund in an amount deemed necessary for the fiscal
year; providing for duties and powers of the board; and prescribing
penalties for violations of the act once enacted into law.
In adopting the model bill, the board noted that it is not the
function of ASET to get involved in the nuts and bolts of licensure
legislation proposed in each state, or to fund individual states’
licensure initiatives. It is the function of ASET to provide the
framework for how to go about achieving licensure. The model bill
is intended to be modified to meet the specific needs of state and
grassroots organizations. A copy of the model bill can be viewed
and downloaded by visiting www.aset.org and clicking on the
“Advocacy” tab. Soon to be added to the site will be a primer for
moving a licensure bill through the state legislative process. A
publication that may be of interest to groups considering an END
licensure initiative in their state is the Guide to State Legislative
Lobbying Revised, by Robert L. Guyer. This publication is a “onestop-shop” for lobbying strategies and tactics. It is available for
purchase through Amazon.com.
ASETnews
4
COVER STORIES continued
Celebrate END Week April 19 – 25, 2009!
Continued from Front Page
The mission of Electroneurodiagnostic week is to;
• Honor and thank electroneurodiagnostic professionals for their
contributions
• Demonstrate the value of electroneurodiagnostic technologists in all
healthcare settings
• Promote END in the workplace and the community
• Increase awareness of neurological issues in all environments
• Educate and encourage prospective students about career opportunities and
growth of the profession 쎲
Call for Nominations for 2009 ASET Distinguished
Service Award Continued from Front Page
The ASET Membership Committee is charged with reviewing all award
nominations and selecting recipients based upon the following criteria:
1. The nominee is an ASET current member with at least three years of
consecutive membership.
2. A supporting letter from the nominator that speaks to the following
attributes (if applicable):
a) Demonstrated active participation at the national and local levels
through leadership or committee participation, program planning and
special presentations (including generating visibility for the profession
such as END Week efforts), product or publication development, and
special task force participation or completion of special projects.
b) An ambassador exemplifying the profession
c) Demonstrated success in the profession
d) An individual maintaining the highest ethical standards
More than one Distinguished Service Award may be presented per year based on
nominations and at the discretion of the Membership Committee. Objective criteria
will be utilized in judging the nominations. The award recipient(s) will be
announced, and the award will be presented, at the Annual Business Meeting &
Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Annual Conference,
August 5-8, 2009, in Phoenix, AZ. The current ASET President and ASET staff are not
eligible for the award. 쎲
From the Executive
Director’s Desk
Continued from Page 4
Governmental Advocacy
Committee Monitors Legislative
and Regulatory Activities
One of the charges of ASET’s
Governmental Advocacy Committee
(GAC) is to monitor state and Federal
legislative and regulatory proposals
that affect the END community. Each
GAC member has been assigned a
group of states to regularly monitor
and report on activities. The list of
state monitoring assignments and
contact information for GAC
members is posted on the Members
Only section of the ASET website
under the “Advocacy” tab. News on
pending
and
proposed
state
legislation, licensure, changes in
procedural coding, and Medicare and
Medicaid issues affecting the END
profession also are now regularly
posted and updated on the Members
Only section of the ASET website. You
can obtain more details on particular
postings, including full text of bills,
contact information for committees to
which bills have been assigned, and
the like, by contacting the GAC
member tracking the state in which
you have an interest. 쎲
SAVE THE DATE . . .
ASET 2009 Annual Conference
The Gold Standard
August 5-8, 2009
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
Phoenix, AZ
ASETnews
5
MEMBERSHIP NEWS & SERVICES
ASET
Membership 101
How to Access the ASET Forums
Using the ASET Website
W
ondering how to staff 24/7,
anesthesia for TCMEPs, how
to calm children, what CPT
code to use…? The ASET Forums are an
interactive way to ask fellow technologists,
to discuss procedures, to find products,
and to debate how things should be done.
There are 15 separate forums – from
Acute/Critical Care to General END
Topics to Polysomnography.
The discussions on the Forums are
meant to stimulate conversation not to
create contention. The Interest Section
Forums Guidelines on the opening page
describe how to enter the forums, rules,
etiquette, and ASET’s responsibilities.
Please take time to review these
guidelines.
To access the Forums:
쐃 Go to the ASET website:
www.aset.org
Earn a 1-year Free Membership –
ASET 5000 Update
H
elp ASET advance the END profession and become a force for advocacy by
reaching its strategic imperative of 5,000 members… AND get a 1-year
free membership in the process.
Continuing with our belief that current members are the best spokespeople
and promoters of the Society, ASET is offering a free membership for one year to
any Active, Associate or Student member who sponsors four NEW Active
members for the 2009 membership year! To sponsor a new member, all you need
to do is have him or her enter your name where it asks for the “Sponsoring
Member/Who Introduced you to ASET” on either the hardcopy or online member
application form.
Members who successfully sponsor the minimum of four new Active members
for the 2009 member year will have their 2010 dues payment waived.
Some tips for recruiting your co-workers and colleagues:
• Download and print the Individual Membership Application from the ASET
Website (click on “Download Individual Application” under the Membership
Tab). In the sponsoring member field, enter your name. Then, tell your member
prospect how your membership in ASET has helped you and why you think they
could equally benefit. Hand them the application, and invite them to join.
Remind them that if they join after April 1, their first year Active member dues
is only $60, and their membership runs through the end of December 2009.
• Take a couple minutes from your day to walk them through the online
application process and when it asks who introduced them to ASET, make sure
they enter your name. To access the online form, click on “Join Online Individual
Membership” under the Membership tab of the ASET website 쎲
쐇 Log in as an ASET member.
쐋 On the Members Only Welcome
page, click on ASET Forums.
쐏 In the middle of the Interest Section
Forum Guidelines click on, “Click
here to visit the ASET Interest
Section Forum.” First time users will
need to register to view or post a
message on the forum. Follow the
directions on this page to register.
쐄 The list of 15 forums will appear.
Click a forum from the list. Click on
New Topic on the right above the
threads to start a new conversation.
To enter an ongoing conversation,
click on the title.
쐂 Enjoy sharing, teaching, debating,
and learning with other
technologists. 쎲
1959 - 2009
Celebrating 50 years of
Serving Electroneurodiagnostic
Technologists
ASETnews
6
MEMBERSHIP NEWS & SERVICES continued
Congratulations to Our New Members [Since 09.12.08]
Institutional Members
Bromedicon
Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast
Conemaugh Memorial Medical
Center
DENT Neurologic Institute
Forsyth Medical Center
Hattiesburg Clinic
Medical Center Clinic
Neurodiagnostic Labs
Nihon Kohden America
Sandia Neuromonitoring
St Joseph's Regional Medical
Center
Winchester Neurodiagnostic Lab
Individual Members
Ronier Abarca
Patricia Adams, R. EEG T.
Gary Adrian
Talaat Agha
Keith Al-Dijaili
Jorge Alvarez
Gary Amaral
Erixon Anaya, R. NCS T.
Payam Andalib
Jalal Atieh
Lisa Bailey
Matthew Bailey
Lauren Baker, RPSGT
Alicia Ballas
Marion Banks, R. EEG T.
Melinda Barrett
Alison Beagley
Melissa Bedgood
Micael Beebe
Susan Bell
Thomas Benton, R. EEG T., LPN
Jenna Beritsky
Jeremi Berta
Anya Berube
Marissa Biever
Rajesh Bindal
Julie Birchfield, CNIM, MS
Nicholas Birk
Steven Bittel, R. EEG T., MBA
Brandon Blaylock
James Blaylock, CNIM, DC
Coreen Bobbette
Aleshia Bolton
Jessica Bond, R. EEG T.
Rachelle Bonifer
Mitali Bose
Jeremy Bouchard
Teresa Bove, R. EEG T.
Shayna Bowman
Sandra Boyd, R. EEG T.
Jennifer Brandon
Dana Bratka
Jordan Breckinridge, CNIM
Gruendolyn Bridges
Barry Brisco, R. EEG T.
James Brooks, CNIM, RPSGT
Megan Brower, DC
Angela Brown
Deborah Brunelle
Amy Bryan
Deborah Bufford
Peter Buhay, R. NCS T.
Benjamin Burdon, CNIM
Michele Buschkotter
Erica Bustamante
Jaime Buzo
Sean Cahill
Kathleen Carlson
Cathy Carman
Craig Carroll, DABNM, DO
Emily Chapman
Jean Charbonnet
Valerie Chavez
Kristel Cheney
Meaghan Christian
Allen Chu
Beth Clark
Robert Clarke, PhD
Travis Clem
Kelli Cobert
Debra Coppock, LPN
Jackie Corrao
Gary Cosmo, R. EEG T.
Cathleen Crawford, R. EEG/EP T.
Gwen Cressman, RN
Catherine Critz
Jataesha Crump, R. EEG T.
Herminio Cuervo Delgado
Tony Cuff
David Cullum, RPSGT, RRT
Lana Curl, R. EEG T., RPSGT
Susan Curlett, CCT
Jamie Curry, R. EEG T., CNIM,
MBA, PhD
Cartez Davis
Martin De La Huerta, R. EEG T.
Dana Dean
J Michael Dennis, CNIM
Julia Dillon
Jon Jon Dizon, MEd
Paul Domer, R. EEG/EP T.
Noemi Dones
Diane Douglas, R. EEG T.
Wayne Douglass, R. EP T., CNIM
Alexander Dubashinsky
Lauren Dunham
Anna Dynowska, MD
Caroldea Eggleston
William Ellis, R. EEG/EP T.
Gourilavanya Eswara
Rita Fawcett
Scott Fedorek, R. EP T., CNIM,
R. NCS T.
Eva Fis
Tracy Fondren
Joann Forsman
Kasey Fox, CNIM
Christy Franklin
Dana Frantz
Bryan Fulmer, CNIM
Pamela Gage
Vivienne Gaither
Kathleen Gallagher
Ivan Galvez
Rudy Garza, LVN
Stephanie Gates, RPSGT
Cindy Gehlman, LPN
Mark George, CNIM
Patrick Georges
Matthew Geter
Robyn Getz, RN, CNRN
Forough Ghahramani
Lacey Gibbons, CNIM
Danielle Gill
Deedra Gillis
Danielle Givens
Linda Gjurich, LPN
Ivelis Gonzales
Daniel Gonzalez
Maria Gonzalez
Rolando Gonzalez
Mark Goodlet, RT
Angela Goracke
Lori Gordon, R. EEG T., CLTM
Don Grace, R. NCS T.
Misty Green, CNIM
Tierra Griffin
Andrea Griswell
Julie Gromoll
Carrie Groo
Colleen Guerriere
Laura Guido, RRT, CPFT
Kristy Gulick
William Gulledge
Phillip Hagan
Catherine Hageman, CRTT
Nicholas Halcomb, CNIM
Nichole Halstenrud
Rick Hamad, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
William Hammer
Kathryn Hart, RN, MBA
Justin Hawkins, RN
Kathleen Hays, R. EEG T.
Tina Heddens, RPSGT
Stacey Helderman
Margaret Herlocher-Nathe,
R. EP T.
Loriann Hernandez
Martina Higgs, R. EEG T.
Jenna Hildebran
Lisa Hill
Judi Hillers
Brad Hodgeman
Sara Hodson
Jeanne Hogan
Heather Holcomb, R. EEG T.
Christopher Holt, R. EEG T.
Anthony Horton
Jie Huang, CNIM, MD
Kerri Hudson
Antonino Incorvaia
Valerie Jaramillo, R. NCS T.
Craig Johnson
Micheal Johnson
Silvia Johnson, R. EEG T.
Audrey Johnson-Correll, R. EEG T.
Joanne Johnston, R. EEG T.
Robin Jones, CST
Stephanie Jordan, R. EEG T.,
CNIM
George Joseph
Nancy Juszczak, R. EEG T.
Maya Karshenboyem, CNIM, MD
Corrina Kater, RPSGT
Catherine Kay
Donna Kebbel, R. EEG T.
Bryan Kehoe
Amanda Kelley, CNIM
Valerie Kelley, RN
Erin Kellog, RPSGT
Ryan Kimberly, LPN
Genevieve Klutz
Silvia Kozlik
Maureen Kruse
Deepak Lachhwani
Aimee Lamerson
Derek Lancaster, CNIM, RPSGT,
RRT
Nakia Langley, R. EEG T.
Margaret Lavoie, R. EEG T.,
RPSGT
ASETnews
7
MEMBERSHIP NEWS & SERVICES continued
Congratulations to Our New Members Continued from Page 7
Deborah Leal, R. EEG T.
Earl Leatherwood
John Lee, RPSGT, RRT
Denise Lehew, RN, CNRN
Douglas Leigh
Muriel Lerner, R. EEG/EP T.
Jonathan Levy
Yunxia Li, R. EEG T.
Brandon Lichtman, FAAA
Evette Licon
Deborah Light, R. EEG T.
Michael Lillard
Debra Livingston
Jill Loli, CNIM
Ryan Londot, CNIM
Betty Long
John Lott
Judith Loviska, RPSGT
Challa Lowry
Jessica Lueth, R. EEG T.
Jennifer Lundstrom
Steven Madrid
Leslie Malkin-Gosdin,
R. EEG/EP T.
Tara Marchesani
Daniel Marko
Yashica Marshall, MS
Mary Ellen Masciale
Beth Masny
Judy Masterson
Christine Mastin
Sandra Mathias, R. EEG T., RPSGT
Mark Matibag, R. EP T., CNIM
Matthew Mauldin
Bryan McCormick
Shaun McCrae, DC
Angela McElderry
Adrienne McGill
Carroll McGorkey
Mary McKinstry
Michael McManus
K. Mario McNeill
Martha Mehdipour
Steve Mendehall, R. EEG/EP T.
Bonnie Merkel, R. EEG T.
Karleton Merz, R. EEG T.
Melissa Messier
Vanessa Metcalf
Christine Miller, R. EEG T.
Phillip Miller, CNIM
Adele Mirabella, R. EEG T.
Miller Miranda
Ronald Montgomery
Charlotte Moore, DABNM, PhD
Beth Moorman
Lisa Morris
Michael Morrissey, RPSGT, PhD
Nicole Moss, CNIM, MS
Rachel Murry
Kenneth Nay, RPSGT
Nona Nazemzadeh-Vaziri
Angelica Nguyen
Kevin Nguyen
Ryan Nider
Tina Nist
Kylie Nystrom
Dell Oakes, R. EEG T.
Barbara Ochs
John O'Renick
Richard O'Rourke
Daniel Osei-Bonsu, CNIM
Haytham Osman
Mary Ovrebo, RRT
Carissa Padgett, R. EEG T.
Sophia Pa-Hin
Pamela Parks, R. EEG T.
Ronny Pasley
Chris Pearson, R. EEG T.
Roger Pennington
Sandra Perotti
Shannon Pierson, R. EEG T.
Elizabeth Pinkhasov, PhD
Ignacio Pita
Deborah Pittman, R. EEG T.
Nathan Pittman
Lori Plazek
Mary Pomer
Eleanor Porneso, R. EEG T.
Don Potter, R. EEG T.
Bryan Potts
Jennifer Powell, DC
David Powner
Ravinesh Prasad, R. EEG T.
Julie Predmore-Fossum, R. EEG T.
Scott Pressley
Amanda Pruismann, R. EEG T.,
CLTM
Karen Pruyne, R. EEG T., CNIM
Kimberly Pullen
Ben Quinn
Kate Quinn
Karen Rama
Anthony Ramirez
Moises Ramirez
Arleise Ramos, R. EEG T.
Karen Ramos
Janet Randolph, R. EEG T.
Michael Raymond
Bryant Reed
Renee Repenn
Jeffrey Reznic, CNIM
Lacey Rhames
Kristin Rich
Michelle Rieman
Zachery Riemer
Danny Rigamonti, CNIM
Mary Riggs
Marlyn Risko, CRET
Barbara Rizk, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Megan Roberts
Elizabeth Rosback
Cali Rose
Teresa Ross, R. EEG T.
Jim Roxburgh
Maurice Ruggs
Susan Rush, CNIM, CCC-A
Alvaro Salazar
Gregory Sambuchi
Arturo Sanchez, CNIM, R. NCS T.,
MEd
Patricia Schmidt, R. EEG T.
Lisa Schultz
Teal Schultz
Laurie Scukanec
Deivra Sears
Shelly Selby
Onile Sestokas
Rajiv Sharma
Rachael Sharp
John Shaughnessy
Gloria Sherin
Minakshi Shukla
Noemia Silva
Nirmal Singh, CNIM, DABNM,
MS
Gregory Slack
Jadwiga Slusarski
Rhonda Sly
Diane Smith
James Smith, R. EEG T., R. NCS T.
Synda Snider
Ezra Snyder, CNIM
Jodi Spaulding, R. EEG T., CLTM
Hollie Spears
Luvenia Spencer, CCT
Leshia Squires
Justin Srygler, RRT, RPFT
Marcell Staples, R. EEG T.
Barbara Stark
Jessica Steadman, RPSGT
Audrey Steele, CNA
Ben Stiling
Eugene Stubbs
Muni Subramani
Rita Sullivan, R. EEG/EP T.
Catherine Swanson, ALAS
Jessica Swehla
Jennifer Swider, CNIM, MA
Tracy Tackett, R. EEG T., CNIM
Kerry Tamone
Penny Taylor, R. EEG T.
Lena Teacle, CST
Gabriel Thomas, DC
Amanda Thompson, RN, BSN,
MHA
Kennith Thuok
Cynthia Thweatt
Daniel Tillery, R. EEG T., R. NCS T.
Fabian Torres
Henry Torrico, R. EP T.
Mallory Tosches
Pallavi Trivedi
Debra Tryggestad, R. EEG T.
Andrea Tucker
Carlita Tucker
Vincent Tufaro
Leah Tvedt
Christi Updike, R. EEG T.
Elizabeth Vader
Kelli Veilleux, R. EEG T.
Susan Vergara, MEd
Deann Vestal
Kevin Vinecore
Scott Volland, R. EEG T.
Armani Voss
Amy Wade
Jennifer Wagner
Pawel Walczak, CNIM, DABNM
Britt Wallace, R. NCS T.
Qiang Wang
Marcie Warner, R. EEG T.
Amanda Washington
John Wayert
Bonnie Webster
Christopher Weidler
Matthew Weyhe
Bryan Wheeler, R. EEG T., CNIM
Grace Whistler, RPSGT
Lesley Wiehle, R. EEG T.
William Wilent, CNIM
James Wilkinson, MD
Angela Williams
Shulisa Williams, CNIM, CLTM
Michael Windom, R. EP T., CNIM
Rima Woo
Andrew Xiaohua Xu, CNIM,
PhD, MD
Amy Yeo
Bryan Yohananov
Alessandro Zalaffi, MD
Kathy Zhu, BS, MS
Teresa Zollman
ASETnews
8
ASET FOUNDATION
Foundation Spotlight
John Knott Educational Lecture Program
A
s a young psychologist, John R.
Knott, Ph.D., became confronted
with the new method of EEG in
the 1930s, influenced by his mentor L.E.
Travis. As told by Ernst Niedermeyer, M.D.,
“Soon he stood on his own feet,
constantly striving for better technology
and greater understanding of the
frequency components of EEG and, in
particular, of its development in the course
of human maturation. As a radio amateur
since adolescence, his interest in electronics
was not limited to biological amplifiers. He
remained faithful to his old hobby until the
very last period of his life. In this manner,
he became a veritable wizard in the world
of oscillators and amplifiers. This
phenomenal technical know-how was just
the basis of his comprehension of the EEG
phenomena. The EEG signal, its polarity
and propagation, was the cornerstone of
his edifice of EEG comprehension.”
Dr. Knott created the EEG Laboratory
at the University of Iowa in 1939, one of
the first in the nation. In so doing, he was
instrumental in developing, and later
defining, the position of EEG
technician/technologists that we have
inherited. Dr. Knott led and shaped the
electroneurodiagnostics profession in
ASET
Foundation
Donors
The ASET Foundation
gratefully acknowledges
donors who have made
contributions since
November 2008. Thank
you for your continued
support of ASET and the
ASET Foundation.
many ways through countless hours of
dedicated scientific endeavors in
electroencephalography and in service to
EEG technology.
Dr. Knott worked throughout his
career for the betterment of EEG
technologists. He was co-editor of the
American Journal of EEG Technology
from 1966 through 1973. He served as
member and chair of the Joint Review
Committee on Education in EEG
Technology (JRC/EEG). He co-authored
Fundamentals of EEG Technology. He was
the moving force behind the formation of
ABRET, traveling across the entire United
States, organizing regional examinations
and convincing technologists that,
through ABRET, there was a road to
increased professional status.
Educator, employer, ABRET organizer,
author, and clinical electroencephalographer, Dr. Knott died at the age of
81 years.
Originally conceived by Albert Grass
and John Knott, the John Knott
Educational Lecture program is a lecture
series designed to bring distinguished
speakers to an area society meeting,
thereby providing exceptional educational
opportunities for technologists who might
Melba Addison
Jose Arvizu
Alberto Balmaseda
Walter Banoczi
Yvonne Bassett
Kay Bechel
Marc Beezy
Olga Belyakina
Lisa Bennett
David Betts
Richard Brenner
Dianne Budzyn
Pablo Caballero
Kathy Caplan
Brinda Cobb
Cathy Cross
Sunday Dale
Elamir Elsherif
Marie Erickson
Debby Ferguson
Janice Fletcher
Michele GalganskiCleanthous
Janet Ghigo
Cynthia Ghunney
Constance Gilbert
Roy Gilbert
Martha Glandon
Ignacio Gonzalez
Penelope Groom
Leah Hanson
John Allan Hardy
Margaret Hawkins
Ghada Hobbs
be unable to attend the national meetings.
Local, state, and regional societies
representing the interests of electroneurodiagnostic technologists are eligible for the
opportunity to host a Knott Lecturer.
To be considered to host a Knott
Lecturer, the society must complete the
Request for Lecturer form in full and
return to the ASET Foundation. Local,
state and small regional societies will
receive consideration over the large
regional groups who can better attract
experienced speakers. Selection also will
be based on the order in which
applications are received; how recently
the society has hosted a Knott Lecturer;
and the information presented in the
Request for Lecturer application. Three
choices for topics to be presented should
be specified on the form. The expected
attendance for the meeting should be 30
or greater. A minimum of 45 minutes
should be allowed for the presentation.
The lecturer’s presentation should be
delivered to the largest gathering of
participants, i.e., to the general session,
and not a smaller discussion or workshop
group. If workshops or open discussion
Michelle Holfester
Major Suzette Izac
Janet James
Dirk Kancilia
Christine Kratsas
Connie Kubiak
Cynthia Major
Brian Markley
Deborah Mason
Laurette Mets
William Mills
Robert Moody
Grace Nde
Sherry Nehamkin
Sean O'Connell
Kathleen Okoneski
Patrick O'Leary
Claire Peranteau
Cheryl Plummer
Giselle Rackley
Mark Ryland
Marlene Sablan
Alefel Salegio
Louise Simms
Leshia Squires
Victoria Stanich
Debra Tryggestad
Karina Vaudenay
Jeanne Yoshina
Natalia Zarzhitsky
ASETnews
9
ASET FOUNDATION continued
Please Support the Fifth Annual Silent Auction
Foundation Spotlight
P
reparations are now underway for the ASET Foundation’s fifth annual silent
auction. The event will be held at the ASET 50th Anniversary Annual
Conference, August 5-8, 2009, in Phoenix, AZ. Items for the silent auction will be
on display in the annual conference exhibit hall. Bidding will open at the Exhibit Hall
Opening Reception on Wednesday evening, August 5, and continue during exhibit hall
hours through the Friday morning coffee break in the exhibit hall. Then, auction items
will be moved to the lunch room on Friday where conferees will have a final 30-minutes
to participate in a bidding frenzy. The silent auction will be closed-out – and funds
collected – during the Friday conference lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The ASET Foundation supports educational initiatives, programs, and special
projects designed to advance and support excellence in quality patient care by providing
resources to electroneurodiagnostic students and professionals to enhance knowledge,
understanding, and skills in the field. The Foundation’s silent auction is its largest
annual fundraising event. Now more than ever we need your help and generosity to
make this event successful. Please consider donating one or more items for the auction.
Past popular items have included gift baskets, DVD players, iPods, digital cameras,
original artwork, handmade afghans and quilts, and the like. To make a donation,
simply complete the form below or visit the Foundation tab on the ASET website to
download and print the form.
All donations to the Foundation’s silent auction, and all contributions, are tax
deductible from your income in the year they are donated. Emphasis from all proceeds
from the silent auction will be placed on the ASET Scholarship Fund, Curriculum
Development Fund, and general operating costs, followed by supplemental funding of
the Foundation’s named funds. 쎲
are planned, the lecturer may be
considered for participation in addition
to his or her lecture.
The John Knott Educational Lecturer
program is supported by interest earned
on a restricted fund as well as by member
contributions to the fund. The ASET
Foundation is responsible for the fund
management and annual selection of the
host society. The ASET Foundation covers
the costs of hotel, travel, and meal
expenses incurred by the lecturer,
duplication of handout materials, and a
lecturer honorarium. The Foundation
supports one lecture presentation within
its fiscal year. For the Foundation’s fiscal
year beginning July 1, 2009, the deadline
for submitting a completed Request for
Lecturer form is July 1, 2009. For more
information on the John Knott
Educational Lecture program and to
request an application, please contact Faye
Mc Nall, ASET Director of Education. 쎲
SILENT AUCTION DONATION FORM
The fifth annual silent auction, held in conjunction with the ASET 50th Anniversary Annual Conference, August 5-8, Phoenix, AZ, is designed to raise
money to support the Foundation’s scholarship and educational programming efforts. The ASET Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization (Fed. ID #770644963) and donations are tax deductible.
Complete this form in its entirety, including the signature, and return to the ASET Executive Office no later than July 15, 2009. If you are donating
more than one item, please copy this form and return one form per item.
The item is [please check one]:
Name ________________________________________________________________________
Company/Institution _____________________________________________________________
쏔
쏔
Address ______________________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________________________________________________________
Email ________________________________________________________________________
Included with this form.
Will be mailed/shipped to the ASET Foundation
office for receipt no later than July 15, 2009.
[Mail to: 6501 East Commerce Avenue, Suite 120,
Kansas City, MO 64120]
쏔
Will bring to the ASET Annual Conference in
Phoenix, AZ. [must have on site by August 5, 2009]
Item to be donated ______________________________________________________________
I do hereby agree to donate the item stated
_____________________________________________________________________________
above to the ASET Foundation’s silent auction.
Estimated Retail Value $________________
Signature _____________________________________
Description of Item:
[Please be as complete as possible, note any restrictions of use or other information that will be helpful
to a bidder. This information will be used in the auction catalogue and other listings.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date _________________________________________
Return this form to:
ASET FOUNDATION,
6501 East Commerce Avenue, Suite 120
816.931.1120 phone • 816.931.1145 fax
ASETnews
10
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Department of Education Report
Submitted by Faye Mc Nall, R. EEG T., MEd
ASET Sets the Gold Standard
W
ith the current economic crisis, you may have seen
a reference to the term “Gold Standard”. While
listening to NPR the other day, I heard an
explanation of the origin of this term. When talking about
currency, it means that paper money is backed by an exact
amount of gold. The USA had a gold standard until 1968.
ASET has its own “Gold Standard”. That is to support
technologists by offering the highest quality education. We set
the standard very high, to ensure that when you attend an ASET course, you will get
comprehensive, up-to-date information. We have lived by this gold standard for fifty
years, and we have reason to celebrate.
2009 is filled with golden opportunities for you. Check out our Spring Seminar
Courses, hosted by the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, to read about the details of
these courses CLICK HERE.
I have been working with the ASET 2009 Program Committee and five Course
Directors, to plan the General Session and Annual Courses for our Golden
Anniversary celebration in Phoenix.
The local medical community in Phoenix has been absolutely wonderful to work
with, and many area physicians and technologists have offered to
speak, or have networked with me to cover a specific
topic. It has truly been a gold mine of talent!
You will see details of the annual
conference in this newsletter, but like a
proud parent, I must boast about a few of
the meeting highlights!
• The 2009 Annual Symposium – “The
Emerging State of Emergency END”: As new
treatments for neurological disorders emerge,
neurodiagnostics have become an integral part of urgent patient care. In the
E.R., O.R., ICU, and now in the Interventional Radiology Suite for treatment of
strokes, you will find END Technologists on-duty at any time of the day or night.
This symposium will address the challenges of emergency coverage.
• EEG Key Topics – “Hypotermia Protocol for Neonates” This lecture will address
another use for urgent EEG monitoring.
• Trends in END Technology – “Prion Disease Update” Learn more about types
of Creutzfeldt Jakob and “mad cow” disease!
Find out the latest
recommendations to prevent spread of these deadly diseases.
• Advanced IONM – “MEPs and SSEPs in Pediatric Spinal Surgery” - Dr. Jarrar
will discuss special techniques and protocols to optimize recording MEPs and
SSEPs for pediatric patients during corrective spinal surgery.
• LTM/Epilepsy – “Surgical Treatment for Epilepsy: Case Studies, an Interactive
Workshop” This will be an excellent opportunity for anyone planning to take the
CLTM exam!
• Professional Development – “Marketing your END Lab/Service” – When patients
and doctors can choose which facility to use for diagnostic services, it is essential
that you market your END lab or monitoring service and get “name recognition”.
• Evoked Potentials and NCS Courses – We will offer hands-on workshops in both
of these courses, with small groups, expert facilitators and ample opportunity to
pick up new skills. 쎲
Long-Term Monitoring
Publications; Revised
and Updated
Long-Term Epilepsy Monitoring:
How to Set Up and Maintain a
Unit: Second Edition
2009; 185 pages
Valuable information that will help you
set up and run a long-term epilepsy
monitoring unit is found in this
publication. Three new articles are
included in the Second Edition
including the ACNS Guideline Twelve:
Guidelines for Long-Term Monitoring
for Epilepsy and the Infection Control:
2008 Review and Update for
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists.
Some of the topics covered include:
• recording equipment, video and
computer components, networking
and archiving options,
• staffing and technical competencies
for LTME,
• Phase I presurgical protocols, and
• Phase II epilepsy surgery protocols.
Long-Term Epilepsy Monitoring:
Clinical, Electrographic and
Radiological Findings: Second
Edition
2009; 181 pages
The highly varied, amazing clinical,
EEG, and radiological findings seen
during LTME are described in this
book. Five new articles are included in
the Second Edition.
Topics include:
• EEG findings in adult and pediatric
seizure disorders,
• seizure semiology,
• Wada testing,
• vagal nerve stimulation,
• reflex epilepsy,
• cognitive testing during seizures, and
• psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. 쎲
ASETnews
11
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT continued
And the Award Goes To…
2008 Kathy Mears Education Award
M
any of you are familiar
with the Kathy Mears
Memorial Lecture,
which makes it possible for us to
bring a highly respected END
Technologist
to
give
a
presentation during the Annual
Conference General Session. But
did you know that we also have a
Kathy Mears Education Award?
Kathy was a past-president of
ASET and ABRET, and was also
an enthusiastic mentor and Amanda Clements and the McLennan Community College END
educator for END technologists. Technology Program were awarded the 2008 Kathy Mears
In memory of her dedication to Education Award.
educational endeavors in our
field, this award supports END Programs and outstanding students.
END Technology programs that are accredited by CAAHEP are eligible to apply for this
award, which provides $500 to the recipient selected by the K. Mears Award Committee.
The award is divided, and a $300 scholarship goes to the student who is nominated by the
Program Director. The student selection is based on academic achievement and leadership
and volunteerism efforts, with a lesser emphasis on financial need. The remaining $200 is
awarded to the END School to fund the purchase of an item that will contribute to the
success of the Program and benefit the students and faculty.
Congratulations to Amanda Clements, and the McLennan Community College END
Technology Program, as recipients of the 2008 Kathy Mears Education Award. Amanda is
President of the END/PSG Club at the college. She has personally encouraged each of the
new students to join and participate in the club, and has conducted fundraising to establish
an endowed scholarship for her END Program. Mary Feltman, her Program Director, will
use the award to purchase ASET conference call CDs on a variety of topics, to enhance
their library of study resources. 쎲
Indianapolis Making Great Strides in
Field of END
T
he Clarian Health END Technology program in Indianapolis, Indiana started its
first class in March of 2000. They have graduated five classes so far with 100% of
the graduates successfully achieving R. EEG T. and 75% are double or more
boarded. The school was initially CAAHEP accredited in EEG and EP. Debby Ferguson,
Program Director, has announced that as of January 2009, they are now accredited in EEG,
EP, PSG and NCS. This has made them the first END program in the country to be
accredited in four specialties! They are also the first and ONLY accredited nerve
conduction study program in the country! Congratulations to the staff, students and
graduates of Clarian Health!
Indianapolis also boasts three ABRET accredited END labs, which is more than any
other city in the country! These hospitals include Clarian Health’s Indiana University
Medical Center and Riley Hospital for Children, Clarian Health’s Methodist Hospital and
St. Vincent’s Hospital. Indianapolis is sure to be the place to go for END! 쎲
ASET
2009
2nd Quarter
Webinar
Lecture
Series
Schedule
APRIL
April 1st
Brachial Plexus Anatomy and
NCS Testing with Case Studies”
by Melody Kise, R. NCS T.
April 8th
MEG: Magnetoencephalography
by Susan Bowyer, MD
April 22nd
Event Monitoring in the ICU
by Stephan Schuele, MD
April 29th
SUDEP - Sudden Unexpected Death
in Epilepsy
by Robert Bonsetsch, MD
MAY
May is “STROKE MONTH”
May 6th
Special Extended Full-Day
Webinar: Evoked Potentials
by Selected Faculty
May 13th
Monitoring the Recurrent
Laryngeal Nerve
TBA
May 20th
IONM Using Motor Evoked
Potentials
by Alan Legatt, MD, PhD
Wednesdays at:
12 noon central time
1:00 p.m. eastern time
11:00 a.m. mountain time
10:00 a.m. pacific time
ASETnews
12
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT continued
Request for 2009 Theda Sannit Outstanding
Educator Award Recommendations
T
his award is presented each year to an individual whose contribution to the
education of END technologists is worthy of special recognition. It is time
for ASET to select the recipient of this award for 2009. We would appreciate
recommendations from members to aid us in the selection process. Please keep in
mind that this educator must have made contributions on a national level, rather
than just locally. ASET staff members are not eligible for the award, and this award
may be bestowed on an individual only once.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria for the Outstanding Educator
The educator may be a technologist or physician with the following:
• A minimum of five years experience in END
• Professional contributions in the areas of publications, teaching/training,
and/or educational development
• Demonstration of educational expertise in both national and regional society
involvement, such as directing programs, providing instruction, and creating
training materials
• Teaching experience in a formal END program is desirable.
To recommend a candidate, please send the Award Committee the name of the
person with a brief note stating the reason for your recommendation. The deadline
for submitting recommendations is April 30th. Please send your recommendation
to Jie Zhang, committee chair, at jie.zhang@cchmc.org.
The committee will review those recommended and present a list of names to
the ASET Board of Trustees for a vote. The award is given to the chosen recipient
at the annual conference.
Theda Sannit was the first recipient of this award in 1990. ASET has presented
the award to the following educators in the subsequent years:
1992
1993
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
. . . . . . . . . . . .Margaret Gordon, R. EEG T.
. . . . . . . . . . . .Larry Head, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, RPSGT
. . . . . . . . . . . .Kathleen Mears, R. EEG/EP T. (posthumously)
. . . . . . . . . . . .Lewis Kull, R. EEG/EP T.
. . . . . . . . . . . .Andrea Erwin, R. EP T., CNIM
. . . . . . . . . . . .Patti Baumgartner, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
. . . . . . . . . . . .Lucy Sullivan, R. EEG T.
. . . . . . . . . . . .Clay Pollert, R. EEG T.
. . . . . . . . . . . .Jean Wilkins Farley, MA, R. EEG T.
. . . . . . . . . . . .Walt Banoczi, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, RPSGT
. . . . . . . . . . . .Margaret Walcoff, MEd, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
. . . . . . . . . . . .Ernst Niedermeyer, MD
. . . . . . . . . . . .Becky Meng, R. EEG/EP T.
. . . . . . . . . . . .Maureen Bendyna, R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT, CNIM
. . . . . . . . . . . .Janice Walbert, R. EEG/EP T.
. . . . . . . . . . . .Jerry Morris, MS, R. NCS T.
IONM 100 Neuroanatomy and
Neurophysiology
ASET On-line Course Review
By Sabrina Faust, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
I
have always enjoyed case study
presentations at meetings and the
opportunity to gain a deeper,
functional understanding of neuroanatomy through clinical case studies
really appealed to me.
IONM 100 - Neuroanatomy and
Neurophysiology is a 14 week on-line
course taught by Dr. Donald York, which
is offered by ASET. This course uses the
textbook “Neuroanatomy Through
Clinical Cases” by Hal Blumenfield, MD,
PhD, Sinauer Associates, Inc, 2002
edition that you will need to acquire prior
to starting the class.
The course consists of weekly
assignments that cover one to three
chapters at a time, and a question and
answer assignment along with a weekly
group discussion. In this discussion
group, you choose one question/answer
from the week to discuss with the group.
This course covers the general H&P
exam, Sensory and Motor function of the
cerebral cortex and pathways, the
neurologic exam in full, spinal nerve roots,
Cranial Nerves, Vascular Supply, Neuroradiology, and higher-order cerebral
function. The textbook has some of the
best anatomy illustrations I have seen and
gives periodic mnemonics throughout.
Whether you are new to the END field,
studying for boards, entering the IONM
field or just want a good refresher or
better understanding of Neuroanatomy
and Neurophysiology at its best, this class
is for you. Ever wanted to know more
about MRIs, CTs, Xrays and Angiograms?
This book covers it! 쎲
ASETnews
13
TECH TIPS
Multidrug-Resistant Organisms
By Lucy Sullivan, R. EEG T., CLTM
M
ultidrug-resistant
organisms
(MDROs)
are
microorganisms, predominantly bacteria, that are
resistant to one or more classes of antimicrobial agents.
New MDROs continue to emerge. Following is a list of some of the
most common MDROs:
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)
• Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli
• Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP)
• Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA)
• Multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR TB)
• Extensively drug resistant M. tuberculosis (XDR TB)
An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the
growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Since most
of the MDROs are bacterial infections, the drug resistance is to
an antibiotic. A broad-spectrum antibiotic acts against a wide
range of disease-causing bacteria and acts against both Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria. A narrow-spectrum
antibiotic is effective against only specific families of bacteria.
Why have MDROs appeared and why do they continue to
mutate/evolve? One of the major reasons is that improper use
and overuse of antibiotics have lead to the evolution of tougher
strains of bacteria. Physicians prescribe antibiotics when they are
not needed. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used when narrowspectrum antibiotics are more appropriate. Patients demand
antibiotics for every infection, whether they need them or not.
An antibiotic is ineffective against a viral infection. Stopping
antibiotics too early kills the weak microorganisms, leaving the
strong to develop resistance, flourish, and perhaps spread
through the community.
Other reasons for the MDRO invasion are illnesses for which
antibiotics are prescribed, such as childhood ear infections and
sinus infections, are on the rise. Global travel is quickly and
widely transferring multidrug-resistant organisms. The
increased use of invasive devices (dialysis and urinary catheters,
endotracheal tubes, central lines) in patients is providing easier
access routes for MDROs. Increasing numbers of hospitalized
patients have weakened immune systems due to chemotherapy,
HIV, and immunosuppresants. Repeated contact with the
healthcare system is a major risk factor for acquiring a MDRO.
Options for treating patients with MDROs are extremely
limited. Increased lengths of stay, costs, and mortality have been
linked to MDROs.
Colonization is when the organism is present in or on the
body but is not causing illness. Many of us are colonized with
MRSA but since we have intact skin and are healthy, we do not
have an active infection. Infection is when the organism is
present and is causing illness.
Good hand hygiene is the primary prevention measure for
preventing the spread of MDROs. Standard Precautions should
be used and Contract Precautions are recommended for patients
with MRSA and VRE. The colonized or infected patient should
be placed in a single room, if possible, or in a room with a patient
who is colonized or infected with the same organism. Active
surveillance cultures are performed until the patient is culturenegative for the MDRO.
Accurate diagnosis of infectious etiologies is essential and
leads to judicious antimicrobial selection and utilization. For
instance, a broad-spectrum antibiotic may be used at admission
but once the bacterium causing the infection is identified, a
narrow-spectrum antibiotic can be prescribed.
Improvement in communication about patients with
MDROs within and between healthcare facilities is key in
slowing down and eventually stopping the spread of MDROs.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was first
isolated in US in 1968. In 1974, MRSA was 2% of the total
number of staph infections, in 1995 22%, and in 2004 MRSA was
63% of the total number of staph infections.
Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) are new strains
of MRSA in the community found in people without risk factors.
The CA-MRSA is a different strain of MRSA than the MRSA
seen in hospitals. CA-MRSA presents most commonly as minor
skin and soft tissue infections such as pimples or boils. It can be
passed on by sharing towels, clothing, and athletic equipment
and has been reported among football and wrestling teams. CAMRSA has caused severe invasive disease including necrotizing
pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, severe osteomyelitis, and a
sepsis syndrome with increased mortality has been described in
children and adults.
To prevent community-associated MRSA, practice good
hand hygiene which includes carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer
ASETnews
14
TECH TIPS continued
Multidrug-Resistant Organisms
Continued from page 14
with at least 62% alcohol, keep your personal items personal,
keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered, shower after athletic
games or practices, and use antibiotics appropriately.
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) is found in the
digestive and genital tracts, is normally benign, and doesn’t cause
problems in healthy people. VRE is found in hospitals in severely
ill patients usually of a very young or old age. Patients with
chronic kidney failure and patients with medical devices such as
urinary catheters and central lines that stay in for some time are
more likely to be adversely affected by VRE. In the United States,
VRE has not been found outside of the hospital setting so there
is little chance or concern that VRE will become epidemic in
healthy populations. VRE has been cultured off hospital
equipment, door knobs, bedrails, and the hands of hospital
personnel. VRE has been found after 5 seconds of handwashing
so at least 15 seconds of handwashing is recommended.
Review your hospital’s/facility’s infection control policies and
procedures regarding MDROs. “No data are available that show
antibiotic-resistant bacteria are less sensitive to the liquid
chemical germicides than antibiotic-sensitive bacteria at
currently used germicide contact conditions and concentrations”
(Rutala and Weber 2008). Remember that MDRO colonization is
difficult to detect so treat all electrodes as potentially
contaminated by a MDRO and also by blood (Bild 1997).
Antiseptic/soap are germicides applied to living tissue and
skin. Detergents and disinfectants are applied to inanimate
objects. Disinfectants are not used on the skin because they can
injure skin and other tissue. And the soap in the sink dispenser is
made for your hands, not to disinfect your electrodes.
MRSA and VRE live on environmental surfaces such as EEG
electrodes, electrode wires, and the keyboard on the EEG
instrument. “…maximum effective disinfection and sterilization
results from first cleaning and removing organic materials and
inorganic materials…” (Rutala and Weber 2008). So scrub your
electrodes to remove all debris before placing them in the
chemical germicide (whether it is a sodium hypochlorite
[bleach] solution or a commercial product). The electrode
manufacturer should include disinfection protocols with the
labeling instructions. Single-use, disposable scalp EEG electrodes
are now available from multiple manufacturers. Contact your
Infection Preventionist personnel with any questions.
It is estimated 1/3 of the world’s population is infected with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) with nearly 9 million persons
developing the disease each year. Close to 2 million people die
per year from TB complications. TB occurs predominantly in
“resource-limited” countries but also occurs in the US.
In 1985 to 1992, the US had a resurgence in TB cases that
included a rise in the number of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR
TB) cases. MDR TB is TB that is resistant to at least two of the
best anti-TB drugs. New drugs were approved in 1994 and 1998
and the incidence of TB in US decreased.
In 2006 results of a global survey identified extensively drug
resistant TB (XDR TB). XDR TB is found in every region of the
world including the US, is resistant to first-line and second-line
drugs, and raises concerns about the possibility of epidemics of
virtually untreatable TB.
How did drug resistance to first-line and second-line TB
drugs happen? The patients do not complete their full course of
treatment. Healthcare providers prescribe the wrong treatment,
wrong dose, or length of time for taking the drugs. The drugs are
of poor quality. The patients develop active TB disease after
having taken TB medication in the past.
Infection control for TB is different from MRSA and VRE
because TB is transmitted via the air when a person with TB
coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. TB can float in the air for hours.
People who breathe in the air containing TB microorganisms can
become infected. Standard Precautions and Airborne
Precautions (including negative air pressure room and
respiratory protection) must be used.
“The prevention and control of MDROs is a national priority
– one that requires that all healthcare facilities and agencies
assume responsibility” (Siegel et al. 2006). 쎲
REFERENCES:
Bild S. Detection of occult blood on EEG surface electrodes.
Am J Electroneurodiagnostic Technol 1997; 37:251—57.
Rutala WA, Weber DJ. Guideline for disinfection and
sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. On the Internet at: www.cdc.gov
Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, Healthcare
Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Management
of multidrug-resistant organisms in healthcare settings, 2006.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On the Internet at:
www.cdc.gov
Sullivan LR, Altman CL. Infection control: 2008 review and
update for electroneurodiagnostic technologists. Am J
Electroneurodiagnostic Technol 2008, 48:140—65.
ASETnews
15
ASET 2009 Annual Conference
The Gold Standard
August 5-8, 2009
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
Phoenix, AZ
M
ake plans now to come to Phoenix, to help us celebrate our 50th
Anniversary of the ASET Annual Conference. This promises to be a
very special experience! The spectacular location for this event is the
Phoenix Biltmore Hotel. This historic property was built in the style of Frank Lloyd
Wright, and is on a resort complex that includes eight swimming pools.
ASET has always been the “Gold Standard” for education in END Technology,
and we will have a special program to commemorate the contributions of many
outstanding technologists who made ASET what it is today. Our 2009 Ellen Grass
Lecturer is Dr. Keith Chiappa, of Massachusetts General Hospital, and author of the
venerated textbook Evoked Potentials in Clinical Medicine. His
lecture will be about the latest in ICU EEG monitoring.
Course faculty will include technologists and physicians who have
a great deal of expertise to share, and an enthusiastic approach to
teaching. There will be extended, interactive sessions in each course,
and a series of Sundown Seminars in a variety of special interests.
You will also experience the history of END Technology in a
timeline museum, with pictures, mementos and equipment from
years past on display. Come and network with the techs who made
such great strides in years past, and with the techs who will be our
leaders of tomorrow.
Scholarships
Available
ASET members: Don’t forget full
scholarships are available! Go to
www.aset.org and click on the
Foundation tab to download the
scholarship application. The
scholarship deadline for the ASET
Annual Conference is May 6, 2009.
REGISTER TODAY to attend the ASET 2009 Annual Conference
and be there as we celebrate our golden anniversary!
ASETnews
16
2009 A NNUAL C ONFERENCE
continued
ASET 50th Anniversary Annual Conference
Schedule of Events
Wednesday,
August 5th, 2009
5:30 – 5:50 pm
Abstract or ASET Updates
1:30 - 1:45 pm
Welcome and introductions
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Exhibit Hall Opening Reception
1:45 - 2:45 pm
Keynote Address –
“Talk About It: A Personal Story
of Living with Epilepsy”
Joyce Bender, Chair-elect of the
Epilepsy Foundation
2:50 - 3:10 pm
Abstract
3:10 - 3:30 pm
Break
3:30 - 3:50 pm
Abstract
3:50 - 4:10 pm
Abstract
4:10 - 4:30 pm
Abstract
4: 30 - 5:30 pm
Ellen Grass Lecture –
“EEG Monitoring in the ICU”
Keith Chiappa, MD
Thursday,
August 6th, 2009
8:10 - 8:20 am
Announcements
8:20 - 8:40 am
Abstract
8:40 - 9:00 am
Abstract
9:00 - 9:50 am
Kathy Mears Memorial Lecture –
END: "Let's Get Fired Up"
Debby Ferguson, R. EEG/EP T.,
R. NCS T., RPSGT, MSEd
9:50 – 10:50 am
Break in poster area with authors
present
10:55 – 11:15 am
Abstract
11:40 am - 1: 40 pm
ASET Business Meeting &
Anniversary/Awards Luncheon
1:45 - 3:30 pm
Symposium: The Emerging State of
Emergency END
1:45 - 1:50 pm
Introductions
1:50 - 2:15 pm
EEG in the E.R. Kenneth Jordan, MD
2:15 - 2:40 pm
Emergency Utilization in IONM
Sherry Nehamkin, R. EEG/EP T.,
CNIM, CLTM
2:40 - 3:05 pm
Treatment of Stroke with SSEP’s
Brian Alkire, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
3:05 - 3:30 pm
Panel Discussion
3:30- 4:30 pm
Break in poster area with authors
present
4:30 - 4:50 pm
Abstract
4:50- 5:10 pm
Abstract
11:15 – 11:35 am
Abstract
ASET 2009 Annual Conference Continued from page 16
ASET’s mission is to keep our annual
conference affordable and accessible for
all attendees. The following prices are for
“early bird” registration, with a deadline
of July 15, 2009.
ASET members: Don’t forget full
scholarships are available!
Go to
www.aset.org and click on the
Foundation tab to download a
scholarship application, and keep in
mind the May 6, 2009 deadline for filing
an application!
Full 4-days (Wed. – Sat.)
Member $500/Non-member $600
2009 Sundown Seminars
General Session (Wed. & Thurs.)
August 7, 2009 • 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Additional registration required - $30
Course Days (Fri. & Sat.)
Topics Covered:
Q-EEG Workshop
CPT Coding Workshop
EEG Board Prep Study Tips Workshop
CNIM Study Tips Workshop
CLTM Study Tips Workshop
Registration Fees
In addition, spouse/guest registrations
are available, as well as some ticketed
events. Youth/teens under the age of 18
will not be permitted in the exhibit hall.
August 7, 2007
SUNDOWN SEMINARS:
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
EEG Board Prep Study
Tips Workshop
TBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
Q-EEG Workshop
(Use in OR and ICU)
Jay Gunkleman, QEEGD . . . . . $30
CPT Coding Workshop
TBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
CNIM Study Tips Workshop
TBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
CLTM Study Tips Workshop
TBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
ASETnews
17
ASET 2009 Annual Conference Course Schedule
Course Offerings for Friday, August 7th
Course Director:
Judy Ahn Ewing, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM
Course Director:
Nancy Haferman, R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT
Course Director:
Erica Seagrave, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Course Director:
Becky Meng, R. EEG/EP T., BA
EEG Key Topics
Trends in END Technology
IONM Key Topics
Evoked Potentials
8:00 –
8:50 a.m.
The EEG in Head Injury
Marc Nuwer, MD
Are You Awake? MWT Testing
Jane Peasely, R. EEG T., RPSGT
EMG in IONM
Brett Netherton, MS, CNIM
Evoked Potential Instrumentation
Larry Head,
R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT, CNIM
9:00 –
10:00 a.m.
The EEG in Hypothermia
Protocol for Neonates
Janet Tedori, MD
Prion Disease Update: CJD, BSE
and Infection Control
Patricio Reyes, MD
Recurrent Laryngeal
Nerve Monitoring
TBA
Anatomy and Techniques of
VEP and BAEP
Margaret Walcoff,
R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM, MEd
10:00 –
11:00 a.m.
11:00 – noon
Coffee Break – Exhibit Area
Nonepileptic Events
Mark Natola, R. EEG T.
Noon –
1:30 p.m.
1:35 –
3:00 p.m.
Remote Monitoring
Mark Helderman,
R. EEG T., CNIM
Anatomy and Techniques of SSEP
Jim Higgins, CNIM
Lunch/Auction Close Out
Name that Pattern!
An Interactive Session
Larry Head,
R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT, CNIM
3:00 –
3:20 p.m.
3:20 –
4:20 p.m.
Transcranial Doppler for
END Technologists
Jeff Balzer, PhD, DABNM, FASNM
TCD: Hands-on Workshop
Jeff Balzer,
PhD, DABNM, FASNM
IONM Case Presentations
Clare Gale, R. EEG T., CNIM
Hands-on Workshop:
BAEPs, VEPs, SSEPs
Break – Exhibit Area
Practical Tips for Electrode
Application
Yvette Sabel, R. EEG T.
Esperanza Wagner, R. EEG T.
EEG in the ICU: Rhythmical
and Periodic Patterns
John Kerrigan, MD
Anesthesia and Multimodality
Monitoring
Tod Sloan, MD
Clinical Utility of Evoked Potentials,
Present and Future
Jonathan Carter, MD
Course Offerings for Saturday, August 8th
Course Director:
Judy Ahn Ewing, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM
Course Director:
Course Director:
Erica Seagrave, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Course Director:
Brian Markley, R. EEG/EP T., R. NCS T.
LTM/Epilepsy
Professional Development
Advanced IONM
NCS Key Topics
8:00 –
8:50 a.m.
Developing the Monitoring
Plan: Recording Strategies
and Techniques
Pat Trudeau, R. EEG T., CLTM
How to Use the Briggs
Meyers Test to Boost Teamwork
Debby Ferguson,
R. EEG/EP T., R. NCS T.,
RPSGT, MSEd
Deep Brain Stimulation
Chris Harris, CNIM
Polyneuropathy
Sheila Shelton,
R. NCS T., R. EEG/EP T., MEd
9:00 –
10:00 a.m.
Quality and Safety Issues in
The EMU
Joseph Drazkowski, MD
Ethics in END – HIPPA,
Transparency and Sticky Issues
Madona Pluegar, RN
BAEPs in the OR
Alan Legatt, MD
Common Entrapment
Neuropathies
Janet James, R. EEG T., R. NCS T.
10:00 –
10:20 a.m.
Coffee Break
10:20 –
11:20 a.m.
Advances in the Treatment
of Epilepsy
David Labiner, MD
Marketing your END/Sleep
Lab or Company
Elizabeth Mullikin,
R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, MPA,
MA, MNM
MEP/SSEPs in Pediatric
Spine Surgery
Randa Jarrar, MD
Neuromuscular Junction
Diseases and Evaluation
Jerry Morris, R. NCS T., MS
11:30 a.m. –
12:30 p.m.
Functional Anatomy and
Neuroimaging
Ed Carlson,
R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM
How to Choose the Right
Equipment for your
END/Sleep Lab
Lois Wall, R. EEG/EP T.
Current Trends in
Intraoperative MEPS
Jeff Balzer,
PhD, DABNM, FASNM
NCS/EMG Case Studies
Todd Levine, MD
Spontaneous & Triggered
EMG with Cervical, Thoracic,
& Lumbar Spine Surgery
Mike Isley, PhD, DABNM, FASNM
Hands-on Nerve Conduction
Workshops: Basic & Advanced
Mark Ryland, R. EP T., RPSGT,
R. NCS T., MA
Terri Hicks, R. NCS T.
12:30 – 1:30
p.m.
1:40 –
3:10 p.m.
Lunch
Case Studies in Surgical
Treatment for Epilepsy:
An Interactive Workshop
James Riviello, MD
3:20 –
3:50 p.m.
The Economic Crisis and the
END Field: A Survival
Workshop for Technologists
Scott Blodgett, R. EEG T., RPSGT
Closing Ceremony
ASETnews
18
2009 A NNUAL C ONFERENCE
ASET 2009 Annual
Conference
Continued from page 17
continued
ASET’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
will include
Hotel Information
END Museum
A room block has been set aside at the
acclaimed Arizona Biltmore Resort and
Spa. Reservations are to be made directly
with the hotel before July 13, 2009, to
secure the special conference rate of $120,
single or double occupancy, per night.
Any reservations made after July 13th,
will be on a space-available basis, and
may not qualify for the conference
rate. Room rates are subject to applicable
local taxes. Check-in time is 3 pm and
checkout is 11 am. Reservations can be
made by calling 602.955.6600, tell them
you are with the ASET conference to
book the negotiated rate.
An anchor piece of the
festivities will be an END
museum. The museum will be
an elaborate display of historical
equipment, supplies, pictures,
and books; showcasing the
movement and development of END technology from its very beginning, to present
time. To that end, we are soliciting donations and loaned items of historical interest
for the museum. Items that we think may be of particular interest include
equipment and supplies from years past, (e.g., old electroencephalograph machines,
electrodes through the years) as well as text books and instruction manuals,
photographs and pictorial records, and the like. Items relating to
electroneurodiagnostics that pre-date 1959 also are encouraged. If you have any
questions about this project or would like to submit an item, please contact Arlen
Reimnitz, ASET Executive Director, at 816.931.1120 or arlen@aset.org.
Known as the “Jewel of the Desert,” the
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa provides an
oasis of lush gardens, glistening swimming
pools, and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced
architecture. The Arizona Biltmore has
been a favorite destination for celebrities
and US presidents throughout its colorful
history.
Timeline Display
The hotel features:
• 739 guest accommodations
• 78 one-and two-bedroom villas
• Eight swimming pools
• Seven tennis courts
• A full-service resort spa, salon and
fitness center
• Five dining options
The adjacent Arizona
Biltmore
Country
Club boasts two 18hole
PGA
golf
courses: The Links
and The Adobe.
For more information and to
make your reservation now, you can
contact The Arizona Biltmore Resort &
Spa at;
2400 East Missouri Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone 602.955.6600
www.arizonabiltmore.com 쎲
As we celebrate ASET’s 50th Anniversary in 2009, walk through time and see how
ASET and END technology have changed over the last 5 decades. ASET’s growth
in membership and educational offerings has been a true testament of
the continued support we have received from you, our members, and supporting
companies.
The timeline display will be positioned on 5 display boards and premiered at our
50th Anniversary Annual Conference at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in
Phoenix Arizona, August 5-8, 2009.
Tech Stories
You can share your stories – funny, inspiring, or sad – from working in
electroneurdiagnostics with your peers at the Annual Conference. You have
helped shape the END community and we know you have seen it all. Whether it
was a strange event that occurred at a previous meeting, or an
embarrassing episode that happened at work, or even an
unforgettable patient experience, we are interested to hear. You
can choose to either present your story in front of a live audience
during the General Session or have someone read it aloud for you.
We’re looking for recent and distant history here, hoping to
capture events through the past five decades. We also welcome any
photographs or other images you might be able to contribute.
Please send these stories and images to:
Patti Baumgartner, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, (patti_baum@sbcglobal.net).
We ask that you limit your stories to no more than 500 words in length and submit
them in a simple text format such as Microsoft Word. We ask that photographs and
images be submitted in .JPG format. For any questions, call Patti at 913.220.8280. 쎲
ASETnews
19
I NTEREST S ECTION B RIEFINGS
Welcome from the Interest Section Coordinator
By Margaret Hawkins, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
T
he military recognizes the importance of solid knowing and understanding of rules
and regulations, procedures and policies, skills and expectations —They call it
“Basic Training”…It is rigorous, demanding, stressful and necessary for becoming
a good soldier. I asked the Special Interest Section Leaders to take a step “back-to-basics” this
month and share some event, technique or concept they learned early on in their careers that
has served them well all throughout the years they have been involved in this wonderful field
of electroneurodiagnostics. Their stories are entertaining (I could relate to them all!!),
insightful, delightful and useful. May we never tire of incorporating the basics into our
everyday tasks and of seeing how important they are as building blocks for every new task
we take on.
ACUTE/CRITICAL CARE END
By Patrick O’Leary, R. EEG T., CLTM, RPSGT
After working for over thirty-five years in the END field I find that I am still learning. There have
been many people who have had a positive influence in my development and I am sure there are more
to come. Some of these people especially stick out in my mind as I reflect back over the years. One such
person was a neurologist that I worked with in the early 70s at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. Each
morning he would come into the EEG lab to read the previous day’s EEGs. We techs were to write a
technical description of each EEG we recorded. We would all sit around the desk and Dr. Brait would
read the patient’s reason for referral and then predict what he would find in the EEG. He would then
read our technical description while paging through the EEG. If we were accurate in our descriptions,
Dr. Brait would buy us coffee. If we were wrong we would have to buy him coffee. He always made
learning fun and inspired me to want to know more about EEG and not just to be satisfied with being
able to identify artifacts. My desire to want to be able to “read “an EEG beyond its technical quality and
actually understand it clinically came from Dr. Brait.
Another individual that had a significant influence on my career development was a neurosurgeon
at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. This was during the late 70s to early 80s when intraoperative
neuromonitoring was in its infancy. Dr. Wilson had a particular interest in epilepsy surgery. He was one
of the first to perform microsurgical corpus callostomy. Dr. Wilson wanted to know if the EEG showed
any significant changes during and immediately after sectioning the last fibers of the corpus callosum.
Back then, neurologists didn’t come into the OR with me so I was flying on my own. Prior to the
patient’s surgery, Dr. Wilson and I would review the routine EEGs on the patient about to have surgery.
These patients almost always had frequent interictal epileptiform discharges and Dr. Wilson would
study this activity so as to easily recognize them during the surgery. He was always teaching me, in and
out of the OR. Dr. Wilson had passion and confidence in what he was doing and I believe some of this
wore off on me. We developed a close friendship and I had immense respect for him. He was gentle,
soft-spoken and had great insight. Unfortunately, cancer took him at the early age of 53 in 1983. Since
then I have often thought of him and all that he taught me about neurophysiology as well as life in
general.
AMBULATORY MONITORING
By Jennifer Carlile, R. EEG T.
Let’s get back to the basics with ambulatory EEG (AEEG). Once the coveted order comes through
that an AEEG is needed on a patient, the first thing that needs to be done is schedule the patient. This
would be a perfect opportunity to begin educating the patient on what to expect. Many of the
physicians and nurses don’t take time to do this. So instead of having the patient anxious of this test,
why not explain the basics to them? Explain how long they will wear it, how important it is that they
go about their regular daily schedules, how it will be attached, and so forth. Always instruct that they
should arrive with clean, product-free hair and that they should wear a button front shirt or one with
INTEREST SECTION COORDINATOR
Margaret Hawkins, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Wausau, WI
margaret.hawkins@ministryhealth.org
INTEREST SECTION LEADERS
ACUTE/CRITICAL CARE END
Anita Schneider, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Redlands, CA
anitas@jordaneuro.com
Patrick O’Leary, R. EEG T., RPSGT, CLTM
Bangor, ME
poleary@emh.org
AMBULATORY MONITORING
Jennifer Carlile, R. EEG T.
Cleveland, OH
carlileja@aol.com
COMPUTERS IN THE WORKPLACE
Brian Markley, R. EEG/EP T., R. NCS T., BS
Silver Spring, MD
bam@neurologycenter.com
CPT CODES
Lynn Bragg, R. EEG/EP T.
Canton, OH
cochise43@sbcglobal.net
Kristina Port, R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT, MPH
Novelty, OH
kaport@prodigy.net
DEPARTMENT MANAGERS
Cheryll Poissant, R. EEG/EP T., CAPPM, BS
Neenah, WI
cheryll.poissant@neurosciencegroup.com
EDUCATION
Mark Ryland, R. EP T., RPSGT,
R. NCS T., MA
Parma, OH
mark.ryland@tri-c.edu
Mary Feltman, R. EEG T., BS
Hewitt, TX
mfeltman@mclennan.edu
EPILEPSY MONITORING
Cheryl Plummer, R. EEG T.
Pittsburgh, PA
plum1960@hotmail.com
Pat Trudeau, R. EEG T., CLTM
Marshfield, WI
trudeau.patricia@marshfieldclinic.org
Continued on Page 21
ASETnews
20
continued
Ambulatory Monitoring. . . Continued from Page 20
a zipper front. Explain why this is so important. Explain how long they will be at this appointment. If
they are elderly, recommend that they bring along a family member or friend to assist with any
peripheral equipment sent home or just for having a second set of ears to hear the instructions. Once
the test is scheduled, send out a reminder notice to the patient with directions to your lab. These little
things that are done up front, will just ease the patient’s anxiety and make for a more successful test.
With pediatric patients, especially the little ones, I find it helpful to give more details to the parents
prior to setting up the child. Letting the children see you interact with their parents on a calm level
reassures them all will be okay. Explain if you will be “bundling up” the child with a sheet, similar to a
papoose, in order to properly manage their wiggling arms and legs. If the parents appear apprehensive
and you have another tech that can assist you, suggest that they go get a cup of coffee and someone will
bring them back to the lab after all the leads are in place. Show both the patient and the parents the
electrodes. Let them touch them. Show them your tape measure, show how you will use the china
marker on their skin, if using collodion, show them the air dryer, let them feel the cool air by their
cheek prior to the electrode application. I use this “explanation routine” not only on pediatric patients
but all of my patients. Definitely schedule more time for pediatric patients and their parents, since
taking more time for instructions and setup will yield a more successful test.
Once the electrodes are in place, explain how to use the equipment. Having a printed set of
instructions will also ease the patient’s anxiety. I like to recommend that once they are home, to re-read
the instructions that we just went over to cement in their brains what is to be expected. Explain the
patient diary or the log sheets that need to be filled out and why these are so important to the doctor.
Explain when they should come back for removal of equipment, how long that appointment time will
be, and what it entails. If they are disconnecting at home, go over those instructions. Again, I find it
very helpful to have these printed out for them to take home. Explain what happens when the test is
complete, instructing them that they should follow up with their doctor to go over their results.
Getting back to basics is simple; just remember how you’d want to be treated when you are having
a new test performed on you or your loved one.
INTRAOPERATIVE MONITORING
Ryan Lau, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM, BA
Indianapolis, IN
rlau2@clarian.org
COMPUTERS IN THE WORKPLACE
By Brian Markley, R. EEG/EP T., R. NCS T., BS
Back to basics! What does that mean in working with computers?
Backup. A fundamental principle of computers is maintaining a duplicate copy of any important data
or program. Those of you working in hospital settings with professional IT staff may have this taken care
of for you. Even in those settings, there can be some useful things to keep in mind. In any professionally
managed network, the servers are backed up frequently. Workstations, on the other hand may not be. This
can be an issue if your workstation setup allows information to be stored on the local drives.
There is software that can make a complete copy of a system, programs, data, settings, and all. This
is referred to as an image. It is the way manufacturers install the operating systems and software on new
systems quickly. For recovery from a system failure, this is the best solution. Restoring the image
returns the computer to the exact state when the image was made. The latest versions can restore this
image even to a different model computer.
Restore points are another type of backup that exists in Windows computers. It is sometimes
overlooked. You can use a restore point to return system settings to a point when things were working
properly. To set a restore point you use the System Restore tool. This is something to be a little careful
with if you are not sure what you are doing.
When in doubt, get help. (A bonus basic principle)
Security. Again in the hospital/corporate environment, this will likely be managed by the IT
department with little active role for the users. Still there are a few things to keep in mind. A security
element that affects almost everyone is passwords. On our network our security plan requires a “strong”
password be used and changed on a scheduled basis. Strong passwords combine any three of the
following four kinds of characters: Upper case letters, lower case letters, numerals, and special
characters (!#@$%, etc). The reason for using strong passwords is that having many more possible
combinations, they are much harder to crack.
Passwords should never be shared. Also putting little sticky notes around to remind you of your
password is a no-no. Of course you probably hear this all the time in HIPPA training.
Anti-Virus. I always get a chuckle whenever I see one of those chain emails describing some dread
Eric Isaacson, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Indianapolis, IN
jake7824@comcast.net
NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES
Dorothy J. Gaiter, R. EEG T., R. NCS T., BS
Birmingham, AL
dorothy.gaiter@bhsala.com
Jerry Morris, R. NCS T., MS
Shreveport, LA
jmorris09@suddenlink.net
NEW TECHNOLOGIES & RESEARCH
Leah Hanson, R. EEG/EP T., AAS
New Glarus, WI
lhanson@rhythmlink.com
PEDIATRICS AND NEONATOLOGY
Shelley Gregory, R. EEG T.
Snohomish, WA
michelle.gregory@seattlechildrens.org
Cale Wilcox, R. EEG T., CLTM
Dallas, TX
cale.wilcox@childrens.com
POLYSOMNOGRAPHY
Kathryn Johnson, R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT
Huntington, WV
kathy.johnson@st-marys.org
Marshfield, WI
nhaferman@ricemedical.org
TECHNOLOGISTS WORKING ALONE
Sunday Dale, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, BAS
Wichita, KS
sundaysoc@yahoo.com
Interest section leaders are a resource to
members. Please feel free to contact leaders
with questions, problems, suggestions or
feedback of any kind. It is the policy of ASET
that interest section leaders not promote their
services or products through their role within
the organization. To prevent misunderstandings, especially for those leaders that
must “change hats” when receiving calls at
work, please initiate all calls by identifying
yourself as calling in regard to ASET’s Interest
Section.
ASETnews
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continued
Computers in the Workplace. . Continued from Page 21
new computer virus. It isn’t that viruses are a laughing matter. It’s just
that keeping good anti-virus software installed and updated is the best
protection you can have. Actually, the appropriate protection these days
is really an Internet Security Suite, which includes anti-spyware, as the
types of threats continue to expand. In addition, you should be very
careful about files attached to emails, even from folks you know. Lastly,
when you are browsing, be very hesitant about letting any website install
anything to your computer.
As always, questions, comments and suggestions are welcome @
bam@neurologycenter.com
CPT CODING
By Lynn Bragg, R. EEG/EP T.
I live by several undisputed codes. One is a gal can never have too
many diamonds and two; one can never have too much knowledge.
It is very unnerving for me to hear people complain because they
“have” to learn something new for their job. Remember, your employer
can make changes in your hours, duties, and even your pay but if they
offer you a chance to learn something new, that knowledge cannot be
taken away.
I know that if I did not have the support from my coworkers and
the help from the doctors when I first started in this field, I would never
have had been able to pass my boards. I was never ashamed to ask
questions or ask for help. It seems today that some think this is a sign of
weakness or ignorance. To me it is just the opposite. I would never put
a patient or a study at risk just to save face. I know that during my first
years in END, the doctors I worked with probably wanted to pull their
hair out but I was very persistent until I felt I grasped the concept I
needed to understand.
When I first started in END, CPT codes for EEG were much
different. You could code if a study was done portable, not today. You
were able to code differently if a study was done with hyperventilation
(HV) and one done without HV.
It is important for END techs to be familiar with coding changes so
studies are performed as ordered but also so they can be coded correctly.
The bottom line is making sure your reimbursement will be the
maximum for each study performed.
This may be to some techs a “have to learn” thing, but remember
reimbursement can help in keeping your position. END labs should be
informed by their billing office when codes have changed. It is equally
important for the END lab to inform their billing office if a study was
not performed exactly as ordered or coded. An example would be if a
study was run less than 20 minutes. It could be coded with a modifier to
maybe get total or partial reimbursement.
Patient care should always be a first priority but learning as much as
possible will only make that care better. Just remember not to blind
them with all your diamonds!!
END EDUCATION
By Mary Feltman, R. EEG T., BS
My first clinical rotation was to Methodist Hospital in Madison,
Wisconsin where I met Dick Kopenski. This man taught me four
important things that I share with my students.
1. When in doubt, Read the railroad tracks. Of course, this was using
analog equipment; when looking for subtle findings just tilt the page
and read the tracks or lines. Railroad tracks are parallel lines that
show any twist or curve. In EEG, the channels also run parallel and
will show anything out of the ordinary; good trick for subtle slowing.
2. Before starting that electrocerebral inactivity (ECI) tracing, always
run a few pages on maximum sensitivity. Fix anything that might
give you grief and then toss this. Start the official study. By simply
running a few pages to check the tracing, you will be able to submit
a clean near perfect tracing to be read. Now you can stand a little
taller, straighter and prouder!
3. Don’t worry about not knowing all the medications. Simply ask every
patient, “Why do you take that medication?” The patient should tell
you why they take it and this gives you more information for the
history. You have just killed two birds with one stone and still look
like you know all the answers.
4. Lastly …..Always remember….. a pineapple malt takes care of
anything. No matter how difficult the patient or study was there is
always something that will take the anguish away. For Dick, it was a
trip downstairs to the Ice Cream Shop; a pineapple malt was his
security blanket. For you it might be chocolate or a margarita.
Remember, nothing is ever that bad.
Thanks Dick for teaching me, and now my students, things that have
been and will always be helpful to an END Tech.
By Mark Ryland, R. EP T., RPSGT, R. NCS T., MA
Take responsibility for your actions and always check the patient’s
wrist band and orders!
I share this story with every group in my Introduction to
Electroneurodiagnostics Course, END 1300. It was a Monday morning, we
had nine EEG orders waiting for us (myself and the other END Tech), and
three were portable. We also had three outpatient NCSs and two outpatient
EEGs. Being the young, energetic, and occasionally overly enthusiastic
person I am, I immediately grabbed one of our analog EEG instruments
and headed to the ICU to begin the portables. The first procedure was on
a 78 y/o female who was semi-conscious and on a ventilator.
After completing the test I began to roll the EEG instrument out of
the room to move on to the next patient, Dr. Smith (patient’s attending
MD) was standing in the doorway. Dr. Smith was known for his temper
and his ability to remove the spleen of anyone who crossed his path for
pretty much any reason he saw fit. He asked me, “What the @#%% are
you doing?” To which I replied, “The EEG you ordered.” His response, “I
didn’t order an EEG on this patient!” To my horror, I looked at the order
in my hand, and the patient’s chart in his hand, and realized the order
was for the patient in the next room. At this point, looking over Dr.
Smith’s shoulder, I noticed the ICU nurses were diving under their
desks, because they did not wish to become collateral damage from the
carnage that was about to ensue. I had two choices. I could give Dr.
Smith a lame excuse, in which case he would remove my spleen,
probably through my nose, or I could do what I did. I looked him
squarely in the eyes and calmly stated, “Dr. Smith, I just did an EEG on
the wrong patient. There no excuse for it, I am terribly sorry, and it will
never happen again.” His response was calm and cool, “OK. Now get the
@#%% out of here and do the EEG I did order!!”
Moral of the story: You will make mistakes: own up to them. And be
sure to check the patient’s wrist band and orders!
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Interest Section Briefings. . Continued from Page 22
EPILEPSY MONITORING
By Cheryl Plummer, R. EEG T., BS
The Importance of a Meticulous 10/20 Set Up For Long-Term Video
Monitoring
The EEG setup is crucial in any EEG that is performed. It is critical
that the patient is measured correctly, the impedances are within an
acceptable range, and the electrodes are applied securely and in the
correct place. It is of the utmost importance that electrodes are placed
in the same manner when performing long-term monitoring. Not only
should the electrodes be applied correctly, but they should be protected
and maintained meticulously.
It is important that the basic skills that we developed when we were
a beginning technician remain impeccable as the years progress.
Remember, there are no short cuts when it comes to measuring – it
should be done the same way each time. Experience does not allow the
use of short cuts; remember that short cuts make long work!!
In our EMU, we apply our electrodes with collodion and gauze
squares. We always place the electrodes on the head with the stem of the
electrode pointing to the back of the patient’s head. This allows gravity to
work with us rather than against us. After all of the electrodes are applied
securely, filled with electrode cream and impedances checked, and the
recording started (it is always a good idea to start recording before
wrapping in case there is an electrode not working properly), we wrap
the patient’s head with gauze wrap (does not have to be sterile for noninvasive monitoring). When wrapping the head, we go a few turns
around the head and then we pull all the wires together in the back and
wrap the gauze around them a few times making a “pony tail” and then
wrap the gauze around the head a few times again. This keeps the wires
all together in one location so that they are not getting caught on the bed,
etc. We also tie the wires together in two other places to keep them secure.
Electrodes should be checked every morning and refilled. If there are
problems with electrodes throughout the day, they should be fixed
immediately. The EEG is worth nothing if it cannot be read due to artifact.
Sometimes we overlook the simplest details that make our job easier.
INTRAOPERATIVE NEUROMONITORING
By Eric Isaacson, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM
Surgeries involving the brain, brainstem, and cranial nerves offer
special challenges in regards to neuromonitoring. More than any other
type of neurosurgery, intraoperative monitoring during craniotomies
requires that a monitoring technologist use certain basic skills and
concepts to provide clear, interpretable data for these procedures. These
skills include having the ability to successfully identify and correct
electrical and physiological artifacts.
Eliminating artifacts during craniotomy surgeries begins when the
monitoring tech first enters the operating room (OR) suite. Initial setup tips such as positioning your equipment as far away from other
electrical devices as possible, and using a power receptacle that will not
be used for any other electrical devices is key. A good rule of thumb is to
keep your electrode input boxes as far away from light sources, hot lines,
and bear-huggers (patient warmers) as possible. You must anticipate the
OR bed being rotated, so be mindful of how you are running any cables
to the bed. Also anticipate that the head of the bed may be disassembled
in preparation of Mayfield headrest/tongs being used. Remember,
during craniotomies, the head of the OR bed is where the surgeon will
be standing. It is also where the microscope will be positioned, and all
puddling from fluid loss will occur. To avoid all of these potential issues,
and cut down on congestion, it is a wise idea to wait until the patient
and bed are in final position, and all electrodes are in place before
placing your electrode boxes on the OR bed.
The second and most important concept in reducing artifact
involves the actual placement of electrodes. Placing and securing
electrode for craniotomy surgeries are especially important because
once the procedure has been started; there is no crawling around under
the drape to re-apply electrodes. Since the OR is usually so congested
with staff for intubation and positioning of a patient for a craniotomy,
I typically do as little placement of electrodes as possible prior to head
pinning. In a typical craniotomy where the surgeon wants upper and
lower SEPs and monitoring of cranial nerves VII and VIII, I will only
place the stimulating electrodes for the ulnar and posterior tibial nerves,
popliteal fossa electrodes, and the tubal insert for the downside ear.
Only after the head is secured in pins, and feducials have been registered
will I place all other electrodes. This ensures that my electrode
placement is neat, and everything is completely secure. If tongue and
soft palate electrodes need to be placed, this also needs to be done prior
to positioning of patient. It is a good idea to test ABR transducers or
VEP goggles prior to placing them on the patient to ensure that they are
not faulty, and stimulation is actually being delivered.
Troubleshooting artifacts during craniotomies can be a very
frustrating and complicating task. However, most of the artifact battle
can be won prior to actually acquiring data. Being able to provide clear,
interpretable data during these procedures is the trademark of an
attentive, thorough technologist who carefully prepares and implements
a "game plan" prior to his/her case.
NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES
By Jerry Morris, R. NCS T., MS
Years ago I read a comic strip (BC), I believe, where at the end of the
last panel, the principal character, a hungry anteater, sees a whole line of
ants marching away. He proudly turns to his friend and calls them by
their Latin name. In the meantime, the ants scurry into their anthills,
out of harm’s way. The anteater then sighs and says “You get TOO much
education, you starve to death”.
I disagree with the first part of that statement; I don’t know about
the “starving-to-death part. I firmly believe the more you learn, the
better off you will be. To me there is no such thing as TOO much
education. It is a principle that my parents instilled in me at an early age
and was reinforced during graduate school and my early life in the real
workplace. It is how I go about every day of work, looking for
opportunities to learn something new and then share it with others.
I came into the electrodiagnostic field backward from most people I
know. Most of them learned EEG first and then progressed into EPs,
IONM, and then EMG/NCV. I was first an EMG tech who took the road
less traveled, finally learning EEG after my 50th birthday! What a
fascinating and wonderful adventure it has been. Soon after learning
EMG, I even deviated into nerve and muscle histology for a few years.
The physician I worked with was an EMG specialist with a subspecialty
in muscle and nerve biopsy and histology. For several years I would see
the evidence of denervation, demyelination, axonal loss, etc., electrically
in the EMG lab one day and then see the same evidence histologically
the next few days from the same patient(s). I didn’t fully appreciate the
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continued
Nerve Conduction Studies. . Continued from Page 23
wellspring of knowledge and application of principles until after the
histology work was performed by the pathology technologists.
Later I progressed to EPs, learning new skills that would help me as
I began IONM work. Not only could I do these studies clinically, but I
could also put them to use in aiding the surgeons during surgical
procedures. The EMG portion was a great plus. My physician
encouraged me to watch and learn EMG specifics from them,
recognizing waveforms and insertional activity and asking any
questions I might have, though not interpreting the studies. This gave
me a much better understanding when I actually went into the OR.
Again more knowledge and education proved beneficial to the nth
degree.
I really can’t wait to see what happens the next few years in our field.
New techniques and procedures and info are there to learn and pass on.
The internet provides a gold mine of knowledge waiting to be mined.
“Learn and share, learn and share.” Make that your mantra so that
future generations of electrodiagnostic technologists will be able to
benefit from their predecessors.
As we celebrate ASET’s 50th anniversary, let’s make the next 50 years
a half century to remember...
NEW TECHNOLOGIES & RESEARCH
By Leah Hanson, R. EEG/EP T., AAS
At the recent WSET meeting, held in Seattle, a presentation was
given outlining the “new” commercial technologies that are using
biofeedback and other similar methods. Various “gaming” systems are
using biofeedback style methods to develop headsets that can control
gaming pieces with thought techniques and muscle/movement
potentials. These wireless gaming headsets are poised to integrate with
current systems such as Xbox and PlayStation.
This in itself is quite interesting but as it relates back to our field is
even more interesting. These headsets are also being developed for
wheelchair control for paraplegics and other quality of life limiting
situations. The headsets can control the movement of the wheelchairs by
relaxation techniques, blinking, eyebrow movements, smiling, etc.
Obviously, these headsets, which use “non-prep” electrodes and highly
filtered algorithms to accomplish the activities described, will continue to
be developed to record more discreet activity, which could potentially lead
back to the diagnostic field of neurodiagnostics and other affiliated fields.
EEG of the future…..interesting.
PEDIATRICS AND NEONATOLOGY
By Shelley Gregory, R. EEG T.
The topic of the month is for us to “get back to the basics” and how
I have applied that somewhere in my career. We are fortunate to be
involved in an EEG program through one of the local community
colleges (Bellevue Community College). Having students is always
refreshing but they certainly have a lot of questions. They always want
to know what it was like in the old days and I always share my story of
when I first started working here years ago and how one situation made
me vow to never put anyone else in that predicament. Orienting to a
new job, whether in a pediatric or an adult hospital, is overwhelming
but quite similar. One of the main hurdles is to have a working
understanding of all the policies and procedures unique to the EEG lab
you are orienting in.
It is the responsibility of the supervisor to make sure an orientation
covers all the nuts and bolts of a department. Well, not so for me when
I started here many years ago. The supervisor of the EEG lab was getting
ready to retire and really didn’t want to be bothered by training
someone new. I now realize how important communication, whether
verbal and/or written, is when you are orienting someone. In those days
there were no manuals with policies and procedures. It was left up to the
current technologist to just tell you what you needed to know and hope
for the best.
On the third day that I was working an order for a portable EEG in
the ICU came in so I immediately went to perform it. I was really feeling
good about myself and thinking it would be so simple - not so fast.
Well, believe it or not at that time montages were either manually
punched into a Grass machine or the Beckman machine was pre-dialed
in with montages using 1, 2, 3 etc… (each number depicting a bipolar
or referential montage). Seattle Children’s Hospital had a Beckman
machine which meant they were pre-dialed in. As I was running the
EEG, the neurology team came by to take a peek at the recording. The
attending neurologist looked and asked what montage I was running.
Without even thinking I blurted out “1” and then realized I didn’t know
what the actual montage was. Was it a bipolar or referential montage? I
cursed myself internally for not knowing this but I also vowed that if I
could I would never put another new technologist or student through
the humiliation I felt.
Now whenever a new EEG technologist comes on board and a new
student starts their clinical rotation, they are given a copy of policies and
procedures so they have everything they would need to perform one of
our many types of EEG studies. By “getting back to the basics” we need
to prepare people for everything that one study encompasses. The tech
or student then has something to look at and figure it out before he/she
is humiliated by the new peers. I have been the supervisor of the EEG
lab for about 15 years now and am always commended for putting
together such a complete manual every time someone new comes
aboard. If they only knew!!
POLYSOMNOGRAPHY
By Kathy Johnson, R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT
Back to basics in polysomnography for me is really back to basics in
EEG. While sleep studies incorporate a wide range of physiological
signals and require significant expertise in a variety of fields, the
recording of these signals comes from the world of EEG. Now the
interpretation of what you are recording is another matter, best left to
another article…………
When we look at the way we record sleep studies, we realize that a
solid understanding of EEG instrumentation is necessary to really
comprehend how these tiny electrical signals get from the patient to the
screen in front of us. There may be some who believe that one does not
need to understand the frequency response curve to run a good sleep
study, and that may be true to a certain extent. Today’s equipment often
includes headboxes with body illustrations showing the tech where the
electrode should be placed on their patient. Instruction books
frequently contain a “cookbook” of instructions to allow a technician
with little or no knowledge to run a decent sleep study on many patients
under ideal circumstances. But is that what we really want?
Having the basic knowledge of filters is invaluable in understanding
why it is appropriate to use a high frequency filter of 15 hertz on an
airflow channel but not on an EMG channel. Understanding that 60
ASETnews
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continued
Polysomnogrophy. . Continued from Page 23
hertz artifact is not a “fuzzy black worm” (as I have heard it called) on
the screen but a high frequency artifact that can be eliminated in most
cases is pretty darn important. Using the correct terminology such “75
microvolt delta activity” instead of “big, slow stuff ” takes
polysomnography out of the realm of button pushing, into the realm of
a profession. Knowing why impedances should be under 5K ohms and
equal can result in cleaner, more informative tests for our patients.
All this being said, we all realize that polysomnography includes
technology which is foreign to EEG techs, such as continuous positive
airway pressure machines, pressure flow transducers and inductive
plethysmography, etc. However, even these devices are interfaced with
equipment that is basically an EEG machine in disguise. Is that disguised
EEG machine a wolf in sheep’s clothing? For the tech without a basic
understanding of EEG, it can be…………..
TECHNOLOGISTS WORKING ALONE
By Sunday Dale, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, BAS
You have probably heard the expression that you have to “walk the
walk and talk the talk” to get ahead in today’s world. This is true not only
today but has been for a long time. I remember when I first started in
EEG and could not say or remember the word “electroencephalogram,”
but knew that EEG was an abbreviation for it and much easier to
remember. I learned that the EEG test or that word that was so hard to
say and remember meant “a recording of brain wave activity.” As I was
learning about electrodes, their locations on the scalp and the break
down of the head into lobes it occurred to me, there was much more to
this EEG stuff than just learning the three finger placement method for
the electrodes. I learned of an adult evening education course called
“Medical Terminology.” This course was being offered at one of the local
high schools, and so I signed up for it. After taking the medical
terminology course and buying Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, I finally
started to understand what “talk the talk” meant!
Terminology is an area that techs who are taking their boards often
leave behind or forget because they do not talk the talk on a regular
basis. One of the things I did in the beginning was to make a list of
words that I did not know or understand when reading an article or
book and look them up in the dictionary, re-read the statements using
the meaning instead of the word. I found this helped a great deal with
understanding what I was reading. I also developed the habit of talking
the terminology for example when I learned the International 10/20
System I would say, “Fp1 is Frontal Pole Left and Fp2 is Frontal Pole
Right.” Then I was comfortable, regardless of whom I was talking to
using either of the terminologies.
Terminologies are interchangeable regardless of the modality of
electroneurodiagnostics (END) you are talking about. When techs “talk
the talk” they can definitely “walk the walk” with their head held high! 쎲
CREDENTIALING ORGANIZATIONS
The following organizations administer and award the R. EEG. T., R. EP T., CNIM, CLTM, RPSGT and R. NCS T. credentials to
technologists. For specific requirements, including re-certification, refer to the individual Websites for the most current updates.
American Board of
Registration of EEG & EP Technologists
CREDENTIALS: R. EEG T.®, R. EP T.®, CNIM®,
CLTM®, and EEG Laboratory Accreditation
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For general information and to obtain oral exam
applications, contact:
Janice Walbert, R. EEG/EP T., Executive Director
ABRET Executive Office
2509 W. Iles, Suite 102, Springfield, IL 62704
217.726.7980 ; 217.726.7989 fax
abreteo@att.net; www.abret.org
Written exam applications can be requested by
contacting:
Professional Testing Corporation
1350 Broadway, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10018
212.356.0660 phone
www.ptcny.com
American Association of
Electrodiagnostic Techs [AAET]
CREDENTIAL: R. NCS T.
Board of Registered
Polysomnographic Technologists [BRPT]
CREDENTIAL: RPSGT™
P.O. Box 6823
Mobile, Alabama 36606
Ph: 877.333.2238 or 877.333.AAET
aaet@aaet.info; www.aaet.info
[Accredited by the National Commission of
Certifying Agencies – NCCA]
Written exam applications can be requested
by contacting:
Professional Testing Corporation
1350 Broadway, 17th Floor • New York, NY 10018
212.356.0660;
www.ptcny.com
John Ganoe, CAE, Executive Director
Board of Registered Polysomnographic
Technologists
8400 Westpark Drive, Second Floor
McLean, VA 22102
703.610.9020 • 703.610.0229 (fax)
info@brpt.org; www.brpt.org
ASETnews
25
READY REFERENCES
The following listings are numbers and
addresses frequently requested from the
ASET Executive Office. They are published
as a service to members.
Illinois Society of END
Technologists
Phyllis Skowron Videtich, R. EEG T.,
President, 2907 Heritage Drive, Apt. 3,
Joliet, IL 60435; 815.725.7133 ext. 3824;
videtich@provenahealth.com
International & Foreign
END Societies
Indiana Society of END Technicians
& Technologists
Sarah Jean Vivo, R. EEG/EP T., CLTM,
President
317.338.3004 Fax 317.338.6816
www.isetthome.org
Canadian Association of
Electroneurophysiology
Technologists
Kimberly Skanes, RET, RT [EMG], The
Moncton Hospital Electrodiagnostic
Services, 135 MacBeath Ave., Moncton,
NB E1C 6ZB; 506.857.5272;
506.857.5697 fax;
kiskanes@sehcc.health.nb.ca;
www.caet.org
International Organisation of
Societies for Electrophysiological
Technology [OSET]
Karen Woolcock, Staffordshire General
Hospital, Stafford, ST163SA, United
Kingdom: +44(0)1785 230237 fax;
karenwoolcock@hotmail.com
Regional, State & Local
END Societies
Alabama Society of END
Technologists
Allen Lee, R. EEG T., President;
www.alaset.org
Central Society of END Techs
[CSET]
Ed Carlson, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM
President, 651.241.5192;
edovaldo@hotmail.com
Charles E. Henry Society of
END Techs
Steve Erickson, R. EEG T., President,
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, Strong
Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY 14642;
steve_erickson@urmc.rochester.edu;
www.cehenrysociety.org
Greater New Orleans END Society
Lynn Causey, R. EEG T., President,
Children’s Hospital, 200 Clay Ave., New
Orleans, LA 70118; 504.896.9596;
cyoung@chnola.org
Iowa Association of END
Technologists
Dawn Byrne, R. EEG T., President, Trinity
Regional Medical Center, 802 S. Kenyon
Rd., Ft. Dodge, IA 50501; 515.574.6189
phone; byrned@ihs.org
Michigan Society of END Techs
Connie Kubiak, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM
President, Munson Hospital, 9239 Vans
Lane, Kingsley, MI 49649; 231.590.7118;
ckubiak@mhc.net
Minnesota ENT Technologists
Society [METS]
James Kvasnicka, R. NCS T., CNIM,
President, 640 Jackson St, St, Paul, MN
55101; 651.254.3740;
james.l.kvasnicka@healthpartners.com
New England Society of END
Technologists
Jack Connolly, R. EEG T., President;
617.355.7847
jack.connolly@childrens.harvard.edu
North Carolina Society of END
Technologists
Doaty Flanigan, 170 N. Davidson Dr.,
Winston-Salem, NC 27107;
336.718.5569; doatylucky@yahoo.com
Puget Sound END Society
Carol Riley, R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT, CNIM,
President, Puget Sound Health Care
System; 206.277.3301;
carol.riley@med.va.gov
Southern Society of END
Technologists
Kyle Kalkowski, R. EEG T., President, 8102
Lair Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27516;
919.966.1686; kkalkows@unch.unc.edu;
www.sset.org
Western Society of
Electrodiagnostic Technologists
Kristin Roberts, R. EEG/EP T., President;
714.771.8000 ext. 7187;
robertsk@charter.net; www.wset.org
Wisconsin Society of END Techs
Colleen Helling, R. EEG T., RPSGT,
President, 1413 Terrace Court, Two Rivers,
WI 54241; 920.288.4350 or
920.553.7075; helling@lakefield.net
Other Resources
Committee on Accreditation
for Education in
Electroneurodiagnostic
Technology [CoA-END]
Theresa Sisneros
6654 S. Sycamore St., Littleton, CO 80120
303.738.0770; 303.738.3223 fax
office@coa-end.org
Epilepsy Foundation
8301 Professional Place, Landover, MD
20785-7223; 800.332.1000;
www.epilepsyfoundation.org
Northeastern Society of END Techs
Kathy Curzi, R. EEG/EP T., President, 2028
Country Pl, Bethlehem, PA 18018;
610.867.7183; kmcurzi@ptd.net
Ohio Society of END Technologists
Sheryl Nehamkin, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM,
President, 4075 Eastway Road, S. Euclid,
OH 44121; 216.844.2377;
nehamkin@aol.com
ASETnews
26
WORKSHOPS, COURSES AND SEMINARS
Electroneurodiagnostic
Education
Knowledge Plus, Inc
EEG, EP, IOM, Polysomnography Courses
P
remier END education company with quality driven and board focused courses
and on-site training for practitioners seeking INTERACTIVE training
experiences. Class size is kept small to provide individualized attention to all
levels of technologists. Classes held near Chicago with access to all of the excitement of
the city!
Custom Training at YOUR FACILITY. Call for Quotes Today
Intraoperative Monitoring:
Comprehensive Basic & Advanced
APRIL 2-4
SEPTEMBER 5-12
Evoked Potential Written Board
Prep Course
JUNE 13-14
AUGUST 1-2
CNIM® Board Preparation
JUNE 13-14
AUGUST 1-2
Evoked Potential Oral Board
Prep Course
MARCH 28-29
JULY 25-26
Evoked Potentials Course Comprehensive EPs for the IOM
Professional & Clinician
MAY 27-29
Electroencephalography Comprehensive
Basic to Advanced Course:
MARCH 16-20
AUGUST 17-24
NOVEMBER 9-13
EEG Written Board Prep Course
MARCH 21-22
AUGUST 25-26
NOVEMBER 14-15
EEG Oral Board Prep Course
MARCH 27-28
JULY 24-25
Larry Head Institute
Long Term Monitoring Prep Course
MARCH 7-8
AUGUST 15-16
OCTOBER 3-4
Polysomnography Board Preparation
Course
MAY 16-17
AUGUST 8-9
OCT 24-25
Virtual Classroom:
Comprehensive Intraoperative
Monitoring
TBA
For detailed training package, custom quotes, and additional information contact:
Rebecca Clark-Bash, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, F. ASNM, Knowledge Plus, Inc., PO Box 356,
Lincolnshire, IL 60069 Phone: 815.341.0791. Visit us on the web at
eknowledgePlus.net.
2009 ASET Educational Seminars
May 1 – 2, 2009
Cleveland, OH [Host – Cleveland Clinic]
• EEG Technology: A Comprehensive Review Course
• Mastering Nerve Conduction Studies
• Autonomic Testing [May 2nd Only]
Scholarship Deadline: February 2, 2009
October 2 – 3, 2009
Pasadena, CA [Host – Huntington Hospital]
• Advanced LTM/ICU Monitoring
• Comprehensive Polysomnography Course
Visit the ASET website,
www.aset.org and
click on the Meetings
tab for course
schedules, hotel
accommodations,
faculty, registration
rates, and to register
online.
E
lectroneurodiagnostic technology training
courses in EEG, EEG Board Preparation,
Evoked Potentials and Intraoperative
Monitoring are offered to meet the needs of
practicing technologists seeking additional training or
as preparation for registry exams. Classroom-style
format encourages instructor-student interaction,
creating a relaxed learning atmosphere for all
technologists, regardless of the level of knowledge
and experience. For course descriptions, dates, costs
and to even register on-line visit our WEB SITE:
www.larryheadinstitute.com or call/ write to Larry
Head Institute, LLC., 242 Bates Lane, Monroe, MI
48162; 734.240.3383; 734.240.3393 fax; or e-mail
larryheadinst@voyager.net.
쐌 EEG Fundamentals
March 16 – 20
July 20 – 24
November 2 – 6
쐌 EEG Board Preparation
April 2 – 4
August 20 – 22
쐌 Evoked Potentials
May 11 – 15
October 12 – 16
쐌 Nerve Conduction Studies
February 6 – 7
June 19 – 20
October 9 – 10
쐌 Polysomnography Fundamentals
March 20 – 29
October 9 – 18
쐌 Polysomnography Scoring
June 13 – 14
November 7 – 8
쐌 Polysomnography Board Preparation
February 7 – 8
April 25 – 26
August 8 – 9
October 24 - 25
쐌 Intraoperative Monitoring
March 26 - 28
July 30 – August 1
November 19 - 21
쐌 CNIM® / IOM Board Preparation
January 16 - 17
June 26 - 27
Scholarship Deadline: July 3, 2009
ASETnews
27
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
ASET calendar of events
2009
APRIL
AUGUST
NOVEMBER
April 1
WEBINAR: Brachial Plexus Anatomy
and NCS Testing with Case Studies
Aug 5 – 8
ASET 50th Annual Conference
Nov 4
WEBINAR: Classification of Pediatric
Seizure Disorders
April 8
WEBINAR: MEG:
Magnetoencephalography
April 22
WEBINAR: Event Monitoring in the
ICU
MAY
May is “Stroke Month”
May 1 & 2
Educational Seminars – EEG
Technology: A Comprehensive Review
Course; Mastering Nerve Conduction
Studies
May 2
Educational Seminar – Autonomic
Testing
May 6
WEBINAR: Special Extended Full Day
WEBINAR: Evoked Potentials
May 13
WEBINAR: Monitoring the Recurrent
Laryngeal Nerve
May 20
WEBINAR: IONM Using Motor Evoked
Potentials
ASETnews
ISSN 0886-5620
ASET
6501 East Commerce Avenue, Suite 120
SEPTEMBER
Sept 9
WEBINAR: Ancillary Equipment in the
LTM Unit
Sept 16
WEBINAR: Pediatric EEG Case
Presentations
Nov 11
WEBINAR: Upper Ext Entrapment
Neuropathies
Nov 18
WEBINAR: Medication Affects on EEG
and Update on Current AEDs
Sept 23
WEBINAR: Record Review in EEG
OCTOBER
Oct 2 & 3
Educational Seminars – Advanced
LTM/ICU Monitoring; Comprehensive
Polysomnography Course
Oct 7
WEBINAR: Subclinical Seizure Case
Presentations
Oct 14
WEBINAR: Current Trends in Pedicle
Screw Stimulation
Oct 22 & 23
WEBINAR: Special Two Day Webinar:
Growing Your END Business
Oct 28
WEBINAR: Understanding TCD
Announcement Policy - The
appearance of meeting, course and
workshop announcements in this
newsletter does not constitute
endorsement or approval by ASET of
the content or quality of the program.
Announcements are accepted subject
to publishers approval, must be
relevant and may be altered for clarity,
style and length. Most events are paid
advertising.

continued

Transcription

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