ACR News

Moving Toward the Future With a New Look for the ACR

As an organization, the ACR influences not only College members, but also prospective members, policymakers, researchers, related medical professionals, the media, and, of course, the general public. One of the most powerful and lasting ways in which we create an impression of the ACR's identity and reputation is through our visual appearance—especially through our logo.

As we continue our efforts to enhance and communicate the ACR's unique competitive advantage—our name and reputation—through our branding efforts, the ACR is pleased to unveil a new logo. This logo delivers a new and modern look for the ACR that positions the College with an eye toward the future. Unveiled for the first time on September 15, you may have noticed the new logo on the cover of this issue of the ACR Bulletin. In the coming months, you will be seeing the new logo phased into all ACR offices and materials.

The introduction of the new ACR logo plays an important part in our continuing goal of affixing a steady, uniform image of our organization and its services in the minds of those we serve and those we reach. It further solidifies and enhances our reputation as the premier organization representing the radiology profession.

ACR Seeks Member Testimonials

Help the ACR celebrate the radiology profession by submitting a testimonial, to us, that highlights what the association means to you. Testimonials may be used in upcoming ACR promotional materials such as brochures, flyers, or on the Web site. Submit your testimonials, via e-mail only, to webmaster@acr.org. In the subject line of your e-mail, label the e-mail as "ACR Testimonials." Please provide your name, state, and number of years you've been a member of the ACR.

Drafts of 2006 Practice Guidelines, Technical Standards Available Online

ACR members can review and comment on the drafts of the 2006 ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards on the ACR Web site (www.acr.org). The comments will be considered for inclusion in the drafts that will be presented for adoption at the 2006 Annual Meeting and Chapter Leadership Conference next spring. There will be 5 comment periods for review of draft guidelines, each lasting 4 weeks. The first group of practice guidelines were available for review and comment until August 29. Members are encouraged to take part in this field review process.

The guideline titles are:

ACR Practice Guideline for the Performance of Abdominal Radiography
ACR Practice Guideline for the Performance of CT of the Abdomen and CT of the Pelvis
ACR Practice Guideline for the Performance of Computed Tomography (CT) of the Extracranial Head and Neck in Adults and Children
Practice Guideline for the Performance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Adult Spine
Practice Guideline for the Performance of Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Practice Guideline for the Performance of Total Body Irradiation

Reminder

Important Information Regarding Members-Only Resources on the Web:

Be sure to visit www.acr.org to take advantage of all the resources available to you as a member of the ACR. The ACR has automatically generated an initial username and password for you to access members-only portions of the site.

Username = Initials (lower case) of your first and last name, followed by your 8-digit member number

Password = Your last name (lower case). You can change your username and password after your first log on.

If you have any problems logging on, please contact ACR Member Services at (800) 347-7748 or email membersupport@acr.org.

ACR Debuts Webcast Theater

Webcast Theater, the ACR's latest collection of webcasts, offers practicing radiologists and residents unique learning opportunities and features notable presenters and leading-edge subject matter experts.

Current webcasts that you can view anytime include:

2005 AMCLC Addresses by Harvey L. Neiman, MD and E. Stephen Amis, Jr, MD
Selected lectures from the 2003 AMCLC, including: Molecular Imaging Conference, Moreton Lecture on Genomics, Medicine and Society, and Seminar on Socioeconomics
Critical Issues for Radiology Residents
Nonclinical Skills Webcast
Northwestern Breast Imaging Symposium
Testifying as a Radiology Expert Witness

More webcasts will be added soon. Visit www.acr.org/webcast today and see what the ACR is doing to help you keep up to date on important topics facing the radiology field.

ACR Announces Commitment to International Community Service

Spearheaded by ACT Board of Chancellors Chair James P. Borgstede, MD, the ACR has committed to facilitating improvements in radiological care throughout the world. This new initiative was undertaken to promote international and community service participation; to highlight and recognize the volunteer activities of members providing assistance abroad; and to improve radiology in developing nations. Visit www.acr.org/service to learn how you can get involved in this new and exciting outreach program!

ACR Professional Bureau on-site Interview Service 2005

The ACR Professional Bureau will host its On-Site Service at the RSNA Annual Meeting from November 27 - December 1, 2005. Registration for the Onsite Interview Service will begin September 19 at www.acr.org/jobs. Current users can update their accounts to register for this event. New users can register to use the Professional Bureau and participate in the interview service.

Registering early allows you to schedule interviews now while planning the rest of your meeting schedule.

For more information and complete instructions, visit www.acr.org/jobs.

Radiation Oncology Surveyors' Workshop at ASTRO 2005

The ACR Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation Program invites new and experienced surveyors to attend a surveyors' workshop at ASTRO 2005 in Denver, Colo. Tentative date for the workshop is Saturday October 15, 2005 at 4 p.m. We will contact you with specific date, time and room number when these are confirmed.

Board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists are encouraged to attend this informative workshop, designed to prepare participants for their role in the on-site survey process for Radiation Oncology Accreditation. Please contact Barb Rivers at 1-800-227-5463 ext. 4915 or e-mail brivers@acr.org for additional information and registration form.

ACR Responds to Medicare's Proposed Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System

On Monday, July 18, Medicare released its proposal for changes to the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (HOPPS) and ambulatory payment categories (APC) for 2006. In this rule, Medicare proposes to implement the MedPAC recommendation to "reduce the technical component payment for multiple imaging services performed on contiguous body parts."

Medicare has identified 11 families of related procedures that will be subject to the proposed payment reductions. Medicare proposes to pay 100% of the technical component for the highest value procedure and 50% for any additional procedures in the same family, when performed in the same session.

This proposed rule assumes that there are economies in the technical component when procedures in the same family are performed in the same session and that these economies are identical in all families. The ACR does not agree with these assumptions and, after a thorough review of the proposed rule, will express its concerns and comments during the formal comment period ending September 16.

Understanding Radiology

ACR staff, in conjunction with the ACR Communications Commission, is continually working to produce materials to better inform patients and the public of the role and importance that the radiologist plays in the health care process. Our newest educational brochure, titled Understanding Radiology, was developed after recent ACR research revealed that many Americans did not know that radiologists were physicians and did not readily identify a radiologist as "their doctor." Many view radiologists as technical consultants or confuse radiologists with the technologists who operate the imaging equipment.

Understanding Radiology was developed by the ACR for you to share with patients in order to help them better understand the important role that you play in their care.

Copies of this patient education brochure may be ordered in packets of 200 for just $15 (Virginia residents add Virginia tax: 5.0%). And shipping is free. To order a supply of Understanding Radiology brochures for your practice, please call (800) 227-7762.

New PSE Syllabus Set for November Launch

The ACR's latest edition to its highly respected professional self-evaluation syllabi series, Ultrasound III, is set to debut at the ACR's booth (booth No 3950) at this year's annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago. The latest syllabus marks the 50th volume in the long-running series that was first introduced in 1972 with Chest Disease.

Be sure to watch the ACR Web site for the latest information on how to order your copy of Ultrasound III.

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