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LOS ANGELES RADIOLOGICAL SOCIETY INSIGHTS ON-LINE NEWSLETTER, June 2007 |
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LARS President's Report Dear Colleagues: I would like to take this opportunity to bring you to date on where LARS stands currently. This year, we were successfully re-accredited with COMMENDATION by the Institute of Medical Quality/California Medical Association (IMQ/CMA) for four years (the maximum time possible) to provide Category 1 CME. This was no small feat by the Continuing Education Committee (CEC) and the LARS office staff. LARS' reaccredidation was based on a review of three key elements:
The meeting planning process is reviewed to determine whether it follows the IMQ/CMA’s prescribed process of:
One mechanism for measuring change is providing the conference attendees an opportunity to evaluate whether the objectives have been met and whether the information provided has produced changes that will enhance their effectiveness. Following the recent 32nd Annual Spring Conference in Ultrasound and Breast Imaging an unprecedented number of attendees, including Radiologists, Sonographers, and Mammographers, returned evaluation forms, which included a question asking the attendees to list any specific changes they plan to make, or are considering making, based on the conference material. A great many attendees took the time to be very specific, and more than 30 agreed, by including email addresses, to be personally contacted in three months for follow-up. In addition to those personally contacted, an email inviting all attendees to complete a short post-conference follow-up will be sent in September. It is gratifying to note positive comments on evaluation forms and to be reassured that our efforts are met with appreciation. It is also gratifying and extremely valuable to receive comments pointing out where you feel we’ve fallen short. Each comment is transcribed and provided to the members of the CEC for review, and each comment is considered as the next year’s programs are planned. At any time of the year we hope you’ll contact us at our email: lars@larad.org and share your ideas for making any of our LARS programs more effective in meeting your needs. Speaking of the recent Spring Conference, another “change” we noted from the evaluation forms for the Spring Conference, was the increasing number of attendees that had heard about the conference through the LARS website. Also, more than eighty-six percent of conference registrants either downloaded registration forms from the website, or used the on-line registration process. Total registration for the conference was over 400, a number well in line with previous Spring Conferences. And, if you registered on-site Saturday morning, you’re probably aware that over 60 people signed up the day of the conference. I'd like to take a moment to thank those of you who attended, and those of you who took advantage of the on-line registration opportunity, and to encourage others of you to attend a LARS conference. Our CEC is meticulous in planning conferences that provide review opportunities and new knowledge, always with the end result of improved patient care as the goal. Our event planners are very cognizant of the requirements for recertification in this day of MOC, SAMS, and Practice Quality Improvement. LARS will continue to strive to meet your certification needs, as well as your knowledge needs - and we will continue to strive to do so with limited CME budgets in mind. I'd also like to invite you to visit the LARS website, www.larad.org. The site includes background on the society, including our Mission Statements and membership information. You can download a membership application, or pay your dues, as well as register for any of our programs. With the permission of our speakers we are able to provide copies of speaker's PowerPoint presentations for your review, and you will find links to those organizations that have sponsored past conferences. We hope you will take a minute to visit the site and to share your suggestions for additions. The Continuing Education Committee and LARS staff are already well immersed in the process of planning the Midwinter Radiology and Radiation Conference for 2008. You might want to keep an eye on the LARS website as we have already begun posting information on the Midwinter Conference, planned for January 26-27, 2008, which, by the way, is the weekend between the final playoff game and the Super Bowl – more evidence that your program planners take note of your evaluation comments. In light of the many changes and challenges facing our profession, the LARS Board feels that It is important for those currently in training programs to be involved in Society activities. To encourage this, free membership to LARS and SCROS for Residents and Fellows is offered, along with substantially reduced tuition to LARS/SCROS-sponsored educational events. In addition, a Resident representative position has been included on the Board. I would like to thank Dr. Mark Shiroishi for serving as the first Representative, and Dr. Hui Jenny Chen of UCLA for accepting the position for the new term. Her introductory article is included in this newsletter. In summary, your Society has maintained a strong footing, continues to provide world-class imaging education, and continues to develop new programs to assist your professional growth. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Board, the Management Committee, the Continuing Education Committee, Beth Filip, Patricia Carmichael and the membership at large in making my job easier. Finally, I’d like to hand over the reins of leadership to your next President, Professor Patrick M. Colletti, MD and wish him all the best. Respectfully, Janak K. Raval, MD, FRCPC.
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