News

Greetings! 

Please see the attached document that the MSRT Board will be presenting to membership for debate and vote at our annual meeting.

MSRT Article XIII Bylaw Amendments

Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members voting at the annual MSRT business meeting. Notice of such proposed amendments must be communicated to the membership via MSRT website, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the time of voting.

Proposed By Law Changes_2021.pdf

Respectfully,

Jill Lucas, MSRT President

Join us in another live learning event!

June 28- 12:00 central

https://get.altuslearn.com/healthcare-and-the-transgender-patient/

Please join us for our first ever live virtual event!  Information can be found on the event page!!

We are excited to announce our first ever live webinar, powered by AltusLearn, our CE partner!

1. Learn why various organizations are promoting that the routine use of patient fetal and gonadal shielding be discontinued

2. Learn about the impact that discontinuing patient gonadal and fetal shielding has on regulator requirements, and the radiologic technologist certification exam and educational program materials

3. Learn about strategies that facilities might use when changing their patient shielding policies and practices

Dates Sunday April 18- Tuesday April 20^th.

With afternoon/evening sessions. See attached flyer highlighting speakers and topics.

Our Dr. Joe Wildenberg is presenting on Tuesday, April 20^th at 3pm.

Technologists/Educators are $30.00 per day or $75.00 for all 3 days. You will earn credits for the presentations you attend, so if you cannot attend all presentations for the day that is ok. MTMI is hosting the event on their platform.  Once registered, you will receive a log in for each day. 

More log in details will be sent as the event gets nearer.   

Pending 21 Cat A ASRT credits.  Also pending CQR credit but awaiting final ARRT approval.

Please use the WSRT website for registration - see link below. 

Registration link: https://wsrt.zohobackstage.com/WSRT2021#/tickets?lang=en 

Please share out with fellow technologists. 

Hope you can join!

Conference Agenda.pdf

Greetings!

As most of you have noticed (I hope) we have begun updating our website!  A big thanks to Jack Ashcroft who worked with me and our web editor Nick to move us forward.

Now that we have a new "look" I would love to reach out to see if there is any interest from membership to begin the process of updating our content!  If you are interested in learning more about this role please reach out to me with questions! jluca604@gmail.com
Be safe,

Jill

Share your expertise! The Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists would like to invite you to be a speaker on Sports Orthopedics at the 2021 MSRT Annual Meeting being held at the Crowne Plaza in Plymouth, Minnesota. The meeting dates are October 15^th and 16th. This is the premier event for Radiologic and Imaging Education professionals. As a speaker, you will enjoy the prestige and satisfaction of presenting to the most active and committed educators in our profession including technologists from all backgrounds of imaging, students, managers, and others in the in the medical field.  

Suggested session topics:

·        Overcoming Injury & Health Adversity

·         Sports Psychology: Overcoming Injury and Return to Sport

·         Sports Injuries, Fractures, and Rehabilitation

·         Athletes: Female vs Male injuries (Ex, ACL injuries)

·         Perspective of being an onsite Medical Professional for Sporting Events

·         Traumatic Injuries

·         Concussions (CTE)

·         3D printing

·         Advanced modalities

·         Controversies on Returning to the Game

·         Utilizing ultrasound in the diagnosis of injuries

·         Injuries Specific to the Sport

·         Body Mechanics

·         Emergency Care Vs Urgent Care in Orthopedics

·         Early Youth Sports Specialization

·         Expectations of Pre and Post Opt Pain Management

·         The Importance of CT and MR scans following injuries

·         The Perspective of a Player of Medical Imaging

·         Covid-19 and Pushing Forward

And so forth…

For further details, and to participate in the 2021 Annual Meeting please contact info@mnsrt.com

The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements has released this statement in support of the ending gonadal shielding:

https://w3.aapm.org/cares/documents/NCRPStatementNo13.pdf

ASRT has released this statement:

https://www.asrt.org/main/news-publications/news/article/2021/01/12/asrt-statement-on-fetal-and-gonadal-shielding

It is important to remember the MN Radiation Rules still require the use of lead shielding in current statue as written below: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/4732.0510/

4732.0510 Procedures and Safety Instruction for Facilities    Subp. 4. Gonad Protection

Except for cases in which it would interfere with the diagnostic procedure, during radiographic procedures in which the gonads are in or within two inches (5cm) of the useful beam, gonad shielding of not less than 0.5 millimeters lead equivalence must be used for patients who have procreative potential.

However, many sites do have rule variances that have already discontinued the use of patient gonadal lead shielding. 

We will share updates as we get them!

Be Safe,

Jill

We are making changes for 2021!  Stay tuned for a new and improved look!

Jill

Season's Greetings from MSRT HTN!

FINAL 2020 Dec. HTN.pdf

Urgent request from ASRT, read below and follow link to sign.

Thank you!!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is putting into effect new Medicare reimbursement rates in 2021 that carry significant cuts for radiology services and radiation therapy services. This change could result in an overall 11 percent decrease in payment levels for radiology, as well as decreases by specialty, including, a nine percent cut for interventional radiology; an eight percent cut for nuclear medicine; a six prevent cut for radiation oncology; and a six percent cut for radiation therapy. These reimbursement cuts are catastrophic figures for the medical imaging and radiation therapy professions.

These cuts, coupled with the fact that COVID-19 has had extremely adverse effects on the medical imaging and radiation therapy community, will wreak havoc. Reports state that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a 20 percent decline in the market for medical imaging equipment. Even worse news is on the horizon for the medical imaging and radiation therapy technical professional community if the final rule, with the aforementioned cuts included, takes effect in 2021. According to one study, more than 50 percent of radiology practices plan to terminate or furlough existing employees if the rule's cuts go into effect without any relief, while 82 percent said they expect the cuts will result in decreased imaging access for patients. And much like every other industry facing COVID-19, there is no telling if, or when, these jobs will come back. Patient access and care would further be hindered as medical imaging centers could close or reduce hours, while many would restrict services to Medicare beneficiaries treated in an outpatient setting.

While the Federal Government continues to search for a comprehensive response to COVID-19, Congress can immediately alleviate these Medicare reimbursement cuts by enacting H.R. 8702. If Congress fails to act, radiology, radiation therapy and medical imaging communities will be impacted in a severe and real way. That is why H.R. 8702 is so important to ASRT, and its members. By creating a two-year "hold harmless" payment that essentially would keep the reimbursement rates for Medicare services at the 2020 amount, H.R. 8702 allows the medical imaging and radiation therapy community to review the losses that COVID-19 has caused, and regroup after the full extent of the pandemic is analyzed.

ASRT asks that all radiologic technologists and radiation therapists contact your federal representatives using the ASRT Advocacy Action Center as soon as possible to voice support for this important legislation that will help radiologic technologists and radiation therapists continue to care for our country's most vulnerable patients.

https://cqrcengage.com/asrt/app/write-a-letter?9...