"No training or competency required"? Are you kidding me? I am a diagnostic medical sonographer who takes exception to your post.
I am a board certified diagnostic medical sonographer, credentialed through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). The ARDMS is considered the gold standard in the world for credentialing ultrasound professionals in eleven subspecialty exams. While the state may not yet require liscensing, the medical community does.
As it is currently written, NM HB 498/ SB616 contains a great deal of misinformation, incorrect terminology and wordage and does not accurately represent the diagnostic medical sonography profession. While creating accountability for imaging professionals through standard credentialing and practice requirements is a necessary and valuable concept, enforcement of this bill would not accomplish that goal and, in fact, would result in a giant step backwards in our professional development. All medical imaging specialty areas cannot be put into a single package and described by agencies in the bill that do not even represent diagnostic medical sonography, namely the ARRT and ASRT. In fact, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS), the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine AIUM), the Society of Vascular Ultrasound SVU), and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) are some of the national societies for ultrasound professionals who have spent the past twenty years specifically identifying those standards and goals of practice. These organizations were inappropriately not mentioned in this entire bill or contacted for their input. Their published guidelines would be beneficial in addressing issues of standards and need to be considered on the front end of a licensing process, so that New Mexico is synchronous with thoroughly established national guidelines.