Get the best information on Neurodiagnostics! Register soon for the ASET conference to get the Early Bird Rate!

The Early Bird Deadline for meeting registration ends on July 1, so I am reminding all my readers to register for this meeting prior to that deadline if at all possible, to save money!  You may use this link to register for the meeting:  http://www.aset.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3290

Although I am always excited to see the program come together, I am particularly thrilled with this year’s program highlights.

Let me tell you more about them!

Our Keynote Address will be presented by the Corporate ACEs.  The speakers are two ex-military pilots who still fly commercial aircraft.  They have extensive training in battle readiness and how to communicate effectively when every second counts and miscommunication can cost lives.  We are often in similar situations, when we communicate with a surgeon in the O.R., or an ICU team while monitoring a patient.  This dynamic presentation will grab your attention and help you prevent errors in your everyday work.

Our Ellen Grass Lecturer is Stuart Youngner, M.D., an internationally recognized expert on bio-ethics and author of many articles about the definition of death.  He will discuss some of the ethical issues surrounding brain death and the decisions surrounding life support.  There have been unusual cases in the news this year: a pregnant woman kept on life support with the hopes of allowing her fetus to grow close to term, and a thirteen-year-old girl with catastrophic complications of a tonsillectomy, when the parents wanted to continue life support and the hospital did not.  Since neurodiagnostic technologists are often observers of end-of-life situations, this topic will be thought provoking to us.

We have exciting course lectures too!

Interested in Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis and other Motor Neuron Diseases? Check out our NCS course!

We have a special course track on Pediatric Neurodiagnostics, including lectures on Tuberous Sclerosis and Infantile Spasms.

Some IONM topics that promise to be of special interest:  a panel discussion on gaining respect and professionalism in the O.R.  or, how about finding the answer to this question:  “What makes a neurosurgeon nervous?”!

In our EEG course we have a great discussion on “Emergency EEGs, The Role of the Technologist through case studies.  And how about “Monsters Inside Me:  Neurodiagnostic Edition!”

We have saved some great topics for Saturday, our last day:  A discussion about the latest research in detection and treatment of traumatic brain injury, presented by a technologist from the Cleveland Clinic, and a half-day mini-course on autonomic nervous system testing.

You can download and view the meeting brochure at this link:
  http://www.aset.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3964

Helpful facts about Continuing Education Credits for Neurodiagnostics

On a daily basis I get phone calls and e-mails from technologists around the country who are trying to sort out continuing education requirements for recertification of an ABRET credential, and for the ABRET eligibility requirements for taking the R. EEG T exam.  I would say this is the most frequent topic of all, coming into my office!
Who does what?

ABRET administers the EEG, E.P. CNIM and CLTM exams. 
ASET offers education and study resources.
ASET does not send your CEU transcripts to ABRET or participate in your recertification process in any way!  We can provide YOU with a transcript.  If you do not complete your recertification paperwork and file it with ABRET before your credential expires, you will lose that credential and must re-take the exam.  Please note that ABRET has application fees for recertification.

It is important to understand that ASET and ABRET are totally separate organizations, and that ASET does not set policies for exam qualifications or recertification criteria.    I always tell people with questions about rules and exceptions to these rules to check directly with ABRET for clarification.  I want to avoid any misunderstanding that would lead to a technologist losing a credential due to lack of sufficient CEUs to recertify.

ASET’s role is to provide educational resources that have approved ASET CEUs to help technologists obtain the required educational contact hours.  We approve education provided by regional societies at meetings, in-house staff education in the NDT lab and other providers of education.  In addition we have a host of resources available via our website, from webinars to on-line courses to our seminars and annual conference.

I will provide an overview of ABRET policies and how to find the information you need on their website.

Facts:

·        ABRET specifies that the topics you apply toward recertification of a credential must be appropriate for that credential, which means that it applies directly to the skills and knowledge  related to practice of that modality.

·        ABRET does not sort out the ASET annual conference CEUs when applying them to recertification of a credential.  All sessions attended will be accepted, because they understand that attendees may choose from a wide variety of topics throughout the three days.

·        ABRET has set limits on how many CEUs may be included from “in-house” education to no more than 50% of total hours required. 

·        ABRET has set limits on how many CEUs may be included from taking ASET Journal quizzes to no more than 50% of total hours required.

·        CEUs from events that occurred prior to passing an ABRET exam do not qualify as CEUs for recertification of that credential.

·        College courses do not count as CEUs.

·        ABRET will accept appropriate educational events that do not have ASET CEUs, such as the American Epilepsy Society meeting.

Where to go for information:

ABRET website: www.abret.org

 “Acceptable Continuing Education” http://abret.org/recertification/acceptable-continuing-education/

“Credential Manager”: to report your CEU information for recertification

 https://i7lp.integral7.com/durango/do/login?ownername=abret&channel=abret&basechannel=integral7

ABRET recertification forms http://abret.org/resources/exam-applications-forms/

ASET website for educational events to earn CEUs

And ASET has a free webinar that we recorded with ABRET staff and officers that describes the credential manager on their website:  http://aset-edu.org/pluginfile.php/27605/mod_resource/content/0/ABRETCredentialManagerLowerTreble.mov

The 2014 ASET Outstanding Educator Award: What makes an outstanding educator in the field of Neurodiagnostics?

We have extended the deadline for nominations for this prestigious award so that we may collect a sufficient number of candidates to allow for a fair selection process.  I encourage anyone working in the field of neurodiagnostics, whose life has been changed by a technologist or physician devoted to improving skills and knowledge for all, to submit a nomination for that person to receive this award. 

The ASET website has an announcement about this award right on our home page, with a link to a full explanation of the award and how to submit a nomination.  The eligibility criteria states:

The educator may be a technologist or physician with the following:

• A minimum of five years’ experience in neurodiagnostics

• Professional contributions in the area 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 neurodiagnostic program is desirable

Please note that while teaching in a formal program is “desirable” this award has gone to other worthy candidates in the past, who have not been involved in a formal education program.  So, please do not exclude a worthy person because of this criteria. 

Many of us have been very fortunate to have the support and mentoring of one special person when we began working in the field of Neurodiagnostics.  These special people are always willing to answer questions, review your records, stay after work to coach you through difficult concepts such as polarity.  These special people can be found at regional society meetings and at ASET conferences and seminars, giving presentations almost every year, to help others learn more about techniques and clinical conditions. 

If you have had such good fortune in your past, you can show your appreciation by sending in a nomination!  Here is a helpful link to get you started:
  http://www.aset.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3374

How do you clean a patient’s head after removing EEG electrodes?

Whether using paste or collodion, unless we spend some time removing dried paste or bits of collodion and gauze, the patient will leave the lab with a scalp and hair that really needs some rigorous cleaning.  We all have our own techniques for accomplishing this task.  But I feel that we owe it to the patient to do the best we can.  In the most recent ASET webinar, Adele Wirch was the presenter and she addressed the importance of patient satisfaction in health care reform, now even linked to reimbursement.  She pointed out the impact that staff can make on a patient’s impression of hospital services.  A patient who has to pick glue or paste out of her hair for days cannot think too kindly of the experience.

I recently received an e-mail from a patient who had completed a "48 hour" EEG recording.  She did not specify whether this was an ambulatory EEG or an in-patient study.  She searched the internet until she found ASET because she wanted to share her experience with removal of the glue from her hair after the test.  In her message she mentioned that the tech told her "it would take three days to get the glue out of her hair".  What surprised me was that the tech did not apparently attempt to remove some of the residual collodion.  He told her to buy nail polish remover and a fine tooth comb.  In any lab I have worked in, the techs do try to clean up the patient's head.  I also always advise using the official "collodion remover" product.  I have heard from some techs that they are under a mandate to cut cost on supplies so I wonder if this issue was behind the lack of attention to this detail when the patient was dismissed.  However, I think the patient's helpful tip is worth sharing:

Easy way to remove EEG glue

You will need:

3 ounces or more of Clear hair hydrating conditioner;

A towel large enough to go around your head;

A heat source for the towel such as a blow dryer or a microwave;

Your usual comb and brush;

Procedure:

Saturate the glued areas of the hair with the Clear conditioner. Wet the towel with hot water and wrap it around your head. Warm it with the blow dryer or in the microwave as needed. After about 30 minutes get in the shower and rinse your head with very hot water. Do not shampoo the conditioner out of your, hair rinse it out. Finger comb your hair while rinsing the conditioner out. This should remove all but maybe a tiny bit of the glue from your hair.

“I had three tiny pieces of glue left in my hair and I used my fingers to slide it down off my hair with no problem at all.”

I have thanked the patient who took the time to find me and share her tip.  Hope you all find this helpful.

Seeking Abstracts for the 2014 ASET Annual Conference!

I am currently seeking platform abstract presentations for the 2014 ASET annual conference in Asheville, North Carolina.   Platform presentations are oral presentations, with 30 minute time slots.  I recommend that the presentation not exceed 25 minutes so that there is time for questions.  There will be platform and poster abstract presentations on Aug. 21 and 22.  You do not have to provide a handout to go with your presentation, simply compose your presentation and create your slides.  There is a March 30 deadline for abstracts but this will likely be extended to give me extra time to receive them.

FAQ’s about ASET abstracts:

Q: What is the value of presenting an abstract at the ASET Annual Conference?

A:  There are many benefits.  First, let’s address the financial benefit:  it gets you free meeting registration for the day on which you present your abstract.  It also looks good on your resume or C.V.  It also gets you officially “published” since the abstracts are printed in the December issue of the ASET Neurodiagnostic Journal which is listed with the medical search engine, PubMed.  You will gain recognition and confidence.

Q: What kind of presentations can I do?
A:  You have a choice of platform or poster presentation.  Right now I really need some platform presentations, but if you really are uncomfortable with public speaking, you can opt for a poster presentation.  For a poster presentation, you will need to present your topic visually on a poster that is 4’X6’.  We ask poster presenters to put their posters up at a specific time, and be present with their posters during poster breaks to explain the poster to attendees who are interested in the topic.

Q: How do I request time or space to present an abstract?
A: There is an abstract application form on the ASET website, please just go to the “meetings” tab + annual conference + abstract and poster presentations + Download 2014 Abstract Application, or try this link: Abstract application form  Please also note that on our website, you can also access tips on how to do prepare a poster or podium abstract presentation.
In addition to the application form, you must also submit the 100-200 word synopsis of your abstract subject matter.  Please simply compose a Word document to fax to me along with the abstract form. This is what will be published in the ASET Journal and printed in the final program for the annual conference.  My fax number is 877-207-2235.

Q:  When will I find out if my abstract is accepted?  I will send out acceptance notices late in April.  The ASET Program Committee will review all abstract applications starting on April 1.  Within a month of the deadline I will contact everyone who submitted an abstract.  I will schedule a time for each podium abstract presentation at that time, and will include that in my notice to you.  You do not have to prepare a handout for an abstract, or submit the slides in advance.

If you would like to contact me directly with questions about the ASET abstracts, please send me an e-mail:    faye@aset.org

Thank you very much and I will see you in Asheville!