title: Licensure of the cardiac sonographer: an overview of issues and activities.
abstract: The impact of echocardiography on the continuum of cardiovascular health care is well established. Ongoing concerns regarding costs, accessibility, quality, and appropriateness of services rendered by practitioners of echocardiography have prompted various legislative proposals and regulatory policies from government, medical professional groups, and health plans. Specifically, there continues to be a drive to enact law for licensure of sonographers. These activities require continuing advocacy for the profession with active leadership. As part of its mission statement, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) states, "ASE strives to be a leader in public policy in order to create a favorable environment for excellence in the practice of echocardiography." As such, the ASE is committed to an increase in their interaction with legislators, payers, and policy makers. This article describes the historical perspective of state, federal, and provincial sonographer licensure issues to provide an understanding of the political perspectives.
authors.affiliation: American Society of Echocardiography Council on Cardiac Sonography, Sonographer Legislative and Regulatory Subcommittee. JRA09@pacbell.net
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenbloom
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dempsey
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Gillam
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gresser
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: McIlwain
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rutlege
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Waggoner
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D002170:Canada; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008119:Lobbying; D014481:United States