Preconference sessions boost imaging informatics skills
While SIIM 2007 exhibitors were busy yesterday setting up their exhibits in the R.I. Convention Center in Providence, R.I., more than 250 imaging professionals from across the country filled Ballroom A to participate in Imaging Informatics Professional Pre-Conference Symposium. The symposium was jointly sponsored by the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) and the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR). Its mission was to introduce and explore competencies required for imaging informatics professional.
The background of the audience members was nearly equally divided between radiology technologists and IT. The common denominator was their quest for more knowledge in PACS administration.
Providing the knowledge was a group of SIIM Imaging Informatics Education Subcommittee members. Led by George H. Bowers, MBA, chair, the presenters spoke on a broad range of topics aimed to bring the two backgrounds of attendees closer together with common knowledge. Bowers said unlike last year’s symposium that separated the two groups and left attendees wanting more unification, this year’s program was purposely designed to unite the two sides of imaging informatics.
According to Bowers, the symposium was designed to introduce and explore the blend of competencies required for the imaging informatics professional, the broader term used by SIIM in place of PACS administrator.
In addition, the symposium was to assist individuals who plan to take the Imaging Informatics Professional (IIP) Certification Exam, although Bowers was quick to add the symposium was not a review course as none of the presenters had inside information on the exam questions.
Bowers said that at that at the end of the day attendees “should have knowledge of what they don’t know.” Where do they go for that knowledge? He noted that the symposium also was designed to “point people to the resources that are available,” which varies according to their need.
The pre-conference symposium presentations included:
The background of the audience members was nearly equally divided between radiology technologists and IT. The common denominator was their quest for more knowledge in PACS administration.
Providing the knowledge was a group of SIIM Imaging Informatics Education Subcommittee members. Led by George H. Bowers, MBA, chair, the presenters spoke on a broad range of topics aimed to bring the two backgrounds of attendees closer together with common knowledge. Bowers said unlike last year’s symposium that separated the two groups and left attendees wanting more unification, this year’s program was purposely designed to unite the two sides of imaging informatics.
According to Bowers, the symposium was designed to introduce and explore the blend of competencies required for the imaging informatics professional, the broader term used by SIIM in place of PACS administrator.
In addition, the symposium was to assist individuals who plan to take the Imaging Informatics Professional (IIP) Certification Exam, although Bowers was quick to add the symposium was not a review course as none of the presenters had inside information on the exam questions.
Bowers said that at that at the end of the day attendees “should have knowledge of what they don’t know.” Where do they go for that knowledge? He noted that the symposium also was designed to “point people to the resources that are available,” which varies according to their need.
The pre-conference symposium presentations included:
- Introduction to the Imaging Information Professional Procurement and Project Management presented by George H. Bowers, MBA
- PACS Operations presented by David Wild
- Communications and Training presented by Ann L. Scherzinger, PhD
- Image Management presented by Jay Crawford, MHA
- Information Technology and Systems Management presented by Salvador O. Tejeda
- Medical Informatics and Clinical Engineering presented by David E. Brown
- Panel Discussion and Conclusion with all presenters