The credentialing agencies for nursing, radiology and cardiology have set minimum standards for the continuing education necessary for annual and biannual license renewal. Does simply acquiring the necessary continuing education qualify you as a professional?

It is a great start, but it runs deeper than that. You must practice your profession daily and give something back as well. Sharing allows us to continuously benefit and improve our professions over time.

Being a fantastic caregiver and patient advocate is a wonderful accomplishment, but you need to step out of your facility. See what is happening in the world around you and share your accomplishments and errors pay your dues, in other words.

Communication and the exchange of ideas are the principles that the American Medical Association, American College of Cardiology, Radiological Society of North America, American Healthcare Radiology Administrators and the Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals were all founded upon. The idea that together we can learn from each other, share information, and improve the quality of health care and our professions is what sustains these organizations. Instead of constantly reinventing the wheel, we can improve it together!

Every one of us should join our peers and represent our goals and ideals. You cannot rely on others to communicate what you know and what you need to learn. Admittedly, it is easier to sit at home and take online continuing education programs, but the education you can experience by listening and exchanging ideas in person at professional meetings is invaluable.

In my experience, there are people out there that have already tackled issues that are just surfacing in my department. These people are valuable resources. In addition to sharing with peers, you can attend meetings in order to better assess vendor performance. It is much easier to track performance while meeting with someone who already has that new picture archiving and communication system installed, for example.

When I go to human resources and request a salary adjustment, their first comment is, We will do a survey. As a group, we could prepare for these types of requests. We can create and share surveys and information so that when we approach human resources (or purchasing, or the executive group, etc.), we can present a broad-based picture developed from a factual composite created by a membership.

There is much more, though, than simply exchanging ideas. It is well-known and documented that by working together, we can set the course of our future. The United States Constitution was created by many great leaders in one Philadelphia room hundreds of years ago. We are attempting to do something similar in our profession forge the future and set course for the right direction to take our departments and organizations.

There is so much to learn and teach in this field. Together at professional meetings, we can make a positive difference while propelling our own futures forward.

The Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals is hosting its Annual Management Conference At the Heart of Success: Searching for New Horizons, March 9“11, 2006, at the Renaissance Waverly in Atlanta, Georgia. Topics covered at this year™s meeting will provide you with support and information not found in any other venue.

On Thursday, March 9th, we will focus on the future with topics such as:
What the Future Holds
Procedural Areas of the Future
Thinking Outside the Box

Friday, March 10th, will offer attendees the chance to choose sessions suited to their individual learning requirements, including:
Carotid Stenting
Credentialing Criteria for Carotid Stenting
Developing a Comprehensive Development Program
Turf War Roundtables
The Next Generation of Leaders
Imaging “ Hearing from both the Experts and Suppliers
Negotiation 101
Hospital Administration & Quality
CMS Decision “ Coding Practices in EP

Saturday, March 11th, will conclude with:
Angioplasty without Surgical Backup
How to Partner with Your Physician Groups
Rapid Reperfusion of MIs
Quality Matters
Staying Financially Viable

Georgann Bruski can be contacted at gbruski@caregroup.harvard.edu