Frequently Asked Questions
Annual Meeting
How can I get more information on the ASNC Annual Meeting?
Comprehensive information on the 2009 Annual Scientific Session is available on the ASNC Web site.
How do I submit an abstract for the Annual Meeting?
The Call for Abstracts is mailed in December. Abstracts will be accepted from February until March. Click here for detailed information about abstract submission deadlines and guidelines for submission.
How can I propose topics and speakers for the Annual Meeting?
Suggestions for topics and speakers may be sent to ASNC2009@asnc.org. They will be forwarded to the Annual Meeting Program Committee for review.
Is CME credit available for the Annual Meeting? How do I retrieve my CME certificate?
Category I CME credit for physicians is available. All physicians may retrieve their CME certificates and certificates of attendance online at www.asnc.org/cmeonline.
Are continuing education credits available for technologists for the Annual Meeting?
Yes, ASNC is a recognized provider of ARRT Category A credits. The Annual Scientific Session is also accepted by NMTCB for ARRT Category A credits.
When and where are future annual meetings scheduled?
2009 - Minneapolis, MN - October 1 - 4, 2009
2010 - Philadelphia, PA - October 7 - 10, 2010
2011 - Denver, CO - September 8 - 11, 2011
2012 - Baltimore, MD - September 6 - 9, 2012
Education
What educational activities does ASNC sponsor?
ASNC offers a variety of educational activities, including symposia, online courses, the Annual Scientific Session, and a number of events co-sponsored annually with other organizations. Visit the Education section of the ASNC Web site for more details.
Do you have any programs specific for fellows?
Several of ASNC's courses have basic tracks for those learning or new to nuclear cardiology, but ASNC also sponsors Nuclear Cardiology Fellows/Residents tutorials annually. These courses are free to fellows and residents with material focused for those who have not completed their training. Click here for more information.
Do you have any programs specific for technologists?
Several of ASNC's courses, including the Annual Scientific Session, have tracks for nuclear cardiology technologists. Nuclear Cardiologist for the Technologist is offered once a year in the spring. All ASNC courses for technologists offer ARRT Category A credits. For more information, click here.
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology
How often is the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology published?
The JNC is published bi-monthly, with six issues annually.
What do I do if I get locked out of JNC online access?
First, check that your membership is current. If your membership dues have not been paid, your will not have access to online content for the JNC.
If your membership is current and you are experiencing difficulties, please contact the SpringerLink Helpdesk at (888) 777-4643 or springerlink-ny@springer.com if in the United States or +49-6221-345 4303 or springerlink@springer.com if outside of the United States.
What do I do if I do not receive an issue of the JNC?
If you are an ASNC member, contact ASNC at info@asnc.org or by phone at (301) 215-7575. If you are a subscriber who is not a member of ASNC, you should contact Springer directly at springerlink@springer.com.
Does the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology participate in the WHO Consortium of Publishers Access for developing countries?
Yes. The JNC is part of the "Access to Research" initiative, which enables accredited universities, medical schools, research centers and other public institutions in developing countries to access scientific information in this and any one of over 1,000 other medical journals.
How do I submit an article to the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology?
Authors are advised to visit the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Web site and click on the Submissions tab in the upper right corner.
Manage Your Practice
- ASNC Practice Guidelines, Policy Statements and Training Documents Questions
- Certification Questions
- Accreditation Questions
- Technologist Questions
- Other Practice Questions
ASNC Practice Guidelines, Policy Statements and Training Documents Questions
Where can I find ASNC guidelines and policy statements?
ASNC publishes a variety of practice guidelines, policy statements and training documents. These publications comprise the consensus of a broad spectrum of experts in nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular imaging. Many have been accepted by U.S. federal agencies and payers as defining the optimal standards of practice. Click here for more information.
How often are ASNC practice guidelines and policy statements updated? How can I be sure the guidelines I'm looking at are up to date?
The Quality Assurance Committee is charged with review and development of practice guidelines. The Executive Committee and Board of Directors approve these guidelines and also creates policy statements for the Society. The approval date by the Board of Directors or document revision date, if applicable, is listed on each document.
Certification Questions
What is involved in becoming certified?
Candidates who wish to become certified by the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC) must meet the eligibility requirements established by the CBNC Board of Directors. These are outlined in the CBNC Candidate Bulletin and are detailed on the CBNC Web site.
What are the benefits of becoming certified in nuclear cardiology?
Some hospitals now require certification in nuclear cardiology in order to perform in-hospital nuclear cardiology procedures. Some third-party payers are now requiring cardiologists to be certified by the CBNC in order to bill for nuclear cardiology procedures. For the public, certification in nuclear cardiology encourages professional growth and encourages quality patient care in the practice of nuclear cardiology.
Does ASNC sponsor the Certification Examination in Nuclear Cardiology?
No. As an independent certification board, the CBNC is independent and does not have sponsors. ASNC does offer resources to help physicians prepare for nuclear cardiology certification exams. Click here to learn more about educational programs dedicated to exam preparation or click here to learn about ASNC's online resource, the Nuclear Cardiology Knowledge Self Assessment Program (or NCKSAP).
Accreditation Questions
What is accreditation?
For nuclear cardiology, accreditation is the granting of approval to an institution (a laboratory) by an official review board after having met specific requirements. The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL) is one such accrediting body. The primary mission of the ICANL is to ensure high quality patient care by providing a mechanism for accreditation of facilities providing diagnostic services in the following areas: nuclear cardiology, comprehensive nuclear medicine, and positron emission tomography. ICANL accreditation is a voluntary program developed to promote overall quality in laboratories by assessing equipment, personnel, policies and protocols, and reporting. Click here for more information.
What is involved in becoming accredited?
Accreditation involves 4 basic steps:
- Requesting and reviewing the Essentials and Standards from ICANL
- Completing the application including submission of case studies
- Review of the application and case studies by ICANL
- A mandatory site visit by an ICANL reviewer
For further information or to purchase the application package, contact the ICANL office at (410) 872-0100 or visit their Web site.
What are benefits of accreditation?
Benefits include improved organization of your laboratory, improved quality assurance and test accuracy, recognition as a high quality lab, improved standardization of techniques, and most importantly it may some day be required for reimbursement. In some regions of the country, payers require nuclear lab accreditation for reimbursement.
Does ASNC sponsor the ICANL Lab Accreditation Program?
ASNC is one of six sponsoring organizations of ICANL. Others include the ACC, SNM and SNM Technologist Section, ACNP, and the Institute for Clinical PET.
Technologist Questions
How do I become a nuclear cardiology technologist?
In order to become a nuclear cardiology technologist, one must attend an accredited program in the field of nuclear medicine technology. As part of this program, individuals are trained in the are of nuclear cardiology.
For information about Nuclear Medicine Technology programs, contact the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology at:
Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs
in Nuclear Medicine Technology
716 Black Point Road
P.O. Box 1149
Polson, MT 59860-1149
Telephone: (406) 883-0003
www.jrcnmt.org
What is "advanced certification for nuclear cardiology technologists?"
This is not really an advanced certification but rather a specialty certification. The Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB), based on a request from the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section as well as their membership, developed a specialty exam in nuclear cardiology. This exam is specific to the practice of nuclear cardiology and one must have a very global understanding of this specialty in order to do well on the exam.
What is involved in obtaining advanced certification?
In order to take the exam there are specific eligibility requirements:
A candidate for examination must show documented evidence of the following:
- Active NMTCB, ARRT(N), or CAMRT membership
- Clinical Experience in Nuclear Medicine Technology for a minimum of two years full-time (4,000 hours)
The NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology Examination is a time-limited exam. A person's certification will last seven (7) years from the exam date and will expire thereafter. In order to maintain certification, one must retake the exam.
What are the benefits of advanced certification?
The nuclear cardiology specialty exam is a way for practicing technologists to demonstrate expert knowledge in the specialty area of nuclear cardiology. It is not mandatory to perform nuclear cardiology procedures nor does it necessarily provide a higher pay level than that of a technologist who does not have it.
It is a way however, for a technologist to set themselves apart as an expert in this area and those who pass are entitled to use the initials NCT (Nuclear Cardiology Technologist).
Other Practice Questions
What information is available that I could give my patients on nuclear cardiology?
The Nuclear Cardiology Foundation provides information for patients and health care professionals on the field of nuclear cardiology. Click here to learn more.
If I have a position or fellowship opening in my department or practice, is there anywhere I could list it?
Listings of Jobs or Fellowships Available or Wanted can be posted on the ASNC online Job Opportunities page.
Membership Questions
What are the benefits of joining ASNC?
- All members receive bi-monthly issues and have access to full text articles online of the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, the official journal of ASNC and the only journal devoted to nuclear cardiology.
- Members receive The Newsletter, the monthly membership publication of ASNC.
- Members receive discounts on registration fees for ASNC-sponsored programs.
- Members receive discounts on ASNC CME & informational products.
- Members have input into ASNC surveys, the results of which you may need to influence the many external forces that affect your practice.
- Members are eligible to participate in the governance of ASNC, by serving on committees, subcommittees, and other projects.
- Members are listed in our online Membership Directory, available only to ASNC members.
How do I join ASNC?
Click here for ASNC's online membership application or contact info@asnc.org to receive an application by mail or fax. Dues are paid on a calendar year (January 1 – December 31). Applications received after October 20 will be activated in the following year.
How do I renew my membership?
Dues notices are mailed in November. Payments must be received by January 1 of each year in order to ensure that member benefits, including subscription to the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, will continue uninterrupted. Members may renew their membership by mail, by fax, or online.
I have heard there is a complimentary membership available for fellows and residents training in nuclear cardiology. How can I become a part of that program?
ASNC is pleased to offer a complimentary membership for nuclear cardiology fellows in training. Click here or contact info@asnc.org for more information.
Included in your membership is a free subsciption to the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology. This free subscription is supported by Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
What is my password to the Members' Only section of the ASNC Web site?
Contact the Membership Department at info@asnc.org. Please note that your password will not work if your membership is not current.
How can I update ASNC if I move or change email?
Member contact data can be sent to ASNC staff at info@asnc.org or to fax: (301) 215-7113. ASNC also has an Online Member Directory (for Members Only) where you can review the information we have in your member record and submit an online form to change your address.
How can I become more active in ASNC? I would like to be part of a committee or work on a project.
Contact the ASNC staff at info@asnc.org. We ask that you let us know your areas of interest and the level of involvement you would like to have. Committee appointments are usually made in August of each year, but projects and special task forces may be set in motion at any time.
Patient Information
What is a nuclear cardiologist?
A nuclear cardiologist is a physician who has been trained and qualified to perform and interpret nuclear cardiology studies. These physicians may have certification in cardiology, internal medicine, nuclear medicine, radiology or other related fields, with special training in nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular imaging.
What is a nuclear test?
A nuclear diagnostic test involves organs of the body and not specifically the heart. It involves the injection of radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive elements) into the body and then later imaging that particular organ of interest. For the heart, these tests are performed to diagnose the presence of coronary artery disease, to assess the severity of coronary artery disease and to determine the squeezing power of the heart (ejection fraction).
Are nuclear tests considered invasive?
No, a nuclear test involves only a needle stick and is not considered an invasive procedure.
What is a stress test and why is it done?
A stress test may consist of exercise, usually on a treadmill, or a "drug simulated" stress, which uses drugs such as adenosine, dipyridamole or dobutamine. These tests are done to evaluate patients with documented or suspected heart disease. A stress test also helps in the detection of heart disease which may not be producing any symptoms.
Can I ask for a nuclear stress test myself?
No, this test has to be ordered by your physician. If you are concerned about heart disease or think you may have heart disease and want to have a nuclear test, you should discuss this with your doctor. He or she will order this test if he thinks this is an appropriate test for you.
What are radiotracers and are they dangerous?
Radiotracers, also commonly termed radiopharmaceuticals, radionuclides or radioisotopes, are low-level radioactive materials which emit radiation or gamma rays which can be imaged with specialized equipment known as a gamma camera. These agents are injected into the body so that a nuclear scanner or camera can take pictures. Sestamibi, Tetrofosmin and thallium are radiotracers commonly used in nuclear tests of the heart. Performed by qualified professionals, tests with radiotracers are safe and effective. The dosages used in nuclear cardiology are very small and well within the limits of safety as determined by NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission), the agency which monitors the use of radioisotopes in medical practice.
Pregnant women should not have a nuclear test because potential effects on the unborn fetus have not been conclusively determined. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, you should let your doctor know about this before a test is done.
Does my health insurance cover a stress test?
Yes, all health insurance plans in the United States should cover nuclear cardiology tests.
Can I get a copy of my nuclear stress test result?
Yes, you can ask for a copy of the nuclear stress test report to be sent to you. However, these reports are often full of medical terminology and technical jargon. It is best that this report be explained to you by your physician.
How long will it take before my doctor gets the result of this test?
In most U.S. laboratories, the nuclear stress tests are interpreted by a physician by the end of the day or by the next morning. The test results are often conveyed to your doctor by mail, by fax, or electronically by the next day, depending upon the local practice. If a test report is needed urgently, your physician or his office can call the nuclear cardiology laboratory to get the test result sooner.
How can I be sure that my nuclear test is done in a qualified lab?
As with the question on testing by qualified professionals, with regard to the facility, the patient should ask for confirmation that the laboratory has been accredited recently by a recognized accrediting body. The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has resources to help you make an evaluation of the laboratory you're considering and the Intersocietal Commission on the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL) lists all facilities accredited by ICANL.
How can I be sure that my nuclear test is done by qualified professionals (doctor, nurse, technologist)?
By asking the physician, the nurse and the technologist in the lab what qualifications they have to be able to perform a particular study. That includes but is not limited to board certification, examinations taken, credentials, etc. See the discussion of Frequently Asked Questions on certification in nuclear cardiology for physicians and advanced certification in nuclear cardiology for technologists.
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