- Email: [email protected]
ISCD in 2015: State of the Society
Journal of Clinical Densitometry: Assessment & Management of Musculoskeletal Health, vol. 18, no. 3, 445e446, 2015 Ó Copyright 2015 by The International Society for Clinical Densitometry 1094-6950/18:445e446/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jocd.2015.06.004
2015 ISCD: State of the Society
ISCD in 2015: State of the Society Diane Krueger* University of Wisconsin Osteoporosis Clinical Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Abstract This piece offers an opportunity for the International Society for Clinical Densitometry’s immediate past president to reflect on the past year and provide an update on the state of our society as we continue to move forward. Key Words: DXA; musculoskeletal health; bone health.
This piece offers an opportunity for the immediate past president of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) to reflect on the past year and provide an update on the state of our society as we continue to move forward. Dr Schousboe’s contribution from last year overviews the ISCD’s foundation and nicely outlines the challenges still facing our Society and the field in general, namely controversy regarding the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), low fiscal reimbursement for DXA testing plus fiscal constraints within industry, and health care systems limiting funding for professional society sponsorship, membership, and training activities (1). These challenges persist; moreover, osteoporosis treatment, even after hip fracture (2), is declining. In the face of these challenges, what is the way forward? Our response to these challenges has been to evaluate ISCD activities to ensure they are within our mission and scope and further take the opportunity to focus resources on our core competencies. These have been, and remain, clinician and technologist education relating to DXA measurement, certification for DXA acquisition and interpretation, and official positions related to skeletal health assessment. As part of these efforts, we are using new approaches to make ISCD offerings valuable and convenient to users. An example is the 2015 launch of our maintenance of certification, which streamlines the accumulation and tracking of
continuing education credits, allows for continuous engagement through online learning, and includes ISCD membership with the annual certification fee. To increase the value of certification, both clinician and technologist certification programs are now accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, offering a higher level of distinction to our programs. In an effort to more efficiently respond to our changing landscape, we have reorganized the ISCD Board, which is now comprised of our officers and committee chairs. As this group of individuals is actively participating in the launch and maintenance of ISCD activities, they consequently have an acute sense of our challenges and can more easily determine how and when we can respond. Accordingly, our first meeting with the restructured Board occurred in February 2015 and focused on revitalizing ISCD. Our emphasis was to evaluate activities related to our 5 pillars, specifically Certification or Accreditation, Education, Public Policy or Advocacy, Position Development, and Membership, by applying 3 major objectives to each: how does ISCD focus resources to attain our mission, engage the field, and sustain revenues. Discussions revealed our endeavors overlapped many of the categories and similar themes continued to surface. Resulting from this meeting, a framework was constructed by which Board members had a charge to draft specific proposals for future consideration. Potential initiatives include program models to more efficiently conduct our activities and proposals to engage new individuals. A number of our committees will propose options to the Board incorporating these recommendations. In the coming months, the ISCD Board will determine which of the suggested initiatives will most benefit ISCD in the long term and select proposals to implement in 2016e2017.
Received 06/19/15; Accepted 06/19/15. *Address correspondence to: Diane Krueger, BS, CBDT, University of Wisconsin Osteoporosis Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Avenue, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53705. E-mail: [email protected]
445
446 Although much of our focus this year has been on revitalization, it did not deter from other ISCD initiatives. For example, February brought the delivery of another successful annual meeting combined with the most recent ISCD Position Development Conference. This issue of the Journal of Clinical Densitometry and Musculoskeletal Assessment is publishing both research abstracts from that meeting and the new and updated official positions. These nicely highlight the achievements by so many of our volunteers and their resultant contribution to moving our field forward. Clearly, despite the multiple challenges facing our field, ISCD remains vibrant and continues to advance the field of musculoskeletal health assessment. ISCD has a great opportunity and potential to thrive in our changing environment. It is clear there are many dedicated volunteers that desire to make our Society flourish, primarily because there is a need for ISCDdthe necessity to obtain high-quality measurements related to musculoskeletal health. Such measurements are essential to the provision of quality
Krueger health care. To this end, our volunteers strive to offer quality health services, accessible to all walks of life throughout the world in an effort to improve quality of life and promote healthy aging. They also have the vision that ISCD is an essential component, in collaboration with other societies, to accomplish these goals. I personally believe there is reason for optimism within ISCD and that we have been lent opportunities that will guide us toward achieving our mission. I will close by expressing my appreciation for having the rewarding opportunity to participate in ISCD as an officer and past president and by inviting you to join our cause.
References 1. Schousboe JT. 2014 ISCD in 2014: state of the society. J Clin Densitom 17:328e329. 2. Solomon DH, Johnston SS, Boytsov NN, et al. 2014 Osteoporosis medication use after hip fracture in U.S. patients between 2002 and 2011. J Bone Miner Res 29:1929e1937.
Journal of Clinical Densitometry: Assessment & Management of Musculoskeletal Health
Volume 18, 2015
2015 ISCD: State of the Society
ISCD in 2015: State of the Society Diane Krueger* University of Wisconsin Osteoporosis Clinical Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Abstract This piece offers an opportunity for the International Society for Clinical Densitometry’s immediate past president to reflect on the past year and provide an update on the state of our society as we continue to move forward. Key Words: DXA; musculoskeletal health; bone health.
This piece offers an opportunity for the immediate past president of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) to reflect on the past year and provide an update on the state of our society as we continue to move forward. Dr Schousboe’s contribution from last year overviews the ISCD’s foundation and nicely outlines the challenges still facing our Society and the field in general, namely controversy regarding the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), low fiscal reimbursement for DXA testing plus fiscal constraints within industry, and health care systems limiting funding for professional society sponsorship, membership, and training activities (1). These challenges persist; moreover, osteoporosis treatment, even after hip fracture (2), is declining. In the face of these challenges, what is the way forward? Our response to these challenges has been to evaluate ISCD activities to ensure they are within our mission and scope and further take the opportunity to focus resources on our core competencies. These have been, and remain, clinician and technologist education relating to DXA measurement, certification for DXA acquisition and interpretation, and official positions related to skeletal health assessment. As part of these efforts, we are using new approaches to make ISCD offerings valuable and convenient to users. An example is the 2015 launch of our maintenance of certification, which streamlines the accumulation and tracking of
continuing education credits, allows for continuous engagement through online learning, and includes ISCD membership with the annual certification fee. To increase the value of certification, both clinician and technologist certification programs are now accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, offering a higher level of distinction to our programs. In an effort to more efficiently respond to our changing landscape, we have reorganized the ISCD Board, which is now comprised of our officers and committee chairs. As this group of individuals is actively participating in the launch and maintenance of ISCD activities, they consequently have an acute sense of our challenges and can more easily determine how and when we can respond. Accordingly, our first meeting with the restructured Board occurred in February 2015 and focused on revitalizing ISCD. Our emphasis was to evaluate activities related to our 5 pillars, specifically Certification or Accreditation, Education, Public Policy or Advocacy, Position Development, and Membership, by applying 3 major objectives to each: how does ISCD focus resources to attain our mission, engage the field, and sustain revenues. Discussions revealed our endeavors overlapped many of the categories and similar themes continued to surface. Resulting from this meeting, a framework was constructed by which Board members had a charge to draft specific proposals for future consideration. Potential initiatives include program models to more efficiently conduct our activities and proposals to engage new individuals. A number of our committees will propose options to the Board incorporating these recommendations. In the coming months, the ISCD Board will determine which of the suggested initiatives will most benefit ISCD in the long term and select proposals to implement in 2016e2017.
Received 06/19/15; Accepted 06/19/15. *Address correspondence to: Diane Krueger, BS, CBDT, University of Wisconsin Osteoporosis Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Avenue, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53705. E-mail: [email protected]
445
446 Although much of our focus this year has been on revitalization, it did not deter from other ISCD initiatives. For example, February brought the delivery of another successful annual meeting combined with the most recent ISCD Position Development Conference. This issue of the Journal of Clinical Densitometry and Musculoskeletal Assessment is publishing both research abstracts from that meeting and the new and updated official positions. These nicely highlight the achievements by so many of our volunteers and their resultant contribution to moving our field forward. Clearly, despite the multiple challenges facing our field, ISCD remains vibrant and continues to advance the field of musculoskeletal health assessment. ISCD has a great opportunity and potential to thrive in our changing environment. It is clear there are many dedicated volunteers that desire to make our Society flourish, primarily because there is a need for ISCDdthe necessity to obtain high-quality measurements related to musculoskeletal health. Such measurements are essential to the provision of quality
Krueger health care. To this end, our volunteers strive to offer quality health services, accessible to all walks of life throughout the world in an effort to improve quality of life and promote healthy aging. They also have the vision that ISCD is an essential component, in collaboration with other societies, to accomplish these goals. I personally believe there is reason for optimism within ISCD and that we have been lent opportunities that will guide us toward achieving our mission. I will close by expressing my appreciation for having the rewarding opportunity to participate in ISCD as an officer and past president and by inviting you to join our cause.
References 1. Schousboe JT. 2014 ISCD in 2014: state of the society. J Clin Densitom 17:328e329. 2. Solomon DH, Johnston SS, Boytsov NN, et al. 2014 Osteoporosis medication use after hip fracture in U.S. patients between 2002 and 2011. J Bone Miner Res 29:1929e1937.
Journal of Clinical Densitometry: Assessment & Management of Musculoskeletal Health
Volume 18, 2015