The Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination is administered in conjunction with various specialty exams by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) to certify the continuing competency of ultrasound professionals. ARDMS Test Study Guide with Practice Questions Exam takers must successfully pass the SPI exam in conjunction with any specialty exam to earn their Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential. Examinees are given two hours to complete the SPI exam, which consists of 120 multiple-choice questions covering fundamental physical principles and instrumentation requirements for the RDMS, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS), and Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credentials. A passing score on the SPI exam is required for medical professionals who wish to earn one or more specialty credentials in sonography of the Abdomen (AB); Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN); Adult, Fetal, or Pediatric Echocardiography (AE, FE, PE);
or Vascular Technology (VT). The SPI and corresponding specialty exam can be taken in any order, as long as both are passed within a five-year period. The Sonography Principles & Instrumentation examination questions are divided into percentage-weighted topics based on knowledge of patient care and evaluation, and use of sonography instruments. The specific topics covered, in order of importance in overall test percentage, are: pulse-echo instrumentation (30%); physics principles (20%); ultrasound transducers (20%); Doppler instrumentation and hemodynamics (20%); quality assurance/quality control of equipment (5%); and patient care, safety, and communication (5%). To take the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation examination, candidates must pay any exam or renewal fees and submit qualifying documentation, including proof of formal education; verification of clinical experience; and letters from a supervising physician, technologist, or program director The ARDMS provides comprehensive guidelines and checklists for how to apply for, register for, schedule, and take both the SPI and specialty exams.
Once a candidate has taken the SPI exam, he or she will receive test results in the form of a point value from 300 to 700; a result of 555 or above is a passing score. Candidates who do not pass the exam must wait a minimum of 72 hours before reapplying. There are numerous online resources for preparing to take the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation examination, including practice tests, content outlines, study guides, and sample questions based on the actual test. Printed study guides with sample exams and test-taking strategies are also available from several publishers. *Disclaimer: The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Inc. (ARDMS) does not endorse this product nor is the ARDMS affiliated in any way with the owner or any content related to this website.AbstractCharacterization of peripheral arterial waveforms is basic to the diagnosis of vascular disease. Surveys indicate inconsistent application of traditional waveform descriptors. This study reviews literature to identify areas of confusion.
Publications were reviewed to determine whether triphasic, biphasic, and monophasic terms were defined; if biphasic was linked with diastolic flow reversal; whether pandiastolic flow was associated with biphasic or monophasic terminology; and whether waveform illustrations had a zero baseline. Ninety-four publications were reviewed. Triphasic and monophasic were defined in 81%, biphasic in 48%. Biphasic was classified with flow reversal in 38%. Pandiastolic flow was not addressed in 57% but associated with monophasic in 47% and biphasic in 5%. Twenty-one percent of the publications had an illustration without a zero-flow baseline. This review suggests a lack of consensus when classifying arterial blood flow with traditional waveform descriptors. Waveform characterization inconsistencies are undermining comprehension of Doppler principles and may lead to inappropriate testing. A multisocietal consensus panel should accept responsibility for resolving this issue.Thousands of physicians across the country are surveyed each year to identify the most skilled specialists treating complex medical conditions.
The information, compiled by Best Doctors, Inc., includes more physicians from the Medical College of Wisconsin than any other group practice or institution in Wisconsin. The more than 40,000 U.S. physicians listed in the Best Doctors in America database represent the top five percent of the nation’s practicing board-certified physicians, and the listing is a singular honor. Only those physicians who earn the consensus support of their peers as well as meet additional qualification criteria are included. The Best Doctors biennial survey has been conducted by Best Doctors Inc. since 1992. For a complete list of all of our physicians or to search by specialty area, please visit our Physician Directory page. Lourdes G. Burgos, MD Lois A. Connolly, MD Sylvia Dolinski, MD, FCCP Elizabeth H. Ellinas, MD Thomas J. Ebert, MD, PhD William G. Hope, MD, PhD Zafar Iqbal, MD, FCCP Olga Y. Kaslow, MD Kathryn K. Lauer, MD Karin Madsen (Drescher), MD
Charul A. Munshi, MD Jutta Novalija, MD, PhD Timothy J. Olund, MD Paul S. Pagel, MD, PhD, FACC Steven J. Weisman, MD Harvey J. Woehlck, MD Michael Cinquegrani, MD, FACC, FSCAI James F. Kleczka, MD, FACC David S. Marks, MD, MBA James A. Roth, MD Kirk A. Ludwig, MD, FACS, FASCRS Mary F. Otterson, MD, MS Gordon L. Telford, MD Rahul Sudhir Nanchal, MD Jonathon D. Truwit, MD Edward P. Callahan, MD, FACEP, MS Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition Gilbert G. Fareau, MD James W. Findling, MD, FACP Beth M. Lalande, MD Steven B. Magill, MD, PhD Irene M. O'Shaughnessy, MD, FACP Joseph L. Shaker, MD Family Medicine & Community Medicine Syed M. Ahmed, MD, DrPH Joan M. Bedinghaus, MD Douglas J. Bower, MD Alan K. David, MD Gary M. Herdrich, MD JoAnne L. Hill, MD William J. Hueston, MD Craig C. Young, MD Kulwinder S. Dua, MD, DMSc, FACP, FRCP
Walter J. Hogan, MD Benson T. Massey, MD William J. Rhead, MD, PhD Mary Ellen Csuka, MD, FACP Edmund H. Duthie, MD Ehab L. Atallah, MD Kathryn A. Bylow, MD Karen-Sue Carlson, MD, PhD John A. Charlson, MD Yee Chung Cheng, MD Christopher R. Chitambar, MD, FACP William R. Drobyski, MD Timothy Fenske, MD, MS Kenneth D. Friedman, MD Parameswaran Hari, MD, MRCP Mary M. Horowitz, MD, MS Paul S. Ritch, MD James D. Rizzo, MD Roy L. Silverstein, MD James Thomas, MD, PhD Stuart J. Wong, MD Kia Saeian, MD, MS, FACG Geoffrey C. Lamb, MD Bipin Thapa, MD, MS, FACP Mary Beth Graham, MD Andrew Petroll, MS, MD Peter G. Sohnle, MD Mohan S. Dhariwal, DO, PhD MaryAnn C. Gilligan, MD, MPH Rick D. Gillis, MD Ian Gilson, MD, FACP Robert Gleeson, MD, FACP Sandra S. Green, MD Robert L. Krippendorf, MD, MPH Mark W. Lodes, MD Eric U. Luy, MD
Ann M. Maguire, MD, MPH Joan L. Milott, MD Julie L. Mitchell, MD, MS Mario N. Montalbo, MD Joan Neuner, MD, MPH Monica O'Sullivan, MD, DDS Kurt J. Pfeifer, MD, FACP M. Eugene Pruitt, MD Kathleen B. Sawasky, MD Barbara A. Slawski, MD, MS Christopher P. Sobczak, MD Steven Leuthner, MD, MA Barbara A. Bresnahan, MD John R. Raymond, MD Paul E. Barkhaus, MD Karen A. Blindauer, MD Diane S. Book, MD Thomas C. Chelimsky, MD Michael P. Collins, MD Ann K. Helms, MD, MS Wendy L. Peltier, MD Manoj Raghavan, MD, PhD Bernd F. Remler, MD Shekar Kurpad, MD, PhD Wade M. Mueller, MD Grant P. Sinson, MD Christopher E. Wolfla, MD Robert S. Hellman, MD William H. Bradley, MD Amy L. Diestelhorst, MD Timothy E. Klatt, MD Michael J. Lasser, MD Tyshunda Lakesha Manning, MD Raj Narayan, MD, FRCOG, FACOG Julianne R. Newcomer, MD Janet S. Rader, MD, FACOG
Estil Y. Strawn, MD Denise S. Uyar, MD Thomas B. Connor, MD Dennis P. Han, MD Gerald J. Harris, MD Dale K. Heuer, MD Judy E. Kim, MD Steven B. Koenig, MD Sarwat Salim, MD, FACS Donald A. Hackbarth, MD David M. King, MD John C. Neilson, MD William G. Raasch, MD Jeffrey P. Schwab, MD Carole S. Vetter, MD Joel A. Blumin, MD Bruce H. Campbell, MD, FACS David R. Friedland, MD, PhD Charles J. Harkins, MD, FACS Steven A. Harvey, MD Todd A. Loehrl, MD David M. Poetker, MA, MD John S. Rhee, MD, MPH B. Tucker Woodson, MD, BFA Alexandra M. Harrington, MD Steven Howard Kroft, MD Saul M. Suster, MD, MBBS Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Diane W. Braza, MD David R. Del Toro, MD Judith B. Kosasih, MD Mark A. Klingbeil, MD John R. McGuire, MD William P. Waring III, MD Arlen D. Denny, MD, FACS, FAAP John N. Jensen, MD John A. LoGiudice, MD
Hani S. Matloub, MD, FACS James R. Sanger, MD, FACS Carlyle H. Chan, MD Joseph S. Goveas, MD Harold H. Harsch, MD Thomas W. Heinrich, MD Jennifer M. Knight, MD Joseph B. Layde, MD, JD Julie A. Biller, MD Randolph J. Lipchik, MD Ali Musani, MD, FCCP Kenneth W. Presberg, MD Linus John H. Santo Tomas, MD, MS Joseph A. Bovi, MD Beth A. Erickson, MD Elizabeth M. Gore, MD Tracy R. Kelly, MD Colleen Lawton, MD, FACR Christopher J. Schultz, MD Guillermo F. Carrera, MD, FACR Scott J. Erickson, MD William D. Foley, MD, FACR Mary Beth Gonyo, MD Lawrence R. Goodman, MD, FACR Robert A. Hieb, MD, RVT Eric J. Hohenwalter, MD Charles S. Marn, MD Vincent P. Mathews, MD Michelle A. Michel, MD Parag J. Patel, MD Francisco A. Quiroz, MD William S. Rilling, MD, FSIR Gary S. Sudakoff, MD, FACR, FSRU, FSUR Parag P. Tolat, MD Sean Tutton, MD, FSIR