Contacted Senator Isakson 7/11/2008 at 9:00pm:

Senator Isakson,

Hello, I am a senior sonography student at Armstrong Atlantic State University.  It has come to my attention that sonographers are not required to get registered before practicing in Georgia and nationwide.  I know that Radiography and Radiation Therapy are pushing for the passage of the CARE bill to lower radiation exposure and costs of exams, but I have not noticed any legislation pushing for diagnostic medical sonographers to be registered before practicing.  I am contacting you because you support the CARE bill.  Ultrasound registration is not included within the CARE bill.  America seems to be pushing for universal healthcare, yet healthcare providers are not being required to sit for a national registry before practicing.  For a senior leadership project, my team is pushing for awareness and promoting registration for diagnostic medical sonographers be required before practicing in Georgia.  We will be sending a petition in the future, and I just wanted to give you a heads up.

Thank you,
Holly Hughes

Returned email from the Senator received July 20, 2008:

Dear Ms. Hughes:   Thank you for contacting me regarding S.1042, the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2007, also known as the CARE Act. I appreciate your comments and am glad to have the opportunity to respond.              As you know, I am a cosponsor of S.1042, which seeks to make technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly. This bill has been reported out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, of which I am a member. I understand the importance of providing safe, low-cost health treatments for those who need it, and I appreciate your suggestion regarding ultrasound registration. I look forward to supporting this legislation when it comes to the Senate floor for a vote.             Thank you again for contacting me. Please visit my webpage at http://isakson.senate.gov/ for more information on the issues important to you and to sign up for my e-newsletter by choosing Newsletter Subscription from the topic list. Sincerely, Johnny Isakson United States Senator