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Sunday, July 30, 2006
8:00 am – 5:00 pm 
Separate fee required
CRA Prep Course
Room 201-202

8:00 am - 9:00 am 
Test Taking Tips
CREDITS: 1
Carole South-Winter, MEd, RT, CNMT
Reclaiming Youth International, Lennox, SD

There are some common sense approaches to studying and test taking that can reduce anxiety and improve test performance. Preparation is the key to success. In this session we will discuss ways to prepare for the exam weeks and even months prior to sitting for the certification exam, in addition candidates will learn to “think like an item writer” and understand the psychometrics involved in certification exam construction. Discussion on preparing yourself the day before and the day of the exam will also be covered.

You will learn to:

•  Recognize variables in a certification exam
• Identify physical, emotional and mental strategies to increase test performance
• Compare methods of test writing
• Strategize personal approaches to successful certification

9:00 am - 10:00 am 
Human Resource Management
CREDITS: 1
Tom Redman, CRA
Prince William Hospital, Manassas, VA

This session will consist of an hour of human resources review for participants planning on taking the CRA exam. We will discuss labor laws, scope of practice, staffing ratios, supervision principles, job classifications, coaching, and negotiations.  An individual attending this session will get an understanding of general information that will be in the domain of Human Resource Management on the CRA exam.

You will learn to:

• Understand the domain of Human Resource Management as it relates to radiology administration.
• Understand a broad range of human resource management topics including recruitment, retention, and performance evaluations, technical competence and skill development, leadership development, and recognition.
• Define important Human Resource Management concepts and terms.

10:00 am - 11:00 am
Operations Management
CREDITS: 1
Luann Culbreth, M Ed, RT(R)(MR)(QM), CRA  
Baylor Healthcare System, Plano, TX

This session will cover key areas of operations management, including assessing customer satisfaction with imaging services using appropriate tools to enhance quality and serve the interest of stakeholders and responding to survey results using continuous quality improvement methods to enhance customer satisfaction and meet organizational objectives.  The speaker will also discuss providing for the quality and appropriateness of patient care by coordinating the development and implementation of medical protocols to adhere to accepted standards of care and coordinating patient management by identifying and supplying necessary resources to provide optimal imaging services.  Other topics include: establishing industry partnership by building alliances to leverage negotiating power, maximize resources, and developing opportunities; differentiating imaging services from those of competitors by developing marketing and public relations plans to maintain existing and attract new business; writing policies and procedures following federal, state, and other regulatory guidelines to comply with applicable standards and protect patients and other stakeholders; enforcing policies and procedures by monitoring compliance and providing feedback to uphold applicable standards; and developing a quality management program using process improvement tools to further enhance and complement the strategic goals of the organization.

You will learn to:

• Understand the major tasks involved with the domain of operations management. 
• Give examples of the knowledge base needed for operations management.
• Give examples of the skills used in the performance domain of operations management.

11:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Fiscal Management
CREDITS: 1
Jennifer Jones, CRA 
Mercy Memorial Health Center, Ardmore, OK

This session will consist of an hour of review for participants on Fiscal Management.  We will touch on basics such as understanding financial statements, fundamental accounting equations, financial ratio analysis and budget preparations.  But we will not be limited to basics.  After all, what would Fiscal Management be without forecasting for future business, development of a strategic plan for your department or creating business plans?  Next areas for review will be generating revenue with proper coding, billing, payor sources, pricing and collection.  Attendees will get an understanding of expected information that will be in the domain of Fiscal Management on the CRA exam.

You will learn to:

• Review the domain of Fiscal Management as it relates to radiology administration. 
• Understand financial principles used in day-to-day operations.
• Understand budgeting, productivity and planning for the future.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm  
Lunch

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Asset Resource Management
CREDITS: 1
Tom Redman, CRA
Prince William Hospital, Manassas, VA

This session will consist of an hour of asset management review for participants planning on taking the CRA exam. We will discuss RFI’s, RFP’s, equipment life expectancy, needs assessment, forecasting, capacity analysis, modality appropriateness, service maintenance programs, and project teams.  An individual attending this session will get an understanding of general information that will be in the domain of Asset Management on the CRA exam.

You will learn to:

• Understand the domain of Asset Management as it relates to radiology administration.
• Understand a broad range of asset management topics including capital equipment business plan, selection process, project management, equipment maintenance, and inventory management.
• Define important Asset Management concepts and terms.

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Communication and Information Management
CREDITS: 1
Luann Culbreth, M Ed, RT(R)(MR)(QM), CRA  
Baylor Healthcare System, Plano, TX

This session will cover key areas of communication and information management, including fostering interdisciplinary communication and collaboration by eliciting the exchange of information to meet or exceed customer service expectations and achieve organizational objectives and developing action plans on a regular basis by identifying areas that are compliant/non-compliant with predetermined measures to achieve organization objectives.  The speaker will also discuss managing business and patient information by putting electronic and /or manual systems in place to ensure its integrity, confidentiality and security, and identifying opportunities to enhance involvement in the community by participating in volunteer activities to enhance public healthier awareness and promote the organization’s presences in the community.

You will learn to:

• Understand of the major tasks involved with the domain of communication and information management. 
• Give examples of the knowledge base needed for communication and information management.
• Give examples of the skills used in the performance domain of communication and information management.

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm 
Mock CRA Exam
CREDITS: 0
Carole South-Winter, MEd, RT, CNMT
Reclaiming Youth International, Lennox, SD