May 2004 | Vol. 22/No. 5

SVU Member Profile

Joanne Drago, LPN, RVT

Technical Director, Michigan Vascular Center, Flint, Michigan

How long have you been in the vascular technology profession?

I have been a vascular technologist for 24 years and have had my RVT credentials in vascular testing since 1987.

What made you decide to enter vascular technology as a career?

While working in Intensive Care in a hospital, the senior partner of a three man vascular group in Flint, MI, asked if I was interested in helping them to start a “Vascular Laboratory.” I jumped on board and 24 years later here I am.

What do you like best about your current position?

My job is very challenging and rewarding and there is always something happening! Keeping up with 10 vascular surgeons in a private practice and 23 technologists keeps me pretty busy. Providing and maintaining quality patient care in the hospital labs and main office is our number one priority. Having the opportunity to grow with our profession and all of the knowledge, experience and friendships that were obtained along the way are just a few of the benefits of all of our hard work.

How do you stay up to date on changes in vascular technology?

Attending various meetings sponsored by our professional organizations & exhibitors; keeping up with publications in all relevant journals; and taking part in many research projects through our research center.

When did you join SVU?

I really was excited about joining SVU (know then as SNIVT) in 1981. Back then there were only a few people in this area that were working in a vascular lab. One from the University of Michigan and one from the VA hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. The technologist from U of M taught me to do lower extremity waveforms and more about arterial studies using CW doppler. (Really dating myself huh!) I couldn’t wait to go to my first SNIVT meeting!

On what SVU Committees have you served on in the past or are serving on now?

Before I was elected to the SVT Board of Directors (1993-96), I served on numerous committees including Nominations and Government Relations Committees. As a Board member I chaired the Publications and Membership Committees. I enjoyed coming to the Board meetings with new ideas for projects I thought would be beneficial. Some of the t- shirt ideas weren’t always smiled upon, but sold really well! Raffles were fun back then and all of the exhibitors and members were very gracious with the donations of prizes like box seats to a Chicago Bulls game and a weekend in Chicago!

At this time I am serving as one of two SVU representatives on the ICAVL Board of Directors. I am also a member of the SVU Nominations Committee.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing vascular technologists today?

I think we all know what the major issues are at this time because we are all experiencing them. Maintaining our labs and surviving the reimbursement changes. Not only lab payment, but the surgeons or specialists who are the directors of our labs have had substantial cuts in reimbursement as well, and the cost of malpractice insurance. These factors all relate to being able to afford new equipment, paying technologists an appropriate rate, and being able to send people to meetings and support our national organization. All these things affect the future of our profession.

How can SVU better serve its members in the future?

I have watched SVU make many changes over the past 24 years. These changes have always been made depending on what was happening around us and what challenges each individual Board was faced with at that time. I feel the present times are our most challenging. One of the best moves we have made was to join forces with our related organizations to have a bigger impact on the governing agencies that control our future. Leadership is important. Membership is important. One doesn’t exist without the other. I encourage our members to become involved with the Society and support their profession by joining a committee that interests them. We all need to help to survive these difficult times.

What do you do for fun when you are not working?

You mean I get time off? In my spare time I enjoy sports activities, gardening, boating, reading a good book and taking a nap in the sun!