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Constitution of the UK PACS & Teleradiology Group 2010.
Scope - The UK PACS & Teleradiology Group was established as a special interest group of the UK Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) in 1998. Membership is now open to all healthcare imaging professionals interested in PACS, teleradiology, the electronic patient record and other related developments as they relate to imaging.
Membership - All registered users of the Group website are granted group membership and are allowed to contribute to Group discussions and activities.
Those with commercial interests or in industry employment may only be associate members. Full members of the Group are those working in clinical practice or as allied health professionals without commercial interests. All full members are able to vote at Group elections, for example to appoint new officers and to attend the closed, business meetings at the biannual Group national meetings.
There are currently no membership subscription fees.
Officers - The Group has three Executive Officers: a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer, all of whom must be full Group members. The Chairman leads the Group and is the key representative at meetings with other organisations. The Secretary is responsible for Group administration, including organising meetings. The Treasurer is responsible for administering the group accounts and should share the annual accounts with the other Officers and full group members. All three officers are involved in setting Group policy and direction. At least two officers must be Fellows of the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR). The third officer must be a full member of the Group.
Tenure of post is for three years. A post holder may stand for re-election for one additional term only. An officer may seek election to another position, but would not normally be eligible to take up a same role for more than 2 terms.
Executive Committee – In addition to the 3 elected Officers, there is also an additional 6 elected Committee members. Committee members must be full Group members. Committee members are also appointed for three years, and may stand for re-election for a further full term of 3 years. A minimum of five of the Committee Officers/Members should be RCR fellows as Group is a Special Interest Group of the RCR.
Co-opted Members---
1. RCR will be invited to provide 2 elected RCR officers to be part of the Executive Committee of The UK PACS & Teleradiology SIG-- as co-opted members. Some knowledge & interest in PACS & Clinical IT issues will be preferred.
2. Other Co-opted Executive Committee member/s maybe invited for their special expertise-- where there is clearly no conflict of interest and it is agreed this supports the best interests of the Group. This would include positions of webmaster, representation from IHE-UK, and other organizations in the interest of the Group. Because it is an exception to the normal process, any co-opted individuals’ membership will be reviewed annually.
Elections of Officers and Committee members - will normally be made by secret ballot (anonymous written ballot papers) at one of the Group’s biannual meetings, counted by two appointed Returning Officers during or at the conclusion of the meeting. A brief statement will usually be required of each candidate. In the event of there only being one candidate for a post, a consensus on suitability will be reached by the Executive Officers and Committee. One of the Officers will normally advertise forthcoming Officer or Executive Committee member vacancies at least six months in advance of the next Group meeting. This will be done via the Group website and will allow candidates to be proposed in time for a statement to be prepared for the next meeting. Nomination will normally be through a candidate being proposed and seconded for the position although self-nomination is permitted.
There is no financial remuneration pertaining to any role in the Group.
Website – The Group website supports the group objectives by facilitating communication between healthcare professionals, groups and organisations interested in PACS, teleradiology, the EPR and related imaging IT developments. It also provides a number of reference resources and links to related sites. Information entered on the registration form is added to the member database to form an online database of PACS installations and developments within health care institutions. The webmaster will normally be an co-opted executive committee member.
The Webmaster, Officers and Committee reserve the right to remove postings they consider to be an inaccurate representation of fact, in any way offensive or to be otherwise in conflict with the best interests of the Group. There is no right of appeal.
Group Sponsorship – the Group recognizes and is grateful to its sponsors. However, sponsors must understand that no canvassing or coercion of committee members or officers is permitted and that any attempt to pervert the ideals or constitution of the Group will result in immediate expulsion from any membership of or financial relationship with the Group. The period of expulsion will be determined by the Officers and Committee. Any funds already paid to the Group will be forfeit.
Sponsors and associate industry members are permitted to make statements in support of their products on the web site user forum but are required to declare their commercial interest at the beginning of the posting. The Webmaster, Officers and Committee reserve the right to remove postings if they consider them to have been made with the express and unsolicited purpose of promoting a commercial product. There is no right of appeal.
Sponsors are permitted to display their company logo on the User Forum home page. Full details of sponsorship terms and conditions are available from the Group Treasurer.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS: Any further amendments will need majority approval by the elected members of the Executive Committee.
Adopted on 29 June 2010.
Signed by current Office holders:
Dr Neelam Dugar, Chair
Dr Nick Hollings, Treasurer
Mrs Margaret Cosens, Secretary
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Constitution of the UK PACS & Teleradiology Group 2010