ASET History

OUR HISTORY

In 1929, Hans Berger, M.D., a German psychiatrist, published his findings from performing recordings of the electrical activity of the brain through the intact skull. Dr. Berger was hoping to find an organic basis for psychological phenomena. Instead he stumbled onto a very useful, noninvasive neurodiagnostic procedure, the electroencephalogram [EEG]. In 1934, Dr. Adrian and Brian Matthews confirmed Berger’s findings.

Want to learn more about brilliant history of neurodiagnostics? Click the download link to learn more about the genesis of our industry, from the days of reading electrical potentials of animals to the early accomplishments of Dr. Berger and onto his breakthroughs. Between 1935 and 1939 the top EEG minds of the time convened at a laboratory in New York, solidifying the efficacy of electroencephalography and led to the creation of EEG societies like the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (1946) and later on ASET.

Several groups of EEG pioneers researched, discovered, and demonstrated EEG findings in children, epilepsy, coma, brain pathology, sleep and in normal populations. In the 1950s, EEGs were being performed in major medical centers and filtering into private practices.

Digital EEG recordings have replaced analog, paper recordings. With digital capabilities, EEG data analysis, long-term monitoring, and continuous EEG recordings in the ICU are new arenas.

Evoked potentials [EPs] were first introduced by Dawson in 1947. During the 1960s, there was extensive research about EPs. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, EPs were used to help diagnose multiple sclerosis, to evaluate brain stem functions and to evaluate spinal cord sensory pathways. In recent years, EPs have found their way into the operating room – intraoperative neuromonitoring [IONM] – monitoring of the integrity of sensory and motor pathways during various spinal, chest, abdominal, and head surgeries.

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ASET In Memoriam

The In Memoriam page is an acknowledgement of dedicated members of the Society who have passed away.

Voices of History: Conversations with the Notable

ASET’s YouTube playlist of archived audio interviews from persons of historical significance.

Highlights of the Last 60 Years

1959

The organizational meeting is held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The American Electroencephalographic Society (AEEGS), with Dr. Peter Kellaway, Chairman, assists a group of dedicated EEG technicians who were subscribing members of AEEGS to establish themselves as an entirely independent professional group, which incorporated as the American Society of Electroencephalographic Technicians (ASET).

1960

Under the leadership of G. Lawrence Mowery, ASET President 1959-61, the 1st Annual Meeting, an open scientific session, is held at Cape Cod, MA. The site was chosen so that ASET could meet jointly with AEEGS.

During the business meeting, 275 new members were voted into the Society. Members paid an annual dues fee of $10.00.

Business affairs of the Society are handled by the elected secretary and treasurer.

1964

Operating with a supporting grant from United States Public Health Service (USPHS), Division of Chronic Diseases, ASET and the Committee on Training and Education of the AEEGS organize a conference on the training of EEG technicians, and subsequently, the defining qualifications of EEG technologists by direct examinations.

Under joint sponsorship from ASET and AEEGS, the American Board of Registration of EEG Technologists (ABRET), the nationally-accepted credentialing organization for EEG technicians, emerges. ABRET is incorporated in Virginia.

The first oral EEG exam is given by ABRET.

1972

ASET representatives meet in Washington, DC with the representatives of other allied health organizations to discuss the proposed National Economic Council of Allied Health Professions and proposed unionization. ASET Board votes not to belong to or have a representative on a collective bargaining unit.

Following overwhelming response from technicians, the ASET Basic Course is repeated in conjunction with meetings of the Western Society of EEG Technologists (WSET) and Central Society of EEG Technologists (CSET).

At the annual meeting, Course I – Basics is expanded to two days, and a one-day Course II in Advanced Technology is introduced.

An accreditation process is created for training programs in EEG Technology.

The ASET Executive Office is established and a part-time position is filled by the AEEGS secretary.

1979

ASET publishes the first in a series of journal reprints, Book I Localization and Polarity.

The Knott Educational Lecture Program is established and sponsored by the Grass Instrument Company to honor the many contributions of Dr. John Knott to the education and professionalism of EEG technology.

Membership grows to more than 1700 technologists.

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BPRT) gives the first credentialing exam in polysomnography (RPSGT).

1983

Annual meeting is conducted jointly with the American Polysomnographic Technologists (APT) in Washington, DC. Training and education course offerings expand to include evoked potentials and Course III – Sleep Disorders with evening workshops.

ASET/AEEGS Joint symposium at the annual meeting addresses the Changing Healthcare Environment: Implications for the EEG Technologist.

ABRET gives the first evoked potential (R. EP T.) exam in July.

George Klem begins his 4-year term as OSET President. George is the first US technologist to be elected to the OSET Presidency.

1984

With an increase in technologists in leadership roles, Training and Education course offerings at the annual meeting include Management Skills, Hospital Trends, and Impact on EEG laboratories.

ASET sponsors the first National EEG Awareness Week.

Academic Advisory Council sponsors the first program for educators.

ASET celebrates its 25th Anniversary in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1987

To recognize the growing field of neurodiagnostics and the diversity of its membership, ASET members vote to change the organization name to American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists. The acronym, ASET, remains unchanged.

ASET Board of Trustees awards honorary membership to Ellen Grass and establishes the Ellen Grass Guest Lecture Series to be presented at the Annual Scientific Session each year. The first Ellen Grass Lecture was presented by William Goldie, MD.

1992

ASET Training and Education Committee accepts an invitation from the Michigan Society of EEG Technologists to join them in Dearborn, Michigan to conduct the first ASET Spring Courses in EEG and Evoked Potentials.

Theda Sannit Outstanding Educator Award, established in 1990 by the Philadelphia Regional EEG Technologists Association and the Eastern Society of EEG Technologists to honor Theda’s accomplishments and contributions to EEG, is continued by ASET. Margaret Gordon, R. EEG T. is the first recipient.

1996

Continuing to respond to the expanding scope of practice of the membership, ASET offers a focus course on Nerve Conduction Studies.

ASET Board establishes the Kathleen Mears Lecture, to be presented annually as part of the Scientific Session. The first lecture is presented by Lewis Kull, R. EEG/EP T.

John Archibald Student Scholarship is established with John’s direction prior to his death; providing funding for a student to attend the ASET annual conference. Sheila Smith is the first recipient.

ABRET gives the first CNIM exam.

2004

AJET is accepted for inclusion and indexing in MEDLINE/Index Medicus.

ASET Board of Trustees commissions and adopts white paper on Occupational Regulation.

ASET issues statements regarding the Scope of Practice for Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists and on National Competencies for Long-term Monitoring for Epilepsy (LTME).

ASET Foundation is established to serve as the philanthropic arm of the Society.

ASET brings distance learning opportunities and conference call seminars to the END technologist for education and professional development.

First online course in EEG is launched.

ABRET obtains a seat on the Epilepsy Foundation’s Professional Advisory Board.

2005

ASET hosts an Educational Forum to discuss the future of END education.

ASET acquires the copyright for the EEG curriculum from California College of Health Sciences.

ASET issues statement on National Competencies for Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS).

Kathy Mears Education Award is established to honor Kathy’s commitment to education; award is given to an END student and the program he/she is attending. LoriAnn Brinkman, student; Clarian Health END Technology Program, Indianapolis, Indiana are the first recipients.

ABRET forms a board to begin EEG Laboratory Accreditation.

2008

ASET issues statement on ICU/cEEG Monitoring National Competencies.

A Bachelor’s Degree task force is convened to facilitate the development of education in END Technology at the Bachelor degree level.

Distinguished Service Award is established to honor an individual member for exemplary service and contribution to the Society and/or to the electroneurodiagnostic profession. Lewis Kull, R. EEG/EP T., CLTM and Judy Ahn-Ewing, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM are the first recipients.

The CNIM credential earns National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditation.

ABRET gives the first CLTM exam.

ASET introduces webinar continuing education series.

December – ASET membership surpasses the 3,000 mark.

2009

Along with ABRET and the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), ASET hosts an EEG Summit to address the critical need for entry-level technologists and the expansion of EEG educational opportunities.

Lewis Kull Memorial Keynote Address established with all expenses paid by ABRET to honor Lewis Kull and his commitment to electroneurodiagnostic education and superb patient care. Joyce Bender is the first presenter.

ASET Board adopts statement in support of licensure of END profession.

ASET celebrates its 50th Anniversary in Phoenix, Arizona.

2011

ASET adopts new Scope of Practice Position Statement for Neurodiagnostic Technology.

ASET membership approves legally changing the name of the society from American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists to ASET – The Neurodiagnostic Society. ASET, ACNS and ASNM join forces to develop a document tentatively titled, “Qualifications for Neurodiagnostic Personnel.”

ASET implements Grassroots Campaign, a nationwide network of information sharing among neurodiagnostic professions with the goal of promoting the best possible patient care. Registration opens for NCS and LTM online course curricula ASET revenue surpasses $1,000,000 for first time.

2012

Name of American Journal of Electroneurodiagnostic Technology officially changed to The Neurodiagnostic Journal.

ASET Board adopts program for conferring the honorary designation of ASET Fellow.

Name of Bachelor’s Degree Task Force changed to “Formal Education Task Force” to reflect expanded mission to encourage creation of new formal education programs in Neurodiagnostics, including associate and bachelor’s (or advanced) degree programs.

ASET Board begins three-year strategic planning cycles; adopts five critical goals for 2012 – 2015, including state implementation of licensure for neurodiagnostic professionals.

Registration opens for Evoked Potentials online course ASET Chapter Affiliate Program adopted; first charter issued to Hawaii Pacific Chapter. ASET membership surpasses 4,000.

2013

Oral examination no longer required for R. EEG T. credential.

ASET adopts Position Statement on Long-term Monitoring for Epilepsy

Membership approves bylaws amendment extending voting rights to all Institutional employee members ASET online curricula for EEG, IONM, LTM, and NCS receives American Council on Education college credit recommendations.

Dr. Joseph Drazkowski, R. EEG/EP T. appointed Medical Editor of The Neurodiagnostic Journal

David O. Weaver and Weaver and Company first recipients of new ASET Trustees Award

SETT and Mid-Atlantic Chapters chartered

2015

Online version of The Neurodiagnostic Journal goes live; all past volumes indexed and searchable.

ASET Board adopts Position Statement on Unattended Patients During Standard EEG.

ASET Board adopts critical ends for 2015 – 2018; enactment of licensure for neurodiagnostic profession remains a critical goal.

ASET Board adopts Position Statement on Skin Safety during EEG Procedures: A Guide to Improving Outcome.

California Neurodiagnostic Society and Ohio receive ASET chapter charters

ASET Board establishes Research Committee and Veterans Outreach Task Force. ASET membership surpasses 5,000.

2016

ASET Board approves State Licensure Grant program to assist Chapters in pursuing licensure of neurodiagnostic technologists.

ASET offers Epilepsy 911 course for EMTs; approved for four hours of EMT CEUs.

ASET adopts Position Statement on Core Curriculum as Means to Grow a Qualified Workforce.

ASET Scope of Practice Position Statement amended to include autonomic testing and magnetoencephalography.

Florida Chapter chartered.

2017

Dr. Satyanarayana Gedela appointed Medical Editor of The Neurodiagnostic Journal ASET joins coalition on CPT coding changes for attended and unattended long term EEG monitoring ASET and ABRET sign Memorandum of Understanding to foster greater cooperation and collaboration.

Arizona, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, SSET and Washington Chapters chartered.

ASET membership surpasses 6,000.

ASET revenue surpasses $1.5 million for first time Trustees Award presented to Lifelines Neurodiagnostic Systems

2018

ASET Board adopts new vision statement, “Neurologic health and quality of care is improved globally.”

“To provide leadership, advocacy and resources that promote professional excellence, and patient safety and quality care, in neurodiagnostics” adopted as new mission statement.

ASET offers prepaid lifetime membership option.

New York Chapter chartered.

ASET membership surpasses 6,600