A Message from the ASSH President
One Question
Did You Know - ASSH Annual Meeting?
How Does Your Online Presence Stack Up?
Thank You to AFSH Donors
HVO Launches Orthopaedic Program in Ghana
Investments in Disease Prevention and Wellness Initiatives - From AMA
A Message from the ASSH President
I have devoted my presidential year to embracing excellence, specifically in the area of education with a vision of improving hand surgery training. The first step with such a big goal was to start an initiative to define the requisites of hand training and of our specialty. Our specialty has a unique history stemming from the multiple disciplines of Plastic, General and Orthopedic Surgery and has grown so much in both depth and breadth that it's time we stand back and take a careful look at who we are and what we do.
To lead this ambitious task, I assigned a task force headed by James Chang, MD and Martin Boyer, MD to create two working documents: the SHUE Curriculum (Spectrum of Hand and Upper Extremity) and the possible Rotation Pathways to achieve optimal training. In addition to the SHUE Curriculum and Rotation Pathways, they have provided an important executive summary that gives a comprehensive look at how this initiative began, of the members who offered their thoughtful input, and how the SHUE Curriculum may help the future of Hand Surgery education.
These preliminary documents have been vetted by Council and by fellowship directors. The documents will not require changes to the fellowship experience, rather they are points of a key discussion that I hope you will join. Please, visit our online forum, read the documents and share your feedback before September 17th.
This project is critical to the development and enhancement of our specialty in the future. I hope you take the chance to share your thoughts as we progress in this initiative to improve hand surgery education.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Szabo, MD, MPH
One Question
This week, we would like to learn more about how many books you purchase, and how you like to read them (hard copy or on a device). Thanks for answering this week’s One Question.
Did You Know - ASSH Annual Meeting?
The Colonnade, Sheraton, Westin, and Marriott hotels are sold out during the Annual Meeting. But rooms at the Hilton Boston Back Bay are still available. But hurry! The reduced rate ends when the rooms are sold out or on September 3, whichever occurs first. Visit the ASSH Annual Meeting housing website for details on how to book a room for the meeting. Hope to see you there!
How Does Your Online Presence Stack Up?
The world has changed; phone books and road atlases are obsolete; texting is rampant and, with the push of a button, you (or your patients) can publish their opinions to the unforgiving masses. What steps are you taking in your practice to make sure that you aren’t lost in the shuffle and relegated to a few reviews on healthgrades.com?
Dr. Szabo’s Social Media Task Force has worked hard to come up with a few simple initiatives you can take to help your practice stay above the fold and to accurately differentiate you as a skilled and certified hand surgeon from the riffraff that pops up in a potential patient’s well-meaning Google search. The Task Force members will be in the ASSH Educational Resource Center (formerly the ASSH Bookstore) during the Annual Meeting in Boston where they will share hand-outs or help you step-by-step to make positive strides for your digital footprint. Stop by, bring your laptop, and walk away more connected than before.
Look for more information coming soon!
Thank You to AFSH Donors
The American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand wishes to thank the following donors for their recent contributions:
Randall D. Alexander, MD
Michael J. Behrman, MD
Scott F. Duncan, MD, MPH
Marybeth Ezaki, MD
Frederick F. Fakharzadeh, MD
Robert J. Foster, MD
Hugh A. Frederick, MD
David Gesensway, MD
John C. Hildenbrand, IV, MD
Nicholas J. Horangic, MD
Elizabeth S. Joneschild, MD
Boyd C. Lumsden, MD
Patrick W. Owens
Raymond B. Raven
Hillel D. Skoff, MD
David T. Sowa, MD
Nathan L. Taylor, MD
Craig B. Willis, MD
Jennifer M. Wolf, MD
Learn more about the AFSH.
HVO Launches Orthopaedic Program in Ghana
HVO is pleased to announce the establishment of an orthopaedic program in Ghana at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Komfo Anokye is a 1000+ bed, older general hospital organized into four main inpatient blocks housing Medicine, Pediatrics, Ob-Gyn, and Surgery. In May of 2009, a new Accident and Emergency Center opened under the direction of the Orthopaedic Trauma service. It is adjacent to the old hospital and is a state-of-the art facility equipped with a triage area, minor and major treatment facilities, a resuscitation ward, three sub-acute wards for men, women, and children, an intensive care unit, four operating rooms, and a helipad.
The Hospital and the Orthopaedic Trauma Service are extremely busy with close to 200 orthopaedic patients. There are three functional orthopaedic services each under the direction of a surgeon. Additionally there are five surgical house officers and five or six general surgical residents on the service at one time as well as medical students rotating through the hospital. The new Orthopaedic Resident Training program consists of four to six first year orthopaedic residents. In addition five or six current general surgical residents interested in pursuing their specialty training in orthopaedics will also be in the training program.
The initial focus of the program is to provide training in trauma and pediatrics to the staff and to augment training provided to participants in the new orthopaedic residency program which begins in the fall of 2010. Other critical specialties will be needed in 2011. Prior academic experience is helpful but not required. Assignments are two to four weeks in length.
For more information, please email a.moody@hvousa.org or call 202-296-0928 x 19.
Investments in Disease Prevention and Wellness Initiatives - From AMA
The AMA strongly supports investments in prevention and wellness to promote a healthy America. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes, are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year and account for 75 percent of the nation's health care spending.
The Affordable Care Act includes significant investments in disease prevention and wellness initiatives designed to improve Americans' health and control health care spending.
Read a summary of some of the key prevention and wellness provisions that will help physicians assist their patients in leading healthier lifestyles.