* – Candidate members do not count toward our AMA membership total, but the ASSH would like to recognize them for joining or rejoining. Have you recently joined or rejoined the AMA? Please let us know by contacting amitchell@assh.org so we can track the progress of your AMA membership. ASSH will reconcile our membership list with the AMA to get credit for our members in early 2012.
Volunteer's Note
Three years ago, the ASSH established the Military Task Force, and since then, the task force has evolved into the Military Relations Committee.
The goal of this committee is to assist members of the United States Armed Forces in the improvement of care, education, and resources. The committee consists of both ASSH military members (CAPT Eric Hofmeister, MD, CDR George Nanos, MD, and LtCOL Richard Harrison, MD) and civilian members (Alexander Shin, MD, L. Scott Levin, MD, Jeffrey Friedrich, MD, L. Andrew Koman, MD, and from the Central Office, Jessica Daniels). The committee meets at the Annual Meeting, the annual Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons (SOMOS) meeting, and teleconferences throughout the year.
This year, the committee requested, and through the assistance of the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH), was able to offer six scholarships to attend this year's annual meeting. Those interested in learning more about hand surgery and networking with leaders in the field but were unable to secure funding from their military facility were encouraged to apply.
Applicants included those in training as well as staff surgeons from all three military services. As expected, there was excellent competition, and the scholarship winners were: Chad L. Bender, MD, Ky M. Kobayashi, MD, Leo T. Kroonen, MD, Jason A. Nydick, DO, Patrick J. Pollock, MD, and Scott M. Tintle, MD.
In assisting with research related to hand injuries and care, the committee also established a Military Research Grant. LCDR Leo Kroonen, MD, was awarded a $10,000 grant for his study titled "Iliac Crest versus Distal Radius Bone Autograft for the Treatment of Scaphoid Waist Nonunions." For submissions or further information about the Military Research Grant, visit the
ASSH website.
The ASSH has continued to play a role at the annual meeting of the Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons (SOMOS). In addition to arranging for leaders in the field of hand surgery to give lectures, assist with workshops, and moderate scientific sessions, the Hand Society continues to support a luncheon in which interested individuals can network, discuss difficult cases, and get opinions from leaders in the field.
The committee continues to search for new ways and ideas to further its goals and is coordinating a joint symposium at the Annual Meeting that will address complex reconstruction issues for amputees.
Happy Veterans Day!
Eric P. Hofmeister, MD
Military Relations Committee Chair
One Question
What's the biggest patient misconception about hand surgeons or hand conditions that you'd like to see the ASSH address?
Click here to answer.
We are planning to introduce a JHS app for iPad in early 2012, and last week we asked you to give your opinion on that as well as other methods for delivering JHS content.
View results.
Last Call: Annual Meeting Instructional Course or Symposium Abstracts
Do you have a topic that you'd like to moderate for an Instructional Course or Symposium at the 67th Annual Meeting in Chicago?
Your last chance to submit your proposal is this Monday, November 14. Review the
Call for Abstracts and
submit your proposal today!
OCC Webinar Reminder: 'Fingertip Injuries'
Register now for the Online Consultation Corner webinar "Fingertip Injuries" on Monday, December 5, at 7:30 PM CST.
Moderator Scott D. Lifchez, MD, will discuss three to five submitted cases with expert consultants David T. Netscher, MD, and Steven L. Peterson, MD, DVM.
You can submit your case or questions for the discussion to ASSH using the online Image Library or via email at
meetings@assh.org.
Registration is limited to the first 95 ASSH members.
Submit Your Proposal for $100,000 Clinical Research Grant
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand, the AFSH will award a $100,000 grant for a well-designed, prospective multi-center clinical research study. With many clinical questions waiting to be asked and answered, AFSH/ASSH will continue to elevate our tradition of high-quality research.
Applications must be submitted by February 1, 2012. The ASSH Research Committee will review all proposals and select the recipient of this grant, to be announced at the 67th Annual Meeting of the ASSH in September 2012 in Chicago.
Find out how to apply.
New initiatives like this are made possible by the generous support of ASSH members and friends through annual giving, which supports a portion of all funding the Hand Society awards for hand surgery research. There are many opportunities to donate to the general or designated funds throughout the year and at
different donor levels. Learn more at
www.afsh.org/donate.
Thank You to AFSH Donors
Richard W. Barth, MD
Hubert B. Bradburn, MD
Peter D. Burge, FRCS
Douglas H. Chin, MD, PhD, FACS
Michael B. Clendenin, MD
Noubar A. Didizian, MD
Alan N. Ertel, MD
Carlos H. Fernandes, MD
Robert I. Gelb, MD
Robert R. Gray, MD
Warren C. Hammert, MD
Kevin A. Hildebrand, MD
Lana Kang, MD
Stephen C. Klasson, MD
Donald W. Lyddon, Jr., MD
Douglas R. Mason, MD
Moheb S. Moneim, MD
Robert Pae, MD
Andrew K. Palmer, MD
S. Houston Payne, Jr., MD
Lee M. Reichel, MD
Stephen D. Rose, MD
Andres Taleisnik, MD
Andrew J. Vicar, MD
Did you know you can now support the Foundation (AFSH) through automated monthly payments? Visit www.afsh.org/donate to complete an auto-pay form, or contact afsh@assh.org.Don't Miss AMA Webinar on ACO Final Rule
The AMA will host a free webinar on the ACO final rule on Monday, November 21 at 6 p.m. CST.
Join AMA President-elect Jeremy Lazarus, MD, and national expert Harold Miller for a 60-minute webinar that will outline the significant improvements and opportunities for physicians in the final ACO rule, describe application information, and answer physicians' questions about ACOs and other payment innovations.
Register for webinar.
Final Medicare Fee Schedule Rule Emphasizes Need to Repeal SGR - from AMA
Physicians face a slightly smaller but still steep cut in 2012 Medicare payments under a final rule released November 1 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The 27.4 percent cut is lower than the original 29.5 percent reduction in payments scheduled for January 1. But it serves as an important reminder to Congress to repeal Medicare's flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula before the cut takes effect less than two months from now.
Read more.
Have your voice heard. Join the AMA.Appeals Court Rules in Favor of PPACA Individual Mandate - from AAOSThe
Washington Post reports that the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has upheld the so-called "individual mandate" portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which requires most Americans to obtain health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.
The plaintiff in the case had argued that Congress overstepped its authority by compelling individuals to enter into commerce by making them buy health insurance. The Obama administration countered that because nearly everyone will need health care and hospitals are barred from turning away emergency cases, people who go without insurance are making an economic decision about how their health care will eventually be funded, either by themselves or by passing the cost on to providers or taxpayers. The decision is notable because the author of the majority opinion, Judge Laurence Silberman, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and is viewed as conservative-leaning.
Read more.
Politics, Money Stall Liability Reform Efforts - from AAOSAn article in
Politico looks at recent efforts to implement medical liability reform on the federal level. The author notes that, as far back as 2009, President Obama pledged to address the issue, allocating $25 million to test alternatives to the current medical liability system.
However, since that time, budgetary cutbacks and partisan politics have slowed down medical liability reform efforts. Consequently, the $50 million called for under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to expand upon the 2009 state demonstration projects remains unfunded by Congress, as is the $250 million requested by Obama to subsidize the U.S. Department of Justice’s exploration of alternative reform approaches. A bill currently being promoted by U.S. House Republicans calls for a $250,000 federal cap on noneconomic damages and a reduced statute of limitations.
Read more.