President's Note
Volunteer's Note
AMA Membership Update
Listserv Hot Topic: Modern Dictation Tools
Thank You to AFSH Donors
6 Reasons to Donate to the AFSH this December
HVO Volunteer Opportunities
House OKs 2-Year Medicare Payment Patch; Senate Passage Not Expected
Early EMR Adopters Get a Break; Tougher Criteria Delayed to 2014
CMS Requires new ABN Form for 2012
President's Note
The ASSH Council had a very productive meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., last weekend. We received reports from the ASSH Identity Task Force and Member Engagement Task Force, discussed industry interaction guidelines and the ongoing AMA membership drive, and planned future digital educational products, including clinical mobile apps and an iPad application for the Journal of Hand Surgery.
Led by former president Steve Glickel, MD, the ASSH Identity Task Force examined whether we offer sufficient programs and services for all segments of our membership, regardless of training background, scope of practice, or practice setting. The Task Force also investigated mechanisms to achieve broader representation of our members in volunteer leadership. Pursuant to the Task Force recommendations, the Council voted to take steps to encourage involvement by private practice members on committees and in educational/research projects, to amend the current application for Council Divisional Directors to eliminate academic bias, and to develop a leadership program for mid-career professionals.
Council also discussed means to bring greater transparency to the nominating process for Council and to define potential conflicts for nominating committee members. Finally, the Task Force examined the current membership criteria and found them to be in keeping with our society's needs and stature in the field of hand and upper extremity surgery.
This marked the eighth year the ASSH Young Leaders Program was held in conjunction with the Council meeting. After a day of training and small-group preparation, the 14 Young Leaders joined the Council members on Saturday and presented their thoughtful deliberation on using digital technology to enhance upper extremity training and patient education. Their recommendations and ensuing robust exchange provided insight into the needs of our younger members, and shall be of great value to the Information Technology Advisory Group – led by our President-Elect, Ed Akelman – in its planning and execution.
Much more was covered in two days of vigorous Council discussion. I will provide a comprehensive summary soon. Thanks for your attention.
W. P. Andrew Lee, MD
ASSH President
Volunteer's Note
The Publications and Product Advisory Committee (PPAC) has been working hard to move the ASSH forward into a new era of book publishing. Current projects reflect this, as we are developing a number of e-books and e-monographs, as well as downloadable apps on selected topics.
We have a wealth of information written by some of the best minds in hand surgery, and the PPAC has been working to make this more accessible to a wider audience, extending far beyond the ASSH.
A comprehensive, two-volume ASSH upper extremity text book under the direction of Drs. Weiss and Berger is well underway, and it will be available both in print and as an e-book, with an anticipated release in early 2013. Also in the works are e-publications on Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain by Dr. Greenberg and Fractures and Dislocations of the Hand and Fingers by Dr. Seitz, as well as an app on the treatment of Distal Radius Fractures.
Dr. Alex Shin introduced a new concept – selected readings from the Journal of Hand Surgery –which will be chaired by Michael Hausman. Offered in print and as an e-book, it will consist of the 25 most frequently downloaded JHS papers from the preceding year, along with commentary by expert reviewers.
As you can see, these are exciting times for the ASSH. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our member volunteers, who have given their time and served as examples of the excellence that has made the ASSH one of the most respected hand surgery societies in the world.
On behalf of PPAC, I would like to offer our sincere thanks and congratulations to all of you who have contributed to these endeavors. I would also like to express our gratitude for the huge amount of work done behind the scenes by Tara Havenga and other ASSH staff members to help turn our dreams into reality.
David J. Slutsky, MD
Chair, Publications and Product Advisory Committee
AMA Membership Update
AMA rules stipulate that in order to qualify for a seat in the AMA House of Delegates, 25% of our members must be AMA members. We'd like to recognize those who have answered the call to either join or rejoin.
ASSH members who notified us this week (via email or the Listserv) that they've joined or rejoined the AMA:
Aaron Daluiski, MD
Paul J. Donahue, MD
Christopher R. Goll, MD
Orhan Kaymakcalan, MD
Ronald Solomon, MD
Stephen J. Troum, MD
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.Have your voice heard: Join the AMA.
Listserv Hot Topic: Modern Dictation Tools
One member used the Listserv this week to seek advice about using his Mac for dictation, and several people responded. One of the physicians who responded recommended a tool that has been so useful to him, he said it has changed his practice.
If you have already signed up for the Physician Listserv, you can view or contribute to the discussion on cutting-edge dictation tools by visiting the
archives and navigating to the December 13 thread titled "Dictation and Mac with Parallel to PC side." Don't know or remember your Listserv password? Reset your password
here.
To sign up for the Listserv, visit the
ASSH website.
Thank You to AFSH Donors Brian D. Adams, MD
Edward Akelman, MD
Donald S. Bae, MD
Taizoon H. Baxamusa, MD
Leon S. Benson, MD
Shervondalonn R. Brown, MD
Michael R. Coe, MD
Mark S. Cohen, MD
Fred G. Corley, Jr., MD
Andrew W. Cross, MD
Manuel F. DaSilva, MD
Thomas F. DeBartolo, MD
Pamela L. Jones, MD
Julie A. Katarincic, MD
Tosca Kinchelow Kulendran, MD
John G. Kloss, MD
Jerone T. Landstrom, MD
Charles S. Lane, MD
Kevin W. Lanighan, MD
Ericka A. Lawler, MD
Steve K. Lee, MD
JoAnne Levitan, MD
Kenneth R. Means, Jr., MD
Jose J. Monsivais, MD
Craig S. Phillips, MD
Jeffrey A. Rodgers, MD
Melvin P. Rosenwasser, MD
Sigurd C. Sandzen, Jr., MD
Apurva S. Shah, MD
William J. Smith, MD
Robert J. Strauch, MD
Peter Tang, MD, MPH
David J. Tulipan, MD
James R. Verheyden, MD
Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, MD
Lawrence E. Weiss, MD
Kirk L. Wong, MD
Robert W. Wysocki, MD
Melissa D. Young Szalay, 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.
6 Reasons to Donate to the AFSH this December
Why Donate to the AFSH this month? Please take a moment to consider these six reasons to make a contribution before 2011 has passed:
- All donations, whatever the amount or fund designation, are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law* AND benefit the future of patient care.
- You can give your donation in memory or honor of an individual who has shaped your career.
- You can include your donation with your 2012 ASSH dues renewal.
- You can donate appreciated stock and claim a deduction.*
- You can donate to the AFSH via the OREF. Visit www.oref.org/afsh to start.
- You appreciate all that your career in hand surgery has brought to your life, and you want to give back to the profession.
If you are planning to make a donation or dues payment, please note that the ASSH/AFSH Central Office will be closed December 23-26 and December 30-January 2. Any checks dated 2011 and postmarked by December 31, 2011 will be credited toward this giving year.
* As with all tax-related matters, you are advised to consult a tax professional.HVO Volunteer Opportunities
OrthopaedicsHonduras: Hand surgeons are needed for one week assignments in January and April 2012 to train through lectures, rounds and surgery. For more information, contact the program department (
a.moody@hvousa.org).
PediatricsBhutan: Pediatric subspecialists are needed in Bhutan for April 2012. Volunteers provide training to physicians, residents, students, lab technicians, and other relevant staff. Please contact the program department (
d.stonehirsch@hvousa.org) for more information.
House OKs 2-Year Medicare Payment Patch; Senate Passage Not Expected - from AMAThe U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would postpone the 27 percent Medicare physician payment cut scheduled for January 1 by two years and increase payments by 1 percent. The proposal is part of legislation that also would extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance programs.
The bill is now under consideration in the Senate, where it is not expected to pass. Additionally, the White House announced that should President Obama be presented with the bill, he would veto it.
Read more.
Early EMR Adopters Get a Break; Tougher Criteria Delayed to 2014 - from AMAPhysicians meeting criteria in 2011 to earn federal electronic medical record incentives will have more time before the Dept. of Health and Human Services requires them to satisfy tougher standards for attaining additional bonuses.
The move is being viewed by physicians and health policy observers as a goodwill gesture by the Obama administration toward EMR early adopters. Doctors and hospitals who currently meet stage 1 meaningful use criteria would be able to vie for bonuses for an extra year under the same requirements, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on November 30. These bonus recipients would not need to upgrade their EMR systems to comply with stage 2 standards until 2014, instead of 2013 under the initial plan.
Read more.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised the Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131. This form is used by health care providers, including physicians, when they expect Medicare will deny payment.
The revised form replaces ABN-G (Form CMS-R-131G), ABN-L (Form CMS-R-131L), and NEMB (Form CMS-20007).
Read more.