January 28th, 2011
Dan Would Like You to Know
Young Leaders Update
Thank You to AFSH Donors
President Willing to Consider Tort Reform; "Fixing" Healthcare Reform Act - From AAOS
Understanding the Medicare Physician Compare Website - From AMA
AMA: Patients Lack Education on Physician Credentials - From HealthLeadersMedia.com
Dan Would Like You to Know
Last week, the ASSH Council was in Rosemont for its winter meeting, where we engaged in discussions on a wide range of issues. Improving our practice management offerings was front and center, and a new business of hand surgery curriculum, designed in part by new Practice Division Director, David Ruch, MD, was presented on Friday. I am confident that our members will find incredible value through this initiative.
After the addition of three more editors to the ASSH Textbook, work is well underway. It’s expected to publish by early 2013. Furthermore, we are continuing to grow and improve our entire publications program, especially in the areas of e-publications and improved distribution.
And for all of you smartphone junkies, keep an eye out for the ASSH Annual Meeting App for mobile devices including iPads. The app will allow you to view the schedule, rate sessions, message exhibitors and much more.
Dan Nagle, MD
Young Leaders Update
This year's Young Leaders program was a great success. Fifteen bright young minds came together to learn the inner-workings and governance of the Hand Society and to explore big issues confronting our specialty and formulate their ideas into formal proposals for Council. They divided into groups of five to research and talk about expanding training, multi-center research trials and attracting plastic surgeons to hand fellowships, and presented the results on Saturday morning. Then they were welcomed to participate in the remainder of the meeting. Combining the fresh initiative of the Young Leaders and the experienced perspectives of Council never fails to drive a more comprehensive exploration regardless of the issue on the table.
I’d like to thank all of the participants for their dedication and enthusiasm and encourage any interested member in applying for the program next year. It’s an unforgettable, door-opening experience and a true service to Council and ASSH members.
Click here for a list of this year's participants.
Bob Szabo, MD, MPH
Chair, 2010 Young Leaders Program
Thank You to AFSH Donors
Thanks to the partnership of hundreds of donors each year the American Foundation for Surgery of the hand continues to make a difference in patient care, research, and education. We especially thank these donors who made a contribution to the Foundation in the past week or through the OREF in December 2010. To learn more about the Foundation or to make a contribution today, visit www.afsh.org.
Diane Mary Allen, MD
Edward A. Athanasian, MD
Michelle G. Carlson, MD
Michael J. Casey, MD
Carl R. Coleman, MD
John F. Crowe, MD
Charles S. Day, MD
David L. Evans, MD
Waldo E. Floyd, III, MD
Gary K. Frykman, MD
Richard D. Goldner, MD
Brian J. Harley, MD, FRCS(C)
Hill Hastings, II, MD
James H. House, MD
Douglas T. Hutchinson, MD
Andrew Jawa, MD
David Marshall Jemison, MD
Jesse B. Jupiter, MD
R. Kumar Kadiyala, MD, PhD
Lana Kang, MD
Stephen H. Lacey, MD
Amy L. Ladd, MD
Kevin W. Lanighan, MD
Fraser J. Leversedge, MD
Jon B. Loftus, MD
Brandon Z. Massey, MD
Jonas L. Matzon, MD
Anne J. Miller, MD
Chaitanya S. Mudgal, MD, MS, MCh
Terrence M. O'Donovan, MD
David C. Ring, MD, PhD
Melvin P. Rosenwasser, MD
Tamara D. Rozental, MD
David S. Ruch, MD
Andrew B. Stein, MD
Robert J. Strauch, MD
Nicole L. Strauss, MD
Daniel N. Switlick, MD
Peter Tang, MD, MPH
Andrew J. Weiland, MD
Scott W. Wolfe, MD
President Willing to Consider Tort Reform; "Fixing" Healthcare Reform Act - From AAOS
In his second State of the Union speech, President Obama stated that he would not support overturning the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), but would be willing to work with legislators to make improvements to the controversial healthcare reform law. In addition, the President broke with many Democrats and offered to consider reform of the medical liability system to reduce healthcare costs. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that tort reform could cut half a percent from overall healthcare costs in the United States. Read President Obama's address remarks on healthcare.
Understanding the Medicare Physician Compare Website - From AMA
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) required the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a Physician Compare website by January 1, 2011. In order to comply with the law, CMS launched the Medicare Physician Compare website in late December.
Design of Physician Compare website
Prior to launch of the new website, CMS published a Healthcare Provider Directory on Medicare.gov. This site allowed individuals to search for a physician or other health care professional by specialty or type of professional and location, along with education, hospital affiliation and other information. CMS relabeled the Health Care Provider Directory as the Physician Compare website.
Demographic data populated in the Physician Compare website, such as practice phone numbers and addresses, Medicare participation status and education information, are based on data found in the Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). Therefore, it is imperative that physicians and other health care professionals keep their Medicare enrollment information up to date. Physicians are required to report any changes to their enrollment status within 30 days. A current enrollment record must be in PECOS and must contain the physician's National Provider Identifier (NPI). Learn more.
AMA: Patients Lack Education on Physician Credentials - From HealthLeadersMedia.com
As further proof that Americans need to be enlightened on how to access effective healthcare, a new survey from the American Medical Association finds far too many patients don't know which providers have physician credentials, and which do not.
For example, asked whether an orthopedic surgeon or an orthopedist is a medical doctor, 12% said no. One-third of respondents said they do not think otolaryngologists are medical doctors.
The AMA's "Truth in Advertising Survey" survey also found that 83% of those surveyed want a physician to have primary responsibility for their healthcare and 90% believe that a physician's additional years of medical education and training (compared to those of a nurse practitioner) are vital to optimal patient care, especially in the event of a complication or emergency. Read more.