General Information 

The 2009 Combined Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the ASSH and the ASHT. The ASSH is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The ASSH designates this educational activity for a maximum of 36.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The maximum number of hours noted above includes all available educational programming including optional and additional-fee activities. Those only attending the general scientific sessions, instructional courses and the interactive case reviews (included in regular registration fee) over all three days of the main conference can earn up to 22.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. To review the full list of sessions eligible for CME please download the paper version of the CME Claim Form.  NOTE --all attendees will be able to claim CME online at the conclusion of the meeting, beginning on Sunday, September 6.

To claim CME after the meeting please login to your account through www.assh.org. All meeting attendees are assigned a unique login, regardless if they are a physician or member of the Hand Society.  Learn more.

ASHT Continuing Education Hours
Attendees will receive up to 39.00 continuing education hours, or 3.90  CEUs, in the upper extremity.

AOTA Approved Provider
ASHT is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by the AOTA.

Board of Certification, Inc. for Athletic Trainers Approved Provider
ASHT is an Approved CEU Provider for the Board of Certification, Inc. for Athletic Trainers.

Online Handouts

ASSH/ASHT Handouts
In an effort to conserve paper, the ASSH and ASHT will provide session handouts online only.  Attendees will receive a link to the handouts via e-mail several weeks before the conference. Please be sure to provide an email address on your registration form.

ASHT Scientific Papers and Posters
Visit www.asht.org/annualmeeting to view ASHT scientific papers and posters. They will be available after the awards review has been completed.

ASSH Scientific Paper & Poster Abstracts
View the paper and poster abstract books - now available!

ASHT Special Announcements

Join ASHT and Save
Join ASHT, an organization comprised of more than 3,300 hand therapists from across the country, and save on registration to the Combined Annual Meeting of ASSH & ASHT. Please contact ASHT at info@asht.org or call (312) 321-6866 for more information on this program.

Attention PT Attendees
The 2009 Combined Annual Meeting of ASSH and ASHT may fulfill your state PT certification requirements. Should you use the 2009 Combined Meeting of the ASSH & ASHT in your state PT recertification process, the ASHT will reimburse you up to $100 for the application process. Please send ASHT a copy of your PT Continuing Education Application to receive this reimbursement, or contact ASHT at  info@asht.org or call (312) 321-6866.

ASSH/ASHT Committee Meetings
In June, chairs will advise committee members of the day, time and location of their meetings. Please keep this information in mind when making travel arrangements. Committee meetings will be at the Hilton San Francisco.

Hand Clubs/Alumni Meetings
Hand Club meetings are officially designated to take place on Friday, September 4. There is no formal programming scheduled after 6:30 PM on Friday to allow Hand Club organizers a free evening to hold meetings, receptions or dinners.  If you would like to list your event in the final meeting program, please contact Donna Decker, at
(847) 384-8300, or send an e-mail to ddecker@assh.org.

Youth Attendance
Adults 18 years of age and older may visit any area of the ASSH/ASHT Combine Meeting, provided admittance requirements are met according to the information that follows:

Exhibit Hall — Parents or legal guardians are required to sign a release and waiver of claim for children between 6-17 years of age and must accompany them at all times while in the Exhibit Hall. Children under the age of 6 are not permitted to enter the Exhibit Hall under any circumstances.  The waiver is available at the registration desk outside of the exhibit hall.   Learn more about the exhibit hall.

Guest Program — All individuals participating in a tour must purchase a ticket and sign a release and waiver of claim. Some activities have a minimum age limit. Optional tour tickets are nonrefundable once purchased.  Learn more about social activities taking place during the meeting.

VISA Requirements
Some participants from outside the continental United States need to apply for a visa at the American embassy, consulate or the visa-issuing office in their country of origin. To obtain a visa, you will need a letter of invitation.

To request an invitation letter, please write to:
ASSH Annual Meeting Information
6300 North River Road, Suite 600
Rosemont, IL 60018-4256
USA

Or, send your request by fax to (847) 384-1435 or by e-mail to meetings@assh.org.

United Airlines - Discount Code
United Airlines has been selected as the official carrier for the 2009 Combined Meeting of ASSH & ASHT. Tickets must be purchased a minimum of seven days prior to departure to secure the discount. United will confirm reservations at the lowest rate available, provided normal qualifications are met. To take advantage of these special airfares, individuals or their travel agents may contact United Airlines at (800) 521-4041 or www.united.com and reference meeting ID code 549KA (case sensitive). 

DisclaimerMeeting
The material presented in this continuing medical education program is made available by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) for educational purposes only. This material is not intended to represent the best or only methods or procedures appropriate for the medical situation discussed; rather the material is intended to present an approach, view, statement or opinion of the authors or presenters, which may be helpful, or of interest to other practitioners. The attendees agree to participate in this medical education program, jointly sponsored by ASSH and ASHT, with full knowledge and awareness that they waive any claim they may have against ASSH and ASHT for reliance on any information presented in this educational program. In addition, the attendees also waive any claim they have against the ASSH and ASHT for injury or other damage that may result in any way from their participation in this program. All of the proceedings of the 2009 ASSH/ASHT Combined Meeting, including the presentation of scientific papers, are intended for limited publication only, and all property rights in the material presented, including common-law copyright, are expressly reserved to the speaker or the ASSH and ASHT. No statement or presentation made is to be regarded as dedicated to the public domain. Any sound reproduction, transcript or other use of the material presented at this course without the permission of the speaker or the ASSH and ASHT is prohibited to the full extent of common-law copyright in such material.

The ASSH and ASHT are not responsible for expenses incurred by an individual who is not confirmed and for whom space is not available at the meeting. Costs incurred by the registrant such as airline or hotel fees or penalties are the responsibility of the registrant.

The approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is required for procedures and drugs that are considered experimental. Instrumentation systems discussed and/or demonstrated in or at ASSH and ASHT educational programs may not yet have received FDA approval.