Patient Education Brochure Interview with the Chair of the Public Education Committee
How the Patient Education Brochures Can Bridge the Resource Gap for Patients Both in the Doctor’s Office and at Home
ASSH Central Office staff spoke with Dr. Fred Fakharzadeh, Chair of the Public Education Committee, to discuss the committee’s tremendous work on the patient education brochures, why they are helpful to surgeons and patients, and what is coming next to build the brochure library.
How does the committee envision these brochures should be used most effectively?
A core of several brochures has been around for quite a while. However, within the past five years, the public education committee reviewed them, updated and redesigned them, and added many more topics. The goal in developing the brochures is to provide high quality information for patients in consumer-friendly language. This helps the patient better understand their hand or upper extremity problem and provide material for them to refer to after they leave the surgeon’s office. Additionally, the brochures have important graphics that the surgeon can use as a visual aid to explain the issue to patients more clearly. There is also a place right on the brochure for patients or the doctor to write notes.
Who creates these brochures and determines what topics they will cover?
These decisions are a team effort among the members of the Public Education Committee. Committee members divided the original dozen or so topics and re-wrote their content. New topics were determined at the committee meetings, and each member selected two or three topics and generated a brochure accordingly, writing them in a uniform style/format that was in line with what a patient might ask. In general, they follow a Q&A structure. The central office staff committee representative, Nicole Renn, has been instrumental in updating and re-designing the look of these brochures.
Are there new topics coming soon?
Yes. We are currently working on three new brochures on: Gout & Pseudogout, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Skin Cancer.
We are also in the process of adding to the robust Web content for the Public and Patients on the ASSH website, merging the extensive material so graciously donated to the ASSH by Dr. Charles Eaton from his website. However, we strongly believe there is value in providing the patient with a quality, hard copy brochure that they can take home and refer to as needed. We see it really as the core patient reference material. A lot of patients appreciate getting something from their doctor to bring home, and the brochures are an excellent way to help them recall the material that was discussed, with the opportunity to add their own notes.
Don’t forget, ASSH offers sample packs of all the brochures so you may review the content prior to buying a full pack of a certain topic. Order today by visiting the ASSH Store.
-July 2009-
Master Skills Series Editor Notes
Why The Books Are A Must-Have for Every Hand Surgeon's Library
ASSH Central Office staff sat down with Thomas Trumble, MD, Vice President and creator of the Master Skills series. Staff spoke with him about his vision for the book series along with the relevance of the topics for practicing hand surgeons today.
Why did you create the Master Skills Series?
I thought the Hand Society should develop high-quality publications on specialty topics that would merit the title ‘Master Skills’ series to provide cutting edge information to surgeons, hand fellows and residents. I envisioned ideally, a text book with videos showing precise techniques in hand surgery.
How is this series helpful to hand surgeons in their daily practice?
The field of hand surgery is so broad that a surgeon may not have to tackle a given problem routinely. This Masters Skills text allows the surgeon to quickly review in great detail advanced techniques in hand surgery. For example, Master Skills: Wrist and Elbow Reconstruction and Arthroscopy, a surgeon could look up a technique to stabilize the elbow of a young pitcher, and in Upper Extremity Nerve Repair - Tips and Techniques, a surgeon will find beautiful illustrations to perform a nerve transfer in a paralyzed arm. Finally, in Fractures of the Upper Extremity: A Masters Skills Publication, a surgeon can review the step-by-step treatment for a severe wrist injury with a fracture/dislocation of the carpus.
How does the Society identify topics for the series?
The Society’s goal is to provide the most up to date information in the field of hand surgery. Our goal is to be the preeminent source of hand surgery publications. Additionally, the PPAC examines topics that the members have the most interest in. We typically focus on pre-courses and other symposia where there’s tremendous audience enthusiasm and excitement, especially where a great deal of original content and treatment advances are discussed. In addition, we also look at member survey results. They are valuable because we want to know what areas of hand surgery the members want information on.
How does the Society identify editors for the books?
The PPAC committee looks for leaders in the field of hand surgery who have experience authoring hand and upper extremity work. We hone in on the topics of organized courses that have generated high levels of interest in the audience, especially in areas where the audience feels that they are getting access to new technologies and advanced techniques. We seek leaders who have a proven track record in courses and publications.
However, we also want to promote our young leaders who have demonstrated great educational skills and who have fresh ideas. We want to be the organization that gives them an opportunity to share their ideas with the largest audience of their peers. This gives our members a chance to see new ideas from authors who are up and coming.
We welcome new contributors both editors and chapter authors. We want fresh ideas and ideas that help hand surgeons hone their skills in an ever-changing world. We have a very open and transparent process that begins with you submitting your ideas.
Your ideas will then be submitted to the publications committee for review. PPAC will discuss and vote on the potential publication topics. The committee will then take the recommended publication topics/editors to Council for approval. Staff will be back in touch with those whose publications have been chosen.
Please see the book proposal guidelines to submit a publication proposal that can range from a complex textbook to a short monograph focusing on a specific type of surgery. Or contact Mark Anderson (manderson@assh.org or (847) 384-8300) with specific questions.