Communication Skills Are Critical to Improving Patient-centered Care and Shared Decision Making

Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA

This is part one of a two-part series on shared decision making. Part two, which will appear in the November issue of AAOS Now, will present an illustrative case where missing the basic tenets of shared decision making led to an unsatisfactory patient experience. Physicians cannot ignore the nontechnical, soft skills and still be successful In 1998, AAOS conducted an image perception survey, the results of which revealed that the public viewed orthopaedic surgeons as “high-tech and low-touch.”

A Personal Tale of Opioid Overprescribing

Megan Conti Mica, MD

I awoke to a text message at 11 p.m. on a Monday night from one of the trainers. I thought it was about an athlete with a hand or elbow injury needing urgent surgical intervention. But, half asleep, I read: “Please call regarding patient that was assaulted over the weekend and attempted suicide today by taking a large amount of hydrocodone. She is in the intensive care unit (ICU).” I sat up, completely awake. After a quick phone conversation, there was no need to look up the patient.

An RCT of FAI Surgery Versus Physical Therapy: What Does It Really Teach Us?

Jeffrey J. Nepple, MD, MS; Scott C. Faucett, MD, MS; Christopher M. Larson, MD

The following letter is in response to a news brief included in the Feb. 21 issue of AAOS Headline News Now titled “Study: How does arthroscopy compare to PT for FAI?” Letters to the editor are encouraged; please send correspondence to aaoscomm@aaos.org. Randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) represent the highest level of evidence and have a powerful ability to guide treatment recommendations. Although RCTs minimize selection bias, they are subject to other biases.

Disputed Use of Routine Ultrasound Screening in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients

Mark A. Snyder, MD, FAOA

The following letter is in response to an article published in the February 2018 issue of AAOS Now titled “Preventing VTE After Elective TJA.” Letters to the editor are encouraged; please send correspondence to aaoscomm@aaos.org. I applaud author Antonia F.

Building Connections in Orthopaedics Through Social Media

Jennifer M. Weiss, MD

On July 27, the AAOS Communications Cabinet spent the day at AAOS headquarters in Rosemont, Ill., focusing on you, the Academy membership. Our goal is to support you throughout your careers as you care for patients. By now, many of you have entered the age of social media. But are you aware that AAOS has a social media presence?