Talking Politics with Patients

Ryan Eggers, MD, MA

With presidential elections just weeks away, many physicians are finding themselves involved in political discussions—with each other and, perhaps, with patients. However, in the current political climate, physicians may decide to keep a wide berth around any form of political discussion with patients.

Education Challenges and Opportunities

Gerald R. Williams Jr, MD

From its beginnings in 1933, your AAOS has always been the leading educational or­ganization for orthopaedic surgeons. Education is one of the seven domains in the Academy's strategic plan, and most activities—from the Annual Meeting to webinars—are geared to meeting your educational needs. More than 2,500 volunteers are involved in education-oriented activities, as authors, reviewers, faculty, and committee members.

AAOS Enhances its Education Strategy

The AAOS, through the Council on Education, continually strives to support and provide education practices and opportunities that enable its members to provide the highest level of orthopaedic care. To that end, the AAOS Council on Education is currently in the process of revamping its working structure and education strategy to be more responsive to members' learning needs. To find out more, AAOS Now spoke with Evan L. Flatow, MD, chair of the AAOS Council on Education.

Health Literacy and Patient Safety

Dwight W. Burney III, MD

As orthopaedic surgeons, we are often frustrated by patients who have trouble understanding our advice, continue to have questions, or are “noncompliant.” We need to consider that the average American reads at a fifth-grade level and may have difficulty understanding prescriptions, appointment cards, and consent documents. Even patients with college degrees may not be sufficiently “health literate” to understand our written or verbal messages.

Instant Learning Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be

Chad A. Krueger, MD; Matthew R. Schmitz, MD; Patrick M. Osborn, MD

Graduate medical education (GME) is far different today than it was 20 years ago. Societal, financial, and regulatory pressures—as well as a new generation of residents more focused on quality of life—have led to significant changes in how physicians learn. Although both residents and educators often discuss these influences on education, they frequently overlook today's resident learning style, in particular the impact of information overload and instant access to electronic media.