AAOS Lobbies for Student Loan Repayment Reform

Julia Williams

The AAOS Office of Government Relations (OGR) recently joined 15 other medical specialties in expressing support for legislation to provide student loan relief for interns and residents. The bill (H.R. 5734), introduced by Rep. Brian Babin, DDS (R-Texas), would allow interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program. At the time of graduation, many orthopaedic interns and residents have accrued considerable debt.

Guaranteed Winner: Academy Opens Registration for Its Annual Meeting

Terry Stanton

If you haven’t yet registered for the AAOS 2019 Annual Meeting, taking place March 12–16 in Las Vegas, take a moment now to check out all that the meeting has to offer and make your plans to attend the world’s premier orthopaedic educational event. Registration is now open. By registering now, you can craft an experience that meets your specific learning needs and expectations.

Kevin Shea, MD, and Jayson Murray, MA, Shed Light on Appropriate Use Criteria

Alan M. Reznik, MD, MBA, FAAOS

A lot of buzzwords, abbreviations, and criticisms exist in medicine today. Quality, value, and even standards of care are moving targets based on evolving healthcare trends. Increasingly, we hear about appropriate use criteria (AUC) and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) as tools that summarize evidence and fill gaps when evidence is unavailable.

Tort Reform and the Impact on Medical Malpractice

Eeric Truumees, MD

This editorial column concludes a two-part series on medical malpractice lawsuits and payouts. Insights following a record malpractice payout In July, the largest single patient medical malpractice payout occurred: A then-10-year-old girl underwent scoliosis surgery. Postoperatively, she experienced pain and neurological dysfunction. The plaintiffs contended that the surgeon ignored the complaints and went on vacation (twice).

AAOS Is Primed to Influence Change in Healthcare Reform

Jennifer M. Weiss, MD

‘How medical societies can save American medicine’ Nowadays, physicians and surgeons may not always find their voice. The days of surgeons having autonomy in private practice or leading the way in academic organizations are over. It is especially difficult to maintain the bond between surgeon and patient in a world that has shifted to calling us providers and referring to patients as clients or customers. Unfortunately, great things have been lost in this transition.

A Book Review of ‘Scalpel’s Cut,’ a Fictional Thriller by Richard A. Brown, MD

John P. Lubicky, MD, FAAOS, FAAP, FAOA

Up until about 15 years ago, my nonorthopaedic reading consisted of fiction, particularly Stephen King, John Grisham, and Patricia Cromwell books. I then switched entirely to non-fiction topics—biographies, politics, business, and nutrition/fitness. But when the opportunity to review “Scalpel’s Cut,” written by Richard A. Brown, MD, presented itself, I thought, “Why not? I’ll do it.” I really enjoyed reading this thriller and couldn’t put it down, despite its incredulous plot and storyline.

Why Doctors Don’t Call In Sick When They Should

Jennifer M. Weiss, MD

Research from Florida Atlantic University and Cleveland State University has found a direct correlation between preventative health care and the number of paid sick days to which an employee is entitled. Workers with more than 10 paid sick days annually access preventative care more frequently than those without paid sick days. Preventative care, in turn, leads to better overall mental and physical health. Doctors in private practice function like small business owners.

New Orthopaedic Video Theater Is Now a Member Benefit

You asked, and the Academy listened. The Orthopaedic Video Theater (OVT)—a growing collection of nearly 700 peer-reviewed, orthopaedic surgical videos—is now available to all AAOS members as a member benefit, representing a $349 annual value. OVT provides trusted content with none of the clutter of other video sites. All surgeon-submitted videos in the OVT collection are peer-reviewed to ensure quality and medical accuracy (Fig. 1).

AJRR Releases 2018 Annual Report

Karen Metropulos, MBA

The complete 2018 American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) Annual Report is now available for download at http://ajrr.net/publications-data. Analysis of the latest registry data yields new insight into U.S. hip and knee arthroplasty practice. AJRR is the largest orthopaedic registry in the world based on annual procedures submitted. What follows is a “snapshot” of the important and instructive content found in this year’s report.

Society News

Applications are now being accepted for the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) 2019 research grants. The AOFAS awards one-year research grants (July 1 to June 30) in three categories: pilot project grants up to $5,000, small project research grants up to $20,000, and established project research grants up to $60,000. The application deadline is Dec. 3. To review the policies and obtain an application, visit aofas.org/researchgrants, or email research@aofas.org.

AAOS Past-president Bernard Rineberg, MD, Remembered as a Caring, Thoughtful Leader

Bernard A. Rineberg, MD, who served as the 1993–1994 president of the Academy, passed away on Sept. 30, 2018, at the age of 83. He died at his home in Little Silver, N.J., surrounded by his family, who, in the published obituary, described him as “a loving and devoted husband to Nancy, and the proud and adoring father to Rachel; grandfather to Gregory, Carys, and Henry; and great-grandfather to Asher.” Dr. Rineberg was born in New Brunswick, N.J.