Residents' E-Letter Contents

Vol. 4. No. 7. July 2006
Editors: Lee H. Riley, III, MD & James C. Farmer, MD

This Issue

News for residents:

• Wanted: Orthopaedic Art
• AAOS Seeking Applicants for the 2007 AAOS Washington Health Policy Fellowship Program
• OREF Announces New Opportunities for Residents

Features

1. Clinical Topic: Answers to Last Month's Questions
2. Practice Tips: "Medical Professional Liability: A Primer for Orthopaedic Residents and Fellows"
3. Internet Resources: "Orthopaedic Review Available on Orthopaedic Knowledge Online (OKO)"
4. Calendar

 

This Issue: News for Residents

Wanted: Orthopaedic Art

As part of our 75th anniversary, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons will sponsor eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopaedics in Art. Orthopaedic surgeons—as well as orthopaedic patients of all ages—are encouraged to submit artwork for inclusion in the exhibition, which will be unveiled at the AAOS 2008 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Individuals who wish to participate must submit an online entry form; entries must be completed and submitted by Oct. 15, 2006. Artists may submit up to 10 works of art in the following media: paintings and drawings (oil, watercolor, acrylic, pencil, charcoal or other), fine-art prints (lithographs, etchings, intaglio, woodcuts or other), giclées (Iris prints), photography, graphics, cyber art, sculpture, ceramics, glass, mosaics, textiles, crafts, functional art and mixed media.

Artwork may be featured in the 75th Anniversary Exhibit, coffee-table book, Web site, or displayed at the 75th anniversary celebration. For more information, visit www.aaos.org/emotion

AAOS Seeking Applicants for the 2007 AAOS Washington Health Policy Fellowship Program

The Washington Health Policy Fellowship Program provides an outstanding opportunity for exceptional senior orthopaedic residents and fellows-in-training to take part in and understand health policy processes at the federal level. Fellows actively contribute to the formulation of national health policies and accelerate their careers as leaders in health policy. The program will fund up to two orthopaedic residents per year and provide them the opportunity to work in the legislative and regulatory arena for a multi-week period during a 12-month period. Please note that while flexible, the fellowship requires a considerable time commitment. A fellow could opt to spend a finite block of time in Washington, DC or visit intermittently throughout the year as time permits. Attendance at some AAOS meetings, such as the National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference, is required. The AAOS Washington Office will work with the selected applicants to design a flexible program that meets the fellows’ needs, interests, and schedules.

Please alert resident members of your department about this exciting opportunity. The deadline for submitting applications is September 15, 2006. For more information and application materials, go to the AAOS web site or contact Jeanie Kennedy, Manager of Regulatory Affairs, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons via e-mail or at 202/546-4150 or via e-mail.

OREF Announces New Opportunities for Residents:

OREF/Depuy Orthopaedic Resident Educational Grant

DePuy has recently committed to supporting 15 Resident Research Grants of $5,000 each through OREF, totaling $75,000 annually. The OREF/Depuy Orthopaedic Resident Educational Grants are meant to provide funding to residents who are interested in research, but who do not necessarily want to pursue research careers. Each recipient will receive $5,000 to cover research expenses.

Eligibility Requirements and Applications for the OREF/Depuy Orthopaedic Resident Educational Grant are available on the OREF web site and deadline for submission is Oct. 2.

More Opportunities for Residents

OREF also continues to offer one-year, $20,000 Resident Clinician Scientist Training Grants (formerly Resident Research Awards). For more information about OREF grants please go to the OREF web site or contact the following by e-mail or at the number listed: Jean McGuire [847-384-4348]; Mary Marino [847-384-4359]; or Carmen Metoyer [847-384-4351].

 

Clinical Topic

Answers to last month's "Metastatic Disease to the Spine" questions:

Question 1: True

Question 2: True

Question 3: D

Click here to view the questions (In the Clinical Topic Section of Last month's E-Letter)

 

Practice Tips

Medical Professional Liability: A Primer for Orthopaedic Residents and Fellows
Developed by the Professional Liability Committee

The second edition of the primer is intended to be an updated source of basic information on medical liability. The body of medical malpractice law exists almost exclusively on the state level and varies from state to state according to legislation and common law. As of late 2003, “tort reform” on the federal level has not yet happened.

This primer is not intended to be exhaustive or to answer all professional liability questions, but it does attempt to educate readers on some major issues. The first three chapters describe professional liability insurance, the legal elements of a medical malpractice case, and the special liability status of the orthopaedic resident and fellow. The next four chapters concentrate on areas of risk management of special concern to orthopaedic residents and fellows. The last chapter provides suggested responses to difficult questions or situations that may have liability concerns for the orthopaedic resident and fellow, the attending physician, or the educational program itself.

The appendices contain the most recent (2002 and 2003) revisions of the official Advisory Statements of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons on Orthopaedic Medical Testimony, Principles of Medical Ethics and Professionalism in Orthopaedic Surgery, and The Code of Medical Ethics and Professionalism for Orthopaedic Surgeons, as well as a very valuable Glossary of Medical Legal Terms and limited Bibliography. The appendices should be considered “required reading.”

Clicking on the link in the title will take you to the online version of the Primer. In coming issue of the E-letter various aspects/chapters will be highlighted.

 

Internet Resources

Orthopaedic Review Available on Orthopaedic Knowledge Online (OKO)

Self-study questions have been developed to supplement your review of Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 7. These questions will be posted on a monthly basis. Viewing these papers requires that you have the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to access Orthopaedic Review.

 

Calendar

For a complete listing of AAOS sponsored CME Courses: AAOS CME Course Calendar

October 4 – 7, 2006

OTA Residents Comprehensive Fracture Course Phoenix, AZ