Residents' Newsletter Contents

This Issue

• Complimentary OITE Questions
• Looking for a Practice Opportunity?
• Orthopaedic Trauma Research Receives $66 Million Through Department of Defense
• Plan Now to Attend the 2009 Annual Meeting
• Resident Funding Reminders from OREF
• AAOS Board Preparation and Review Course

Features:

1. Practice Tips: "Metrics, Benchmarks Add Value to Your Practice"
2. Internet Resources: New Learning Opportunities on Orthopaedic Knowledge Online (OKO) for October - Check out the exciting new orthopaedic self-study tool.
3. Calendar

This Issue: News for Residents

Complimentary OITE Questions
New on OKO: Self-Study Questions to Prepare for the OITE
There is no better way to practice for the OITE than to review actual questions from past exams! At no cost to you, OKO is offering a new interactive Orthopaedic Review format which provides questions from the 2001-2004 Orthopaedics In-Training Exams (OITE) in a convenient, interactive online format. To create your own customized multiple-choice quiz, simply enter the amount of questions you’d like in the exam and choose from your choice of orthopaedic topic areas including type, clinical area, anatomical area, and subspecialties. Your quiz will consist of randomized questions that fit your specific search parameters. As you take the quiz, you’ll receive immediate feedback, including your cumulative score and how others performed on the current question. You may also print the questions, as well as any answers you have submitted for them. This randomized self-study test will prove a valuable tool in your preparation for the upcoming OITE.

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Looking for a Practice Opportunity?

• We provide the most comprehensive placement service for the orthopaedic community.
• Your listing will reach over 1000 employers across the United States.
• You receive detailed information on over 1000 employment opportunities. We provide on-site recruiting during our Annual Meeting.
• Submit/View/Edit your availability profile and search for job opportunities on our convenient and easy-to-use Web site at. Login using your last name and Member ID Number. The online service allows you to: view what’s new this week, view what’s new since your last visit, and search by state and subspecialty. The option to receive email notifications every time a practice opportunity matches your interests is now available. Simply click on Add/Change Email Notification located in the left hand column under Your Job Seekers Listing. You will be required to select the criteria that you would like the practice opportunities to match.
• The service is FREE!

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Orthopaedic Trauma Research Receives $66 Million Through Department of Defense
On September 30, 2008 President Bush signed the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act" (H.R. 2638). The measure includes the FY 2009 appropriations bills for Defense, Homeland Security, and Military Construction-Veterans' Administration and funds most of the remaining federal programs at FY 2008 levels through March 6, 2009.

The bill includes $66 million for peer reviewed orthopaedic trauma research. The funding is a major success for orthopaedic trauma research and a direct result of the AAOS vision and lobbying efforts, according to Andrew N. Pollak, MD, chair of the extremity war injuries and disaster preparedness project team. During the past 2 years, $101 million in additional funding has been earmarked for orthopaedic trauma research.

The fourth annual Extremity War Injuries Conference (EWI IV) jointly hosted by American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons will be held in Washington, DC on January 22-23, 2009.

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Plan Now to Attend the 2009 Annual Meeting
It’s time to start thinking about the 2009 Annual Meeting to be held in Las Vegas, NV next February 25-28. Registration is free for all AAOS orthopaedic resident members and housing is now open at www.aaos.org/register (Logon required). For the latest details visit the AAOS Annual Meeting website.

Specifically for residents:

• The following sessions held the day before the Annual Meeting are free to all orthopaedic residents:
  • The Basics of CPT Coding for Orthopaedic Residents - Tuesday, February 24, 8:00 - 11:00 AM
    Fast paced course introducing the most important coding topics to orthopaedic residents including the use of the CPT Book, reimbursement protection, importance of using the correct diagnosis codes and links, and understanding the importance of documentation.
  • Practice Management Symposium for Orthopaedic Residents - Tuesday, February 24, 11:45 AM - 5:30 PM
    The speakers will present practical information on the legal and business aspects of Orthopaedics. This program will be especially beneficial for fourth and fifth year residents, but all U.S. residents are welcome to attend.
• Most Annual Meeting Instructional Course Lectures (ICL) are available to orthopaedic residents at a reduced rate

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Resident Funding Reminders from OREF

Check out a journal club meeting
Consider attending a journal club meeting this year. Resident journal clubs encourage orthopaedic residents to engage in and appreciate the value of basic and clinical research, and they teach residents to evaluate current literature, write scientific articles, and gain an understanding of ethical issues.

If your journal club received a grant this year, please join OREF in again thanking James H. Heckman, M.D., JBJS editor-in-chief, for funding all 62 journal club requests — a total of $124,000. Since 2001, OREF and JBJS have funded 248 journal clubs — providing more than $636,000 in support. If you did not receive funding, consider applying for a grant next year. Applications are usually due around August 1.

Chief residents, check your mail soon for a resident journal club packet containing educational tools to help you inform all residents about the grants and educational programs available to them through OREF. Specifically, we ask that you please download the brief PowerPoint presentation at www.oref.org/helpingresidents to show at several of your journal club meetings.

Be prepared to apply for 2010 grant funding
Although the deadline for the majority of OREF 2009 grant and award applications has passed, it’s not too early to think about applying for 2010 funding. Applications will open in late spring 2009, and most will be due Oct 1. If you would like to be notified when applications become available, be sure to sign up for OREF’s free Grants eMinder service.

Additional information for residents is available at www.oref.org/residents, and we encourage you to request that this link be posted on the resident (or similar) page of your institution’s Web site. For more information about resident programs at OREF, please contact Jean McGuire, CFO and vice president, grants, by e-mail or at (847) 384-4348.

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AAOS Board Preparation and Review Course
April 29 – May 3, 2009 • Chicago, IL

Getting ready to sit for the Board Exam in July 2009? The Academy is here to help with the best preparation available for the most important exam of your career. Dr. Frank J. Frassica and his carefully selected faculty guide you through the testable material you need to study, in 5 days of intensive, exam-focused review sessions.

You’ll test your knowledge throughout the course focusing on basic science, pathology, pediatric orthopaedics, orthopaedic trauma, and the orthopaedic specialties.

In addition to in-depth lectures, this AAOS course features:
• A pre-test to help measure your knowledge and focus your study time
• Daily on-site test questions you can answer anonymously and receive feedback
• Tips on test-taking that guide you in developing your testing strategy
• Informal evening sessions focusing on Anatomy and Pathology

Additional study materials and opportunities:
• Online access to self-assessment activities and examinations
• EIGHT tutorials with test questions
• A complete course syllabus with lecture details and notes
• A set of Basic Science lectures on CD developed by the Orthopaedic Research Society
• A CD with pathology images to study
• Included with your paid registration – attendance to a Refresher Webinar before the Board Examination

This is a popular course, so register early!
Call 1-800-626-6726 for more details or visit www.aaos.org/BoardPrep

Practice Tips

Metrics, Benchmarks Add Value to Your Practice
By William R. Pupkis, CMPE

Your practice can become a “Better Performing Practice"

For nearly a decade, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) has designated “Better Performing Practices,” based on a series of benchmarks and metrics. Capital Region Orthopaedics, where I serve as the chief executive officer, has earned the “Better Performing Practice” distinction from the MGMA in each of the last 6 years. Significant effort is required to earn this distinction. When it comes to best practices, there is no “silver bullet.” Instead, attention to detail and analysis are key. Read the complete article in AAOS Now.

Internet Resources

Did you know that more than 100 in-depth, step-by-step surgical technique videos are available to Residents free of charge on OKO? See the complete list of what’s available.

Exciting New Orthopaedic Self-Study Tool
Create your own self-study multiple choice question exams. Questions are from previous year's AAOS Orthopaedic In-Training Examinations (OITE).

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New Learning Opportunities on Orthopaedic Knowledge Online (OKO)
Volume 6, Number 10, October 2008

NOTE: Access to OKO is FREE to all orthopaedic residents, but it does require you to log in using your last name and password. Forgotten your password? (HINT: Unless you have personalized your password, it is the 8-digit number above your name on your JAAOS mailing label!)

This Month's Clinical Topics
Arthroscopic Capsular Plication for Multidirectional Instability (Video) by Suzanne L. Miller, MD; Aaron Gardiner, MD; Alan S. Curtis, MD
Bone Defects in Shoulder Instability by Robert Y. Wang, MD, FRCSC; Robert Arciero, MD
Use and Application of Vacuum-Assisted Wound Closure (Video) by Lawrence X. Webb, MD

Exciting New Orthopaedic Self-Study Tool
Create your own self-study multiple choice question exams. Questions are from previous year's AAOS Orthopaedic In-Training Examinations (OITE).

Orthopaedic Trauma Association 2007 Fracture Course Slide Lecture (Flash format with audio)
Principles of Closed Fracture Healing by Augusto Sarmiento, MD

New OKO-Based CME Courses
Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis
Posterior Tibial Tendon Problems

New Orthopaedic Theater Video
Management of Trigger Finger from Injection to Surgery

Useful Resident Links

Calendar

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