Participation is key to shaping the future

Every two years, the AAOS research department conducts a census of AAOS members. The 2008 census questionnaire will be released in April. Your participation is vital for providing information on how AAOS can serve you better.

How does gathering this type of information help you? Primarily by giving the Academy an understanding of who you are, how you practice, and how the field of orthopaedic surgery is evolving. This ensures that Academy programs and products are designed to address your professional needs and interests.

In addition, the census is a rich source of data on orthopaedic practice statistics and membership trend information (Fig. 1). These data enable the AAOS to respond to member, media, and policymaker inquiries about changes and trends in the orthopaedic workforce and to provide statistics related to orthopaedic practice and practice management issues. These statistics are especially useful in addressing reimbursement, advocacy, and funding issues. Your responses help keep the AAOS database current.

Finally, information about individual members and their practice settings helps the Academy to identify specialized populations whose input into new technologies and educational needs is vital to future programming.

Participate online
You can see how AAOS uses census information by visiting the research portion of the AAOS Web site. Access the most recent census (2006 Orthopaedic Practice in the United States [OPUS]) at http://www.aaos.org/Research/stats/2006opus.pdf

Then get ready to participate in the 2008 census. You’ll be able to access the questionnaire online beginning in April. Every effort will be made to ensure that participation is convenient and easy. If you prefer, you can also submit your answers via fax or mail. Be sure to have your member ID number—as well as recent financial/tax information—on hand when you complete the census form.

Heidi Schmalz is manager, research surveys, and Hazel Natividad is a research analyst in the surveys area.

Facts from the 2006 AAOS member census

• Women make up only 3 percent of the total orthopaedic workforce.
• Ten percent of practicing surgeons are members of minority groups, but 18 percent of candidates/applicant members are from minority groups.
• Asian Americans remain the largest minority group.
• Female orthopaedic surgeons are more racially diverse than males.