New program is well-received by members

In April 2010, the Academy began offering readers of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) the opportunity to earn up to 10 AMA PRA Category 1 continuing medical education (CME) credits. The response has been truly impressive. In the first 10 weeks of the program, more members claimed CME through the JAAOS quiz than via any other online Academy CME offering year-to-date.

The concept is simple. Read JAAOS, then complete a 50-question online exam covering the previous three issues. The first exam covered the October, November, and December 2009 issues; a second quiz (covering the January, February, and March 2010 issues) will be added in July.

“The JAAOS CME program is a natural expansion of the relationship the Journal has with the Academy members and its readers,” says JAAOS Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey S. Fischgrund, MD. “In an era when orthopaedic surgeons seem to focus on a relatively narrow area of specialization, it is gratifying to see AAOS members completing a CME offering that requires responses to questions ranging from spine pathology to extremity injuries to pediatric conditions.”

As a review journal, JAAOS is directed to Academy members, with the goal of improving the educational process. The CME program is the next step in this process.

The program is managed by JAAOS Deputy Editor Christopher Bono, MD. Dr. Bono recently completed 6 years as a member of the AAOS Examinations Committee—the body that prepares and administers the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination, Orthopaedic Self-Assessment Examination, and Orthopaedic Special Interest Examinations. All questions drafted by Dr. Bono are derived from the content of the three issues of JAAOS to be covered and are evaluated by a panel of experts. Dr. Bono then establishes the final lineup.

“We hope,” says Dr. Bono, “that the examinations not only will help Academy members meet needed CME requirements, but also, perhaps, change the way they read JAAOS articles and process the information. As many educators will testify, the stimulation of active learning by answering a question is usually more likely to lead to permanent retention than the passive exercise of reading.”

JAAOS readers can take advantage of this new CME resource.

With the positive reaction demonstrated so far by the AAOS membership, the next goal for JAAOS is to have its CME qualify as self-assessment credits for Maintenance of Certification.

G. Jake Jaquet is executive editor of AAOS Now. He can be reached at jaquet@aaos.org

Test yourself
Here’s an example of a JAAOS CME question from the January 2010 issue:

1. The lateral triceps expansion is located on the posterior crest of the ulna. The medial triceps expansion inserts onto the fascia of which of the following muscles:
   a. Extensor carpi ulnaris
   b. Flexor digitorum superficialis
   c. Flexor carpi ulnaris
   d. Pronator teres
   e. Flexor carpi radialis