In politics, money talks but relationships are key

Carolyn Rogers

Monetary contributions will always play a key role in the political process, but don’t underestimate the importance of building a personal relationship with your representatives, says former U.S. Representative Jim Nussle (R-IA), an eight-term U.S. congressman and a 2006 candidate for governor of Iowa. Speaking at the Orthopaedic Political Action Committee’s (PAC) annual luncheon on Feb.

Musculoskeletal education in medical schools: Are we making the cut?

the Washington Health Policy Fellows

The US Bone & Joint Decade (USBJD) campaign has improved public awareness, increased research efforts, and enhanced clinical care for musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders. One major goal of the USBJD has been to improve the MSK knowledge base of physicians who practice primary care medicine, because these physicians actually manage most patient visits related to MSK conditions.

AAOS awards $76,500 to state societies

Susan Koshy

Grants support health policy activities in 2007 State orthopaedic societies are often on the front line in addressing tort reform, scope of practice, direct access and other legislative and regulatory issues that affect the practice of orthopaedic surgery. More often than not, they do so with limited budgets, staff and other resources.

MedWatch: Your link to adverse event reporting

John S. Kirkpatrick, MD

Adverse event reporting—particularly through the FDA’s MedWatch system—is a critical part of the orthopaedic surgeon’s role in ensuring the public health Orthopaedic surgeons use devices and tissue-related products for a growing number of indications. The reliability and safety of the tissue-related products and devices we use are key to protecting both individual patient safety and general public health. For this reason, the U.S.