A family member suffers a stroke. A child is diagnosed with hydrocephalus. A colleague considers surgery for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Where can they go to find valuable information addressing these disorders and a host of others? Beginning this fall, they will be able to access www.NeurosurgeryToday.org, the new public Web site of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).
Neurosurgeons report that more and more people are using the Internet as a primary tool for obtaining information about their condition, or that of a friend or family member. The AANS developed the new, user-friendly site to provide the public with credible neurosurgical information crafted by AANS experts. The site’s design also promises to increase convenience for those who are researching disorders of the nervous system and potential neurosurgical treatments.
“We have organized the information on the site using state-of-the art navigational tools,” noted Robert Harbaugh, MD, chair of the NeurosurgeryToday.org Committee. “This information can better prepare a patient for a neurosurgical consult, but it does not replace medical advice from a board-certified neurosurgeon.”
New navigational bars on the site include:
- What Is Neurosurgery?-Features a detailed overview of the neurosurgical specialty including the subspecialties of tumor, pain, trauma, cerebrovascular, spine and peripheral nerves, pediatric neurosurgery and stereotactic and functional areas.
- About Us-Offers background information about the AANS and the history of neurosurgery dating back to Harvey Cushing, MD.
- Find a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon-This useful tool locates neurosurgeons in one’s locality searching by area code or city. As a benefit of membership in the AANS, members in the Active, Active Provisional, and International categories will be included in this database. For those who are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the certification date will appear; otherwise the field will list “board-eligible” or “internationally certified.”
- Legislative Activities-Links to breaking information, legislative updates and announcements from the AANS/CNS Washington Committee.
- Media Center-Area of the site for reporters, the general public, and AANS members to access news and archived AANS press releases highlighting neurosurgical scientific studies, legislative information, AANS officers and award winners, and more.
- Research-Directs visitors to information about Neuro-Knowledge
- Professional Information-Provides a direct link to www.AANS.org, the Web site for members of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
The new site also features: a comprehensive search function to locate specific information; an extended list of scientific press releases from AANS annual meetings; articles and fact sheets on disorders of the nervous system; articles from a USA Today supplement emphasizing that neurosurgery is more than brain surgery; a neurosurgical statistics report; camera-ready newspaper articles; public service announcements on bike helmet safety; and more.
AANS.org: Professional Pages Gain Enhancements
The AANS capitalized on the opportunity to enhance the professional pages of the Web site with a contemporary design that complements www.NeurosurgeryToday.org, among other improvements.
“It had been several years since the AANS assessed Web site content and navigation to ensure that it met the needs of all AANS audiences-from members to allied professionals, the media and our corporate partners,” said Dr. Harbaugh. “The creation of the new AANS public site enabled us to reevaluate our professional pages as well. Visitors will find many enhancements on the new site that will keep them coming back.”
The AANS kept several priorities in mind when reorganizing www.AANS.org:
- News and features that members have accessed most frequently will appear on the main pages.
- Visitors to the site will be able to locate desired content within three mouse clicks.
- A comprehensive search feature and a site map will aid visitors in locating information and resources.
- Existing content will be enhanced with additional features.
The 2002 Member Needs Survey reported that legislative issues reigned as the most member important priority. In response, the AANS added the Legislative Activities area, which highlights not only the efforts and accomplishments of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee, but all AANS resources directed toward advocacy efforts. The Medical Liability Reform area consolidates news and resources to help neurosurgeons manage their practices during this time of crisis.
Continuing medical education (CME) is another area that AANS members rated as highly important. In the Education and Meetings area of www.AANS.org, in-depth information about courses and meetings that provide neurosurgical CME is available. There also are direct links to a calendar of neurosurgical events that shows events by month, with the added functionality of listing them by topic (spine, for example). A breakout listing of programs that offer neurosurgical CME credit is available, as is a direct link to CME tracking on the members-only, personalized pages of www.MyAANS.org. (For more information about CME tracking, see “Tracking CME Online” in the AANS Bulletin, Summer 2003.)
In addition, international neurosurgeons and allied professionals now have a gateway to information and activities of interest to those practicing outside of the United States or North America. Together with education and research opportunities, the area offers links to international organizations.
New Online Career Center
AANS members now have a neurosurgical online job board, easily accessible through www.AANS.org. Available to members as a complimentary membership benefit, the AANS Online Career Center lists open positions in all areas of neurosurgery.
Members can search positions by geographic location, subspecialty, and other criteria. A resume and curriculum vitae can be posted, anonymously if preferred. Administered through HealtheCareers, the center includes all of the “bells and whistles” of national job boards like Monster.com-but the Online Career Center is specific to neurosurgery.
In addition, the center offers a special conference feature. Those looking for neurosurgical positions are matched with prospective employers, and a meeting between them is facilitated when both are registered for major neurosurgical conferences such as AANS annual meetings.
Other New Features
A new library allows visitors to locate archived meeting abstracts, Bulletin articles, press releases and guidelines. Look for this area to be completed by December 2003.
The online AANS Membership Directory has moved to the personalized pages of www.MyAANS.org and will offer enhanced search criteria and the ability to create and download personalized lists; it is available only to members as benefit of AANS membership. Enhancements will be available by December 2003.
Links to subspecialty sections are available from the main menu at www.AANS.org.
The AANS will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these Web sites, and visitors are encouraged to communicate suggestions and recommendations: [email protected] or (888) 566-AANS (2267).
Kathleen T. Craig is AANS director of marketing.
Heather L. Monroe is AANS director of communications.
Quick View of AANS Online Resources
For the Publicwww.NeurosurgeryToday.org. Neurosurgery’s “front door,” inviting the public to become better informed about disorders of the nervous system and how neurosurgeons can help.
For AANS Members and Healthcare Professionals
www.AANS.org. “Professional pages” with in-depth information on the AANS and how the association is working for its members.
For AANS Members Only
www.MyAANS.org. Members-only site provides a virtual tool-kit with CME resources and tracking of credits, the Online Career Center, the Online Membership Directory, and more.