AANS Expands Functionality of Online CME Tracking
The addition of state requirements and the functionality that allows a member’s delegate to track continuing medical education credits are two new enhancements of the CME tracking system at www.MyAANS.org. When members access this password-protected Web site and enter the CME tracking area, they now can select the states in which they hold a license to practice medicine, and the specific details of relicensure for those states will appear. A percentage meter shows
| AANS Members Deceased in 2004 William R. Adey, MD Eben Alexander Jr., MD Harvey Chenault, MD James W. Correll, MD John P. Dennis, MD Lyle A. French, MD Leslie E. Geiger, MD Sidney Goldring, MD Mitchell R. Gropper, MD Sam Hanzel, MD John C. Kennady, MD John P. Laurent, MD William M. Lougheed, MD John J. Lowrey, MD Kiyoshi Matsumoto, MD Robin L. Mitchell, MD Dogan M. Perese, MD Hal Watson Pittman, MD J. Lawrence Pool, MD John R. Russell, MD V. S. Shankar, MD Leonard A. Titrud, MD, PhD Erich S. Wisiol, MD |
AANS Invites 2005 Participation in Online Census
The online census at MyAANS.org is an important tool for collecting crucial data about neurosurgery. The census originally was designed to help the AANS pool data used to tailor programs that meet members’ individual needs and to solicit educational funding from corporate partners. Recent improvements in survey design will enable reliable comparative data analysis from year to year, yielding a powerful tool for identifying trends in neurosurgery and developing programs and policies accordingly. In addition, new data fields have been added, including more subspecialty options; new options for practice type and practice setting intended to help members better describe their practice environment; and new affiliations for U.S. military service, including area of service, role or position, service dates, drilling units and duty stations. The census can be completed at any time at www.MyAANS.org.
New AANS Patient Education Brochure: Spinal Fusion
A Patient’s Guide to Spinal Fusion is the newest brochure in the AANS Patient Education Brochure Series. This brochure discusses when spinal fusion techniques might be used to treat low back pain. It also describes spinal fusion procedures in detail, addressing both bone grafts and use of hardware. Other topics in the brochure series are general concepts in neurosurgery, hydrocephalus, low back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, diagnostic testing, and brain tumors. A complete description is available online at www.AANS.org.
Neurosurgical Focus Calls for Papers
Neurosurgical Focus, the online, indexed, rapid-publication journal of the AANS, announces new topics and deadlines for upcoming issues: July 2005 (May 15 deadline) Endoscopic Techniques in Skull Base Surgery; August 2005 (June 15 deadline) Skull Base Approaches to Diseases Involving the Posterior Fossa. Continuing medical education credit is available for all current issues. More information is available at www.AANS.org.
JCAHO Calls for Medical Liability Reform
On Feb. 10, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, or JCAHO, called for reform of the nation’s medical liability system in a white paper titled Healthcare at the Crossroads: Strategies for Improving the Medical Liability System and Preventing Patient Injury. Among its 19 recommendations, the JCAHO calls for intensified attention to patient safety and medical injury prevention by healthcare providers and practitioners; emphasizes the critical importance of open communication between patients and practitioners; and urges the creation of an injury compensation system that is patient-centered and serves the common good. The white paper acknowledges that caps on noneconomic damages have been effective in managing increases in liability insurance premiums, but also states that capping damages “does not address all of the factors that lead to litigation on the front end.” The report says expert witnesses should be court-appointed and calls for changes to the National Practitioner Data Bank. The white paper is available at www.jcaho.org.