August 2000 Bulletin

AAOS improves new initiatives on communications

The AAOS is stepping-up efforts on helping members improve patient/ physician relations.

The AAOS Patient/physician Relations Task Force, chaired by James Herndon, MD, has developed a series of initiatives to help the AAOS cultivate the interest of orthopaedists in physician communication issues; help orthopaedists and their office staff solve communication problems with patients; and help patients improve their ability to communicate with orthopaedists and their office staff. The initiatives, approved by the Board at a meeting June 2-3, 2000 in Chicago, include:

• Develop an AAOS Advisory Statement on Patient/physician Communication
• Include a permanent feature in the Bulletin on patient relations
• Develop a series of instructional courses on patient/physician communications for future Annual Meetings.
• Expand the AAOS videotape training program by developing 10-minute videotapes on common patient/physician communication problem situations. Also, develop a "leader’s guide" with didactic material and discussion points to be sent to residency program chairs to use in their training programs.
• Develop a "Lunchtime Speaker Series" during all AAOS CME courses that focus on communication skills development in patient education and counseling.
• Create a "mentoring program" through the AAOS for members to obtain peer-to-peer counseling on patient/physician relations.