February 1998 Bulletin
Task force to evaluate volunteer orthopaedic service in U.S.
Will study ways to help underinsured, noninsured
The Board of Directors has formed the Orthopaedic Care Volunteer
Task Force to evaluate the opportunity and responsibility of community
service by orthopaedic surgeons. The task force also will determine
aspects of the liability of orthopaedists doing volunteer work
in the United States. The task force has been asked to:
- evaluate volunteer opportunities that are available for underserved
and noninsured populations
- evaluate volunteer opportunities that might be created to
serve the underserved and noninsured populations
- determine the liability exposure of volunteers and identify
mechanisms and methods by which orthopaedists could be legally
protected when doing such volunteer work
- identify what types of educational programs should be developed
for Academy members who are interested in doing volunteer work.
Specify goals and learning objectives of such programs
- work with the Academic Orthopaedic Society to assess potential
benefits to residency programs by utilizing orthopaedist volunteer
programs in the inner city
- identify what other specialty societies may be doing in this
area, and determine whether their experience and activities could
be a template for any Academy initiatives specific to musculoskeletal
care.
Task force members are John J. Callaghan, MD, chairman; S. Terry
Canale, MD; Stuart A. Hirsch, MD; George L. Lucas, MD; Mohinder
A. Mital, MD; Edward A. Rankin, MD; Thad C. Stanford, MD; and
Carl L. Stanitski, MD. William W. Tipton Jr. MD, Academy executive
vice president,
is liaison.