Grassroots Action Alert - CMS Slashes Medicare Reimbursement for Stereotactic
Radiosurgery for 2009
On December 2, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a 324-page report, Resident
Duty Hours: Enhancing Sleep, Supervision, and Safety at a public briefing in Washington. The AANS/CNS Washington Office, working with leaders in organized neurosurgery, prepared a media advisory in advance of the briefing, distributed to select health policy and political media outlets on December 1. On December 2, following the briefing, a more comprehensive press release was distributed on behalf of the AANS, American Board of Neurological Surgery, CNS, and Society of Neurological Surgeons.
Although the 80-hour resident work week remains intact, other restrictions recommended in the report necessitated a detailed response from organized neurosurgery. Among other things, the press release touches on the serious patient safety concerns that would arise from too many patient handoffs and lack of continuity of care in complex neurosurgical disease or injury cases. The groups encourage the ACGME to conduct additional research on the current work hour rules before making any changes to the existing policy.
A summary of the report is posted on the IOM Web site.To read the press release, click here.
An intriguing article is published in the December 2008 online issue of Journal
of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. "Radiolucent hair accessories causing depressed skull fracture following blunt cranial trauma" discusses the cases of a 4-year-old and 2 1/2-year-old treated for skull fractures associated with hair beads. The article is posted online at: http://thejns.org/doi/full/10.3171/PED.2008.2.12.424.
The AANS distributed a press release on this article in late November, which resulted in significant media coverage. Click here to read the press release.
AANS Now Offering AANS Leadership Scholarships
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is
offering three (3) scholarships for AANS active members to attend the 2000 Surgeons as Leaders course developed by the American College of Surgeons. Neurosurgeons who have a strong interest in leadership roles in organized neurosurgery are encouraged to apply.
Application deadline: February 14, 2009.
View an Online Course from the AANS Annual Meeting
The AANS developed a compilation of 170 presentations from the 2008 AANS Annual Meeting. We're capturing even more in 2009 in San Diego. To see a sample of what you'll be getting view this presention. You can order the 2008 compilation through the AANS Online Marketplace, to view anytime - anywhere. Order the 2009 compilation before May 15 and you'll save up to $100. Order through your annual meeting registration materials, or on the AANS Online Marketplace.
The AANS is proud to introduce seven online courses authored by world renowned faculty including:
Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD
Kevin T. Foley, MD
Harold L. Rekate, MD
Registration is Now Open for the WFNS Meeting!
Registration now open for MOC Preparation Course
AANS Maintenance of Certification Preparation Course offers 2-day intense review of clinical topics relevant to neurosurgical practice.
AANS Members Insured through the AANS Professional Liability Insurance Program Receive Dividend Credit
Members insured by The Doctors Company through the AANS Professional Liability Insurance Program will receive a 5% dividend credit in addition to the premium discount that AANS members with favorable claims histories receive. More
The Scientific Program Committee of the XIV World Congress of Neurological Surgery of the WFNS
is pleased to announce the extension of the deadline date
for submission of abstracts and video session information.
The new deadline for submission is November 30, 2008.
Click
here to submit abstracts and click
here for video session submission information.
A compelling paper, authored by Women in Neurosurgery (WINS) offers insight into the predominately male world of neurosurgery. In 2007, the AANS recognized the need to take bold steps to recruit and retain more women in neurosurgery and requested that WINS author a white paper. The article is published in the September 2008 issue of Journal of Neurosurgery, and is available online beginning August 1 at http://thejns.org/doi/full/10.3171/JNS/2008/109/9/0378.
"The WINS paper not only outlines the realities and challenges for female neurosurgeons, but offers viable solutions targeted at resolving these inequities," stated James R. Bean, AANS president, and author of the accompanying editorial, available at http://thejns.org/doi/full/10.3171/JNS/2008/109/9/0377.
To read the press release, click here.
The AANS and the CNS have issued a Joint Statement on the Guidelines on Neurosurgeon-Industry Conflict of Interest.
The impetus for crafting the guidelines and supporting statement was in part elicited by the heightened scrutiny initiated over the last year by the Federal government into the relationship between physicians and industry. To view the statement, click here.
OR-Live, Inc.
interviewed several of the abstract authors/presenters on
site at the 2008 AANS Annual Meeting. To view the videos which highlight
this important neurological research, please click
here.
New! Carotid Artery Stenting Quality Initiative (CAS-QI) Program
A joint effort between AANS and Outcome, this web-based system is designed to help meet Carotid Artery Stenting requirements established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Cerebral Aneurysm PE Brochure Now Available
AANS Corporate/Leadership Council Convenes First Meeting
in Chicago.
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