The New York Times reported today that Marilyn B. Tavenner, administrator for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has resigned. Ms. Tavenner began her position in February 2010 and will serve through February of this year. CMS has announced that Andrew M. Slavitt will become acting administrator at that time. “Ms. Tavenner, who was partly responsible for the… Read More
‘In the News’
Researchers Look to 3D Printing Technology for Implants
Washington State University researchers are working to improve materials used in hip and knee replacements so that they last longer and allow patients to quickly get back on their feet after surgery. Led by Susmita Bose, professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, the researchers have received a five-year, $1.8 million National Institutes of Health grant… Read More
MD News Breaks Down Orthopedic Data
MD News features a snapshot of survey results from the AAOS, CDC, JAMA IM, JBJS, CORR and the CDC with a focus on orthopedics statistics. Some examples: According to an AAOS survey, Wyoming has the highest density of orthopedic surgeons in the United States, at 14.96 per 100,000 residents; Mississippi has the lowest, at 6.55. The rates of major… Read More
MSN Video Features Operation Walk’s Free Surgery Week
A Long Island patient who received a total knee replacement during Operation Walk USA’s program during the first week of December was featured on MSN this week. A total of 85 surgeons participated in the weeklong program that offered total hip and total knee replacement surgeries at no cost to needy patients. Watch video. Operation Walk USA is… Read More
Local News Tells Story of Snowstorm Victim’s Hip Replacement
WGRZ in Orchard Park, New York told the story of a snow storm victim’s hip replacement this week. The patient was approved for an Operation Walk surgery; however, his home became uninhabitable after the November snow storm. He was concerned about where he would recover and whether he would be able to go through with the surgery. Watch… Read More
U.S. News & World Report Covers TKR Recovery
GE Partners with Northwestern Memorial Hospital for TJR
Business Insurance reported the addition of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago to General Electric Company’s (GE) “Centers of Excellence.” As part of their health benefit plan, GE employees can go to Northwestern for total hip and total knee replacement surgeries for little or no out-of-pocket costs. This is Northwestern’s first bundled payment partnership. Full story.
Washington Post Reports on Employer Health Benefits Surveys
The Washington Post reported on the findings of two health benefits surveys released this week. The Employee Benefit Research Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management surveyed more than 3,000 employers. The surveys showed that few employers are reducing employee coverage. Some are eliminating coverage for workers’ spouses while others are dropping insurance for part-time employees. Another… Read More
San Francisco Examiner Features Registry Editorial
The San Francisco Examiner published a guest column yesterday, “Inroads made tracking patient progress,” by William J. Maloney, MD, AAHKS Secretary/AJRR Board Chair and AAHKS member Kevin J. Bozic, MD. Dr. Maloney and Dr. Bozic wrote the article in response to another article that ran on November 2 by an orthopaedic surgeon about a lack of registries in… Read More
New TKR Technology in Developed by AAHKS Member
This week, the Billings Gazette featured the story of AAHKS member, Dean C. Sukin, MD and a patient who received the new Vanguard XP Knee System that Dr. Sukin helped develop. Dr. Sukin is one of two surgeons in Montana who are trained to perform the surgery using the new technology. He has “been performing the procedure about… Read More