Education and Access to Care
the Bone and Joint Decades focus on the future

James P. Waddell, M.D., FRCSC
Coordinator, Canadian National Action Network
For the Bone and Joint Decade

The National Action Network (NAN) for the Bone and Joint Decade in Canada enters 2006 re-energized as a result of our very successful meeting in October/November 2005. By having so many people work together towards a common goal for success at the meeting, we are able to enlist the support of many people who had previously only been peripherally engaged with Bone and Joint activity.

With only five years left in the Decade, we have to narrow our focus in Canada in order to see sustainable results from our work. With this in mind, the NAN felt we should focus primarily on education education of the patient, the public and caregivers. Education was always one of the primary goals of the Bone and Joint Decade and we feel this is an area in which we can make a substantial difference. To this end we will be focusing more on education in the future; the strategy for this is being evolved.

In addition, we will continue to press for improved access to care improved access for total joint replacement patients is now universally recognized and every jurisdiction is a priority. We now have to bring the same sense of urgency to patients who require other forms of musculoskeletal care including medication, physical and occupational therapy and surgery.

The third goal for the Decade, which was to increase financial support for orthopaedic research, has been largely achieved through the success of Dr. Cy Frank and the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis. We anticipate that this funding will continue as well as continued support from other agencies such as the Arthritis Society, the Osteoporosis Society and the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation.

We hope that the members of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association will support the efforts of the Bone and Joint Decade in terms of active participation in educational and fund-raising activities and in addition, will continue to use the logo on their correspondence and in their offices.