COA DISPATCH - April 27, 2007

CONTENTS
1) Register Today and Save! Associate Members - Don't Miss Out On a Free Meeting!
2) MANUS Half-Day Programme Details
3) Orthopaedics Overseas Canada - Meeting in Halifax
4) Ortho Connect, A Free, Telephone-based Peer Support Programme
5) Final Reminder to Complete Important Medical Survey
6) HIP HIP HOORAY!  Walk With Us On May 27

1) REGISTER TODAY AND SAVE! ASSOCIATE MEMBERS - DON'T MISS OUT ON A FREE MEETING!
Register for the upcoming Halifax Annual Meeting by May 1 to take advantage of the reduced early registration rates.  Registration fees for all categories will increase on May 2^nd.  Associate members who want to attend the meeting for free must register by May 1 - rates will increase to $150.00 after that date.  Save $$ by registering for the Halifax Meeting TODAY!  Visit http://www.coa-annual-meeting.org/ to register now.

2) MANUS HALF-DAY PROGRAMME DETAILS
The MANUS sub-specialty half day programme has been updated in the online version of the Preliminary Programme (see Subspecialty Half-Day Programmes At-A-Glace in the downloadable version).  The Canadian Society for Surgery of the Hand (MANUS) has lined up a stellar group of speakers, including Royal College guest speaker, Dr. Brian Adams from the University of Iowa.  Visit http://www.coa-annual-meeting.org/ to see what we're offering. The MANUS half day will be held at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax on Saturday, June 2 from 1345 - 1730.

3) ORTHOPAEDICS OVERSEAS CANADA - MEETING IN HALIFAX
All members are invited to attend a meeting with the COA's Orthopaedics Overseas Canada Committee that is being held in Halifax on Saturday, June 2 from 1330 - 1430 in Mariner 5 of the World Trade and Convention Centre.  Those interested in outreach programmes and volunteer opportunities abroad are encouraged to attend.  For further information about this initiative, please contact Dr. David Johnston: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

4) ORTHO CONNECT, A FREE, TELEPHONE-BASED PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Complementing the care you give each patient, the programme is intended to provide comfort and relieve some of the anxiety surrounding orthopaedic surgery.  Tell your patients about Ortho Connect and help them to be an active participant in their health care.  Visit the Foundations web site, http://www.canorth.org/, and click on Patient Resources then Ortho Connect for more information on the programme.

5) FINAL REMINDER TO COMPLETE IMPORTANT MEDICAL SURVEY
The final reminders for all physicians to participate in the National Physician Survey are in the mail. Don't miss this last opportunity to add your perspective to Canada's most important medical survey by submitting your completed questionnaire no later than May 31, 2007.  Every response counts! More participants will help ensure more informed decisions by governments, educators and regulators about the future of medicine in Canada. Watch for your envelope in the mail and be sure to participate. If you have already completed the survey, we thank you for taking the time to provide your insight. http://www.nationalphysiciansurvey.ca/

6) HIP HIP HOORAY! WALK WITH US ON MAY 27
Attend the walk so that your patients can thank you for giving them back their mobility.  Celebrate lifelong bone and joint health by joining your patients, volunteers and other health care professionals at Hip Hip Hooray! on Sunday, May 27 (dates in some communities may differ).  It's an ideal way to focus attention on the benefits of orthopaedic surgery and raise money to support research, education and care.  For details on your community's walk, visit http://www.hiphiphooray.org/