Moving Forward – A New Year with New Opportunities

Robert M. Hollinshead, M.D., FRCSC
President, The Canadian Orthopaedic Association

I hope all of us are rejuvenated after a restful holiday break. A new year is upon us as we look forward to getting together in June at our Annual Meeting. Dr. F. Kelley DeSouza has done a great job with the local arrangements for our upcoming Calgary meeting. The Bull Bustin’ Saturday night gala will be the highlight of the social programme. Drs. James N. (Jim) Powell and Kevin Hildebrand, along with their Programme Committees, have put together a great scientific programme featuring four live surgeries and guests such as Professor Reinhold Ganz, from Switzerland, speaking on the surgical treatment of hip impingement syndrome.

Our new year has seen the COA go forward as intervenors with the CMA on the Chaoulli case at the Supreme Court of Canada. This will give us an opportunity to speak out for shorter waiting times and more resources for our patients.

Later this Spring, Dr. Robert B. (Bob) Bourne will be releasing some provocative data from the Canadian Joint Registry and Dr. Hans J. Kreder, Chair of the National Standards Committee, will be presenting some research suggesting that increasing orthopaedic human resources may not be as critical an issue as increasing operating rooms and beds is. Both of these will highlight the plight of orthopaedic patients on long waiting lists here in Canada.

Our advocacy efforts for the first half of 2004 will hopefully come to fruition when the Supreme Court announces their decision after hearing the Chaoulli case on June 8th. Senator Michael Kirby will analyze this case for us, which he describes as the “Canadian health care legal case of the decade”, during his talk on Health Reform at the COA Annual Meeting Opening Ceremonies in Calgary on June 18th.

After an incredibly busy fall I am enjoying the respite prior to a busy time later in the spring. I was only able to attend two of the provincial meetings during the fall due to time conflicts. Alberta, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces all had their meetings on the same weekend. I did attend the Ontario Orthopaedic Association meeting and was most impressed by the leadership of Dr. David I. A. (Dave) Wismer and the OOA Executive. They are exploring different advocacy options as well as such innovations as physician assistants, an idea Dr. William R. J. (Bill) Rennie has helped bring to realization in Manitoba. In Alberta, Dr. Don A. Dick is doing an incredible job as President, leading an array of initiatives including a bone phone, ARP (Alternative Remuneration Plan) pilot for arthroplasty surgeons, province-wide standards by orthopaedic sub specialty, as well as a clinical assistants program. All of this effort has been supported with over $1M funding from Alberta’s Ministry of Health and Wellness. I am also hoping to visit British Columbia and Quebec later in the spring.

Orthopaedic health reform is gathering momentum in Canada and we look forward to seeing some positive changes in the not too distant future. As orthopaedic surgeons we need to work together on behalf of our patients to achieve success.

In closing, we look forward to welcoming you to Calgary for our 59th Annual Meeting, June 18 – 20, 2004. A record turnout by orthopaedic surgeons and their families from across Canada will help offset the tough times the COA has weathered this past year. Join us and share with us the magic of Calgary and the Rockies in June!