Past President Letter from Dr. Steven Mardjeko
Jan. 1, 2023
Dear IAOS Members, Colleagues and Friends,
As my 2 year term as the IAOS President has concluded, I have reflected on my tour of duty as the IAOS President for 2022 and 2023.
Some Wins:
- I cannot thank the past president enough for his resurrection of the IAOS! Dr. John Cherf’s contributions to the IAOS as president from 2020-2022 were astounding. He assumed responsibility of IAOS at truly it’s low point. The IAOS was on life support! Financially destitute, in the red, and owing ISMS a significant amount for IAOS management. ISMS made a decision to no longer manage associate state societies, so IAOS needed complete reorganization from the ground up. Dr. Cherf tightened up the IAOS BOD, and charted a course to reorganize and revamp the organization. Under his presidency, we accomplished a re-write of our IAOS by-laws and our policies/procedures. We embarked on a membership drive that focused on orthopedic group membership. We held that yearly dues at $200, and gave meaningful discounts at group rates. This pushed the IAOS membership to over 400 orthopedic surgeons. For the first time in the organization's history, IAOS could truly state that it represents the majority of Illinois orthopedic surgeons. John, thank you for all you’ve done to keep the IAOS going and growing!
- The Reorganization of the IAOS to a 501 (c) 6 organization was accomplished some years back, but the work that Dr. John Cherf and the IAOS BOD accomplished has provided the framework for IAOS to fulfill its responsibilities to Illinois Orthopedic Surgeons in accordance with the IAOS mission statement. “The IAOS supports the interests and the profession of orthopedic surgeons, and the patients they care for. Through education, advocacy/representation, IAOS seeks to improve the quality and value of musculoskeletal health in Illinois.”
- IAOS has undergone financial reorganization to better address societal goals. The general fund handles the core societal functions, and the newly formed IAOS Research/Education fund will serve to support research germane to our mission statement, and address educational opportunities for IAOS members.
- For those who have participated in professional society leadership, it’s a given that the lifeblood of any professional organization is the Executive Director. We knew that we needed stability in this position. Someone who had the skill set and the interest to drive the IAOS forward. We have finally found an IAOS Executive Director who exceeds all the requirements of the position! Ms. Leah Wolfe, came to us by way of her association with Ms. Margaret Coyle, our executive director from 2021-2022. Starting in 2023, Leah was aided in a smooth transition by Ms. Coyle. Proving to be a very quick study, She has embraced the IAOS Directors position, jumped in with both feet, and is already advancing the IAOS mission forward. I see her serving IAOS for many years to come! Leah Welcome to IAOS, the IAOS BOD and members look forward to many years of productive collaboration!
- IAOS BOD reorganization/expansion. To better represent the spectrum of orthopedic surgeons practicing across Illinois, the IAOS BOD set out to expand its geographic representation, seeking out orthopedic surgeons with an interest in representing orthopedic surgery in their regions. To that end, we’ve added Dr. Stephen Morton D.O., from Carbondale orthopedics, Dr. Brian Foster from Rockford (OrthoIllinois) and Dr. Miguel Ramirez from Peoria (OSF Orthopedics). Welcome to these new 2023 Board members! Dr. Morton and Dr. Ramirez served as IAOS delegates at the AAOS NOLC meeting. Both have legislative connections in their districts and are actively advocating for orthopedics locally!
- One outstanding win for 2023 was the 15% reimbursement increase for work comp Patient E/M office visits. New office visit codes 99003,04,05 and established patient codes 99213,14,15. This initiative was spearheaded by an occupational health physician from Champagne, Dr. David Fletcher. His efforts were joined by ISMS (Illinois State Medical Society), and IAOS. The Illinois Workman Compensation Commissions Medical Fee Advisory Board took up this proposal.
- IAOS supported the recent election of IAOS board member Dr. Giridhar Burra to the 5 member Illinois work comp commissions Medical Fee Advisory Board. Dr. Burra joined long time IAOS Board member Dr. Preston Wolin, as the senior veteran member of the MFAB. Dr. Wolin and Dr. Burra represent Illinois orthopedic surgeons, defending and supporting initiatives that improve the care provided to injured workers in Illinois.
- The Presidential Line concept to create a stronger society. This leadership model offers a longer society timeline. Supporting goal setting and action plans over the longer term. The presidential line was Dr. John Cherf-past president, Dr. Steve Mardjetko-president, Dr. Doug Evans- president elect, and Dr. Jeff Goldstein-vice president. In 2024, Dr. John Cherf will rotate off the PL but will hopefully remain an active IAOS Board member. His institutional knowledge and business acumen has served the IAOS well through his time on the Board.I will assume the past president role. Dr. Doug Evans is our new IAOS president with a 2 year term. Dr. Jeff Goldstein is president elect. A vice president will be elected from the BOD by the end of 2024. This PL succession plan works well for orthopedic state societies, by maintaining corporate memory and a history of issues that confront the society. It allows for short and long term goal setting, and a combined/group think approach to problem solving.
- This year the IAOS co-sponsored an online orthopedic surgery practice management course with AAOS, AAOE. IAOS past president, Dr. John Cherf was co-director, and faculty for“Understanding the Business of Orthopedics: Today’s Realities and preparing for the future”. The course was held virtually on September 30 and October 14, of 2023. Given the positive feedback, the course will hopefully become an annual educational offering through the AAOS/IAOS/AAOE.
- IAOS has the responsibility of choosing 3 Illinois orthopedic surgeons to serve as our state’s representatives to the AAOS Board of Councilors. It's an honor that comes with a significant time commitment. Delegates agree to 3/6 year terms, and have 2 in-person meetings per year. We are fortunate to have three outstanding and experienced Illinois AAOS BOC delegates, Dr. Charles Bush-Joseph, Dr. John Cherf, and Dr. Doug Evans. All 3 are IAOS board members. They serve to interface with AAOS on local, regional and national issues that impact the profession of orthopedic surgery. And this year illinois orthopedics was fortunate to have Dr. Alfonso Mejia, past IAOS president and ex officio IAOS board member, serving in the role chairman of theAAOS Board Of Councilors. Dr. Mejia has dedicated himself to orthopedic leadership at the state and national level. IAOS is lucky to have his expertise and experience available to the IAOS BOD.
- This year the IAOS sponsored 4 orthopedic residents from Illinois orthopedic training programs to attend the AAOS National Orthopedic Leadership Conference. The goal being to foster and develop leadership qualities in interested orthopedic residents. The PGY 3 residents were chosen by the department chairs from Rush, Northwestern, Loyola, and UIC. They attended the NOLC and participated actively in the AAOS lobbying activities. They all felt that the experience was valuable and will serve to motivate them to seek leadership positions in Orthopedic surgery at state and national level.
Leah Wolfe’s contributions can already be recognized in the reorganization of the IAOS website. The website serves as a primary source of information for IAOS members. There is now an opportunity to pay your dues online.
The IAOS board will continually strive to represent all the orthopedic surgeons of Illinois. To that end we will actively seek out members interested in joining the board that represents our membership. If you are interested in knowing more about the IAOS, please reach out to any board member.
Since the last fee schedule revision of 2011, it was recognized that the outpatient E/M codes were significantly under-reimbursed when compared with the work effort required for office visits with patients covered by work comp insurance. The higher levels of acuity, increased administrative workload, and increased physician facetime, with patients and Nurse case managers were clearly not accounted for in the 2011 fee schedule. Since a great deal of injured worker health care is represented as outpatient care, physicians were finding it hard to make ends meet on these office visits, resulting in many practices choosing not to see patients with WC coverage, limiting access to care in many demographics. This issue was brought before the MFAB, where an equitable compromise of a 15% increase was accepted by all members.
Special thanks goes to Dr. David Fletcher, Dr. Preston Wolin, Dr. John Cherf, IAOS and ISMS leadership, and the IWCC Chairman Mr. Brennan, for balancing the scales in support of injured workers in Illinois!
So in summary, it’s been a great year for the IAOS from basically any angle! Better leadership structure, more diverse BOD, strong membership numbers, strength and stability in the Executive Director position. IAOS board members cross-serving on committees important to organized orthopedics in Illinois, such as MFAB, ISMS, and AAOS. The development of a Research foundation to further our Mission of education and research.
The IAOS board remains committed to advancing Orthopedics in keeping with the Mission of IAOS!
If you have any interest in learning more about IAOS visit the website, and reach out to Leah Wolfe, or any board member. The Board members are held monthly, on zoom. They are open by invitation, so please reach out and listen in on a few meetings.
Thanks to all the board members and the IAOS executive directors I've had the pleasure of working with.
It's been a rewarding experience to work with such a hardworking focused team!
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Mardjetko MD, FAAP
Past President IAOS 2022 and 2023