Orthopedics This Week | December 5, 2017 | Page 10

ORTHOPEDICS THIS WEEK
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 38 | DECEMBER 5, 2017
10
AAOS’ OrthoInfo Website Upgraded; Spine
Complications Drop 36%; Waterless Hand Scrub
Equal to Traditional Methods?
BY ELIZABETH HOFHEINZ, M.P.H., M.ED.
A
AOS Launches New, Improved
OrthoInfo.org
OrthoInfo.org,
the consumer website of the Ameri-
can Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
(AAOS), has revamped and is now
easier and even more authoritative for
patients seeking to understand ortho-
pedic conditions.
According to AAOS, “OrthoInfo, which
receives approximately 42 million page
visits each year, provides more than 525
consumer articles, videos and interac-
tive learning modules on symptoms,
causes and treatment options for a
broad range of musculoskeletal condi-
tions.
“The website offers new illustrations
and multi-media resources, is more
optimally organized—by body part
and popular topics—and the respon-
sive mobile design makes viewing on a
phone or table more convenient than
ever.”
“The new OrthoInfo empowers patients
by helping them to better understand
their conditions, find answers to ques-
tions and prepare for surgical proce-
dures—anytime, anywhere,” said AAOS
President William J. Maloney, M.D. “In
addition, OrthoInfo is an important in-
office resource and tool for our ortho-
paedic surgeon members, reflecting the
Academy’s commitment to providing
optimal patient care.”
“Our goal is to provide clear and accu-
rate orthopaedic information in a way
that patients, families and caregivers
Courtesy of OrthoInfo.org and Pixabay
can easily understand,” said OrthoInfo
Editor-in-Chief Stuart J. Fischer, M.D.
“We have added new illustrations, ani-
mations and videos to supplement the
articles. The new responsive design will
allow viewers to access orthopaedic
information on many platforms—desk-
top, mobile, table and smart TV.”
Finally, said AAOS; “For orthopaedic
surgeons, physician assistants, nurses
and other health care staff, OrthoInfo is
a valuable tool in aiding and enhancing
patient care.”
“The site offers images, articles and
learning modules on a variety of top-
ics—from arthritis and sports injuries,
to preparing for surgery, pain man-
agement, and recovery—that can be
viewed on a laptop, phone or tablet
during the office visit. Staff also can
email specific OrthoInfo links, or direct
patients and caregivers to the website,
for more information.”
Dr Fischer told OTW, “OrthoInfo gets
3 million viewers a month. We wanted
our viewers and our patients to have the
benefit of a modern design with easier
navigation and better search capability.
Patients can now move around the site
and find what they need more quickly.”
“Sixty-five per cent of our readers view
our site on mobile devices and we
needed to have a ‘responsive’ design
where the site would format as well on
a smartphone as it does on a desktop.
Our new site is organized in a way that
is easier to read with better illustrations
that can now be enlarged with a simple
click or tap.”
“The most challenging part was to orga-
nize the material in a way that patients
will find useful. Our articles are now
divided into four main categories:
Diseases and Conditions, Treatment,
Recovery, and Staying Healthy. Mov-
ing and reorganizing a large amount
ryortho.com | 1-888-352-1952