For Immediate Release

(Halifax - May 9, 2012)  "Canadians who need hip or knee replacement surgery can take comfort in knowing that these operations will become even safer than they are now," says Dr. Ross Leighton, who practises at Halifax's QE II Health Sciences Centre and is the immediate past-president of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA). "Thanks to an unprecedented collaboration with our COA National Standards Committee (chaired by  Dr. Eric Bohm), the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Accreditation Canada and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, I believe we are on the right track toward reducing preventable complications in hip and knee surgery." 

The four organizations came together in late 2010 to draft a public position statement -  "Improving Safety and Outcomes for Canadians Undergoing Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery"  - which promotes the adoption of a surgical safety checklist prior to commencing surgery and submission of a minimum data set to the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry after surgery. The safety checklist requires that critical steps be completed for all surgical patients to confirm that the surgical team has taken preventive measures and is properly prepared for potential complications or emergencies. For its part, data submission to the joint replacement registry, that would occur electronically during the surgery, makes it possible to match patients with an implant, should problems surface with a particular device. 

Support the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation by participating in the Inaugural Sherry Bassin "Bad to the Bone" Charity Golf Classic taking place this June in Toronto.  You will have the opportunity to golf with NHL legends. Prior to tee off, perfect your swing with tips and instruction from CPGA Teaching Professionals and enjoy a delicious lunch. The game begins with a shotgun start at 1:30pm. Afterwards you can relax with a cocktail and bid on items in the silent auction, followed by a gourmet dinner and stories of Canadian hockey with emcee Sherry Bassin and other hockey legends. For more information, please visit our web site at www.badtothebonegolf.org or contact Joanne at 1-800-461-3639 x4.

The Canadian Orthopaedic Association, as a member of the Arthritis Alliance of Canada (AAC), is pleased to announce that a report entitled, The Impact of Arthritis in Canada: Today and the Next 30 Years, was released on October 27^th.   Please click here to download a copy .