Researchers at Johns Hopkins University examined curriculum of North American medical schools and found pain education is "limited, variable and often fragmentary," according to findings published in The Journal of Pain.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has established the Alan M. Levine, MD, Education Fund, named for the organization's former chair of the AAOS Council on Education who died suddenly in 2009, according to an AAOS Now report.

Mary Mayer, CPC health information manager at the Laser Spine Institute, has recently been selected as the chairwoman of the advisory board for Erwin Technical Centerꞌs medical coding and billing program, according to a news release by the Laser Spine Institute.

Buffalo Bills owners Ralph and Mary Wilson have made a $1 million donation to the University at Buffalo Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to honor the Bills team physicians, according to a Buffalo News report.

After watching the patient video used in the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial, patients with lumbar spine disorders were able to form or strengthen their treatment preferences in a balanced and unbiased manner, according to a study published in Spine.

As part of its crackdown on pill mills, Ohio is now requiring physicians engaged in pain treatments to take continuing medical education courses on pain management, according to a report by PainWeek.

Here are four ways orthopedic practices can increase the involvement of their staff members in the practice's success.

Spine surgery is performed with increasing frequency in ASCs around the country. As a result, ASCs are being forced to reexamine their approach to ensuring efficiency while maintaining appropriate levels of patient safety. The need to increase operating room efficiency is especially important given the current climate of rising costs and diminishing reimbursements. ASCs have been forced to reevaluate their current operations and develop strategies to maximize efficiency.