A couple of weeks ago my wife received this in the mail.
Last year I blogged about a similar honor that I received from the International Association of Healthcare Professionals. That eminent organization had named me a top surgeon. I was a little skeptical because at the time, I had been retired for two years.
I am sure the vetting process for my wife’s inclusion was quite thorough. However, they may have been mistaken about some important criteria.
For one thing, she is not an orthopedic surgeon. In fact, she isn't even a doctor. She is a nurse and manages an office for a large group of orthopedists. She is pretty good at reading x-rays and is a whiz at organization, staff management, patient interactions, suture removal, and fitting crutches. Maybe that counts for something.
From the format of the letters and the mention of the "renowned publication, The Leading Physicians of the World," it looks like the International Association of Orthopedic Surgeons might be run by the same outfit as the International Association of Healthcare Professionals.
The website does not list the cost but here are the benefits of being selected: wall plaque of achievement, leading physician feature video, leading physician press release, leading physician specialist online exposure, physician feature website, and [my favorite] endorsement of credentials.
We look forward to the selection of our dog Bailey as perhaps one of the leading neurosurgeons of the world.
I think she qualifies because she has been dead for three years.
14 comments:
She's a nurse? Gasp! Those nurses are breaking in on the doctors' turf! Call the AMA! First primary care, next anesthesiology & dermatology, now orthopedic surgery!
:)
Thats nothing. I once received an email from the AVVO letting me know that using a
"completely objective mathematical model…after analyzing a multitude of factors and criteria, the AVVO rating system has given you one of the highest scores in the country."
as a lawyer. Not bad for an ID doc who never went to law school
Nurses will rule the world some day.
Mark, you beat me. A top rated lawyer is a better selection. See you in court.
I have received notifications that I have been selected as a prominent doc in my area. They want some money to pay for the publishing of the information. I always respond that "everybody
in the United States knows about me" and there is no need to
tell the world what they already know.
On a more somber note, here is a notification of doctors who
have been identified for less than spectacular professional
performance. Sad.
http://doctors.ajc.com/doctors_sex_abuse/?ecmp=doctorssexabuse_microsite_nav
At least the certifying entity used the traditional spelling of "orthopedic." There seems to be a kitschy trend here of sneaking an "a" into the term (orthpAedc) I guess the British version seems more classy.
Those highlights in Bailey's eyes kinda look like loupes. I would have loved to scrub with her on any neuro case.
Scalpel, when I read the headline, I thought "Wow, Scalpel really married well.".
Do any decent physicians (a vast majority, I certainly hope) even indulge in such obvious scams? Please tell me no, although I have to think otherwise.
William, that's a horrible story.
Old, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons even does it. http://www.aaos.org/Default.aspx?ssopc=1
Artiger, I have no idea if doctors fall for these things or not. If only 1% do, I guess the company makes enough money to keep doing what it does.
During residency, we had an attending who got one of those top doc plaques and put it outside his door...we then built an alter.
Rugger, it's really about selling the plaques. They can cost a couple of hundred bucks.
Yup. A complete scam. P.T. Barnum would be proud. One gets the same "benefits" whether paying $895.00 or (after traveling down the "hold-rebuttal-benefit-drop" formula they have- $34.95. The plaques are what anyone can get walking into a trophy shop, but with a hugely inflated price tag. The company ("Association") has now opened a division that forgoes the time-consuming pitch and close of the sales gimmick and just sells the plaque. 289 or the special "reduced" cost because one is a "leader", " new to the profession" , or " respected researcher" of only $189.00. for those who don't have enough crap on their walls and need more than their diplomas, board certs, and fellowships to remind that they are well-trained professionals.
Patients need to take a close look at what is hanging in their doctors' offices. Things are not always what they seem.
I was getting multiple annoying letters from so named International Association of orthopedic surgeons. Sure they named me as one of the tops name in a field and even /?/published this. No, I am not a surgeon at all, but IM MD. It is a scam. I called them. Left message. No changes.
Thanks for the comment. Welcome to the club.
I know this is old news but to let you know, people do in fact fall for this. I am a 22 year old hospital administrative. While looking over the CV of a surgeon who wished to apply to join the ASA I noticed one of his awards was as the Top General Surgeon in his location in 2011. I was sort of impressed (partially because he’s specialized in Trauma but I guess the company decided nah, he’s better at general) so I looked it up to find the article supporting this award only to find this one. Always sad to see older folks fall for these kinds of scams, almost wish I could tell him, let’s hope he’s not paying much.
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