In this Issue:
Members of the AAO Committee on Information Technology (COIT) have developed two articles on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), a radiographic technique that allows anatomy to be captured and rendered in 3-D. The articles are available on the AAOinfo.org technology page.
The articles summarize the technology used in cone-beam imaging, provide examples of diagnostic application in orthodontic treatment and address practical issues related to the use of cone-beam imaging in orthodontic practice. The authors of the articles are Drs. Aaron Cohen, Ronald Jacobson and Anthony Puntillo, all COIT members.
Log-in to AAOinfo.org will be required to access the articles. View the introductory article, Cone Beam and Me – Part 1: About Cone Beam. View Cone Beam and Me – Part 2: Cone Beam and the Orthodontic Practice.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced in May that it would delay enforcement of its Red Flags Rule until Jan. 1, 2011. The Red Flags Rule was designed to extend the definition of a creditor to any entity that provides a service under a payment plan agreed upon by the provider and the customer. The delay in implementation was intended to give Congress time to pass legislation that would permanently exclude certain small businesses, including dental practices with fewer than 20 employees, from the rule. On June 25, the FTC announced that it would further delay implementation of the rule until the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington reviews a trial court decision on an American Bar Association lawsuit to block implementation of the rule for legal offices.
Also of interest, on May 21 the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association and the Medical Society of the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit seeking to exempt medical offices from having to comply with the rule. The FTC announced a joint legal stipulation with the three groups that places their lawsuit on hold until the federal appeals court issues its ruling on the ABA case.
The FTC was scheduled to respond to the physician groups' lawsuit by July 20, but the FTC response date has been postponed until 60 days after the federal appeals court rules on the ABA trial court decision – if the court decides to re-open the ABA case.
Statements for 2010-11 AAO dues are en route to members. You can simplify the payment process by paying online.
If you have paid online in the past, please note the updated payment process resulting from the recent AAO database upgrade:
- After logging into the AAO specialty Web site, select "Make a Payment" in the upper right hand corner. Please note that all outstanding invoices associated with your member number will appear;
- For your convenience, national, constituent and component dues are payable in one transaction. You may select only the dues invoices to make a payment;
- If you wish to add a one-year unlimited subscription to the AAO Distance Learning service, please follow the prompts provided on screen;
- You will also be given an opportunity to visit the AAO Political Action Committee Web site to make a secure PAC contribution during this process;
- Orthodontic Staff Club membership renewals cannot be completed online or by phone. Payment for Orthodontic Staff Club dues must be mailed or faxed to the AAO with the required member-signed documentation.
The AAO 2011 Professional Advocacy Conference will be January 24-26 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference will prepare AAO member volunteers to lobby lawmakers whose actions may affect the practice of orthodontics.
The conference will provide AAO member volunteers with the opportunity to put newly learned skills into practice, through Capitol Hill meetings with legislators and their staff members. Discussions will focus on issues important to orthodontic practice.
Space for this conference is limited. AAO members interested in attending may contact their constituent society's executive director or Kevin Dillard, AAO assistant general counsel at 800-424-2841, ext. 525 or kdillard@aaortho.org.
In March the AAO began offering complimentary access to selected online programs from its Distance Learning series, with a different lecture available each month via the AAOinfo.org home page. From today until the end of July, view Dr. Joseph F. O'Neil's presentation, "Practice Marketing – Staying Up in a Down Economy through Visibility and Relationships."
Recommended for the doctor/business owner or orthodontic practice manager, this Webinar provides a wealth of expertise from Dr. O'Neil, a marketing authority who is known for his innovative materials for increasing referrals. In a "how-to" presentation, Dr. O'Neil explains principles and specifics of increasing referrals from professionals and the community. Emphasis is given to low-cost, high-payoff marketing activities. Learning objectives include: 1) how to work with outside experts and 2) how to transform your staff into an effective marketing force.
The AAO complimentary distance learning series features one lecture per month, offered at no cost for the specified time through the free link on the AAO home page. AAO members and staff members can access each month's free lecture by visiting AAOinfo.org.
No continuing education credit will be issued for the free lectures when viewed via the AAOinfo.org homepage promotion link. The lectures are available on a permanent basis with CE credit via AAO Distance Learning Program Annual subscription and individual pay per view. Orthodontic Staff Club members receive an annual DLP subscription with their membership.
View the complimentary lecture by Dr. O'Neil.*
For additional marketing ideas, visit the AAO Online Marketing and Advertising Toolkit. Log-in with your member number and password will be required.
* The videos can be viewed with Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari on a Mac or PC. Please exit all other programs in order to properly view the presentations. The presentations require that you have Adobe Flash Player 8.0 or later installed. The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view some additional materials. Screen resolution must be set to a minimum of 1024 x 768. To change your screen resolution settings on a PC, please right click on your desktop, and choose the "properties" menu item. At the top of the screen click on the "settings" tab. Choose the screen resolution of 1024 x 768. On a Mac, open your system preferences, choose "Display", select the appropriate resolution and hit "Apply".To install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player (Mac or PC), click here. Cookies need to be enabled on your browser. To find directions on enabling cookies, please click here.