Re: Re: Scoliosis Surgeon Advertisement/

[Guest guest]

,

New England Baptist Hospital in Boston and St. 's Hospital in

Brighton both advertise their Orthopedic Departments on TV and, probably,

elsewhere. The latter has physicians right on screen. My favorite is always

NEBH.

So far, I have not found these ads to be unethical, distasteful, etc.

Other disciplines are definitely advertising at this point. I'm thinking it

might be a way to reach the people you mentioned in your post!

Carole M.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the thoughtful question, . I am one of those adults who was

told for nearly 35 years that nothing could be done.

I was amazed when my Internist admitted to me that, " he didn't know anything

about scoliosis. " Getting orthopedic surgeons, as well as family practice

doctors and internists educated is an important first step. Many of them still

believe that Harrington Rods are still in use and bracing a child throughout

high school will spare them from the deformity.

I don't believe that paid advertisement is the answer for getting information

out about adult scoliosis. Reminds me too much of Chiropractics. I believe that

articles written and published for family, sport, and health magazines would be

a more trusted resource for educating people. Even some cooking magazines have

many pages devoted to maintaining health, strength training and posture...why

not articles about scoliosis? Folks need to be told that bracing, exercise, and

physical therapy, while beneficial, will not stop most curvatures. That doesn't

mean that I am against physical activity. Quite the contrary. I believe strength

training is what kept my bones strong so that I can be a successful candidate.

A good article in a major Sunday newspaper under the Health Section written by

doctors who are considered the best in the field would be an idea to consider.

Tell parents and patients about the pros and cons of scoliosis surgery, and tell

them why bracing may not do what they had hoped it would do. Because of my own

problem, I always had an interest in health and exercise. I truly believed that

exercise would " save " me. While it's true that it made me strong, my curvature

still progressed.

Perhaps programs like " Oprah " , and other talk shows could be a resource for

getting the public informed. Get some interviews with well-known commentators.

We are not a highly visible group, and we need to change that. We don't need to

suffer. People need hope and there are a few doctors out there who have devoted

their careers to the scoliosis patient. Problem is that they are not well known.

How do you find them? How do you get a referral? What can we expect if we choose

surgery? The answers need to be easier to find and come from a trusted resource.

Hope I have not labored too long on this answer. I'll be interested in what

other folks think about your question.

Patti J

Re: Scoliosis Surgeon Advertisement/

Thanks for all of your responses.

There are many adults with scoliosis who are told that there is

nothing that can be done for them. Do any of you have any ideas of how

those people can be reached with the information that there is help

(other than in forums such as this)?

--

> >

> > Hi...

> >

> > I have a question for you. If you saw an advertisement (either a

> > commercial or print ad) for a scoliosis surgeon, would it:

> >

> > Give you confidence in the surgeon's skill?

> > Cause you to question the surgeon's skill?

> > Have no impact in terms of your opinion of the surgeon's skill?

> >

> > Thanks in advance for your response.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

HI ,

I don't think I'd be put off by a hospital advertising an entire orthopedic

department or an orthopedic practice advertising itself with a newspaper or

magazine ad. Anything showy or glitsy would definitely cause me to look

elsewhere.

Bonnie

Re: Re: Scoliosis Surgeon Advertisement/

,

New England Baptist Hospital in Boston and St. 's Hospital in

Brighton both advertise their Orthopedic Departments on TV and, probably,

elsewhere. The latter has physicians right on screen. My favorite is always

NEBH.

So far, I have not found these ads to be unethical, distasteful, etc.

Other disciplines are definitely advertising at this point. I'm thinking it

might be a way to reach the people you mentioned in your post!

Carole M.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Often people are told nothing can be done by orthopedic surgeons. So, my first

thought is to lobby medical schools with respect to teaching new medical

students and lobby the folks who are in charge of continuing education and

recertification boards who are in a position to clue in practicing docs. And

that includes internal medicine and family practice as well as orthopedic

surgery boards. Slim chance, huh?

Another thought, what about trying to educate health insurers? Many are really

looking at disease processes these days to make sure proper care is given as it

is more costly in the long run not to deal appropriately with any disease.

What about trying to get more TV time on health spots or on programs like Oprah?

Anybody know anybody who knows anybody?

Bonnie

Re: Scoliosis Surgeon Advertisement/

Thanks for all of your responses.

There are many adults with scoliosis who are told that there is

nothing that can be done for them. Do any of you have any ideas of how

those people can be reached with the information that there is help

(other than in forums such as this)?

--

> >

> > Hi...

> >

> > I have a question for you. If you saw an advertisement (either a

> > commercial or print ad) for a scoliosis surgeon, would it:

> >

> > Give you confidence in the surgeon's skill?

> > Cause you to question the surgeon's skill?

> > Have no impact in terms of your opinion of the surgeon's skill?

> >

> > Thanks in advance for your response.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

How about contacting a major newspaper, such as the New York Times,

Los Angeles Times or Washington Post, and talking to one of the

health editors?

Jeannine

On Sep 6, 2006, at 4:13 PM, Racine wrote:

> Thanks for all of your responses.

>

> There are many adults with scoliosis who are told that there is

> nothing that can be done for them. Do any of you have any ideas of how

> those people can be reached with the information that there is help

> (other than in forums such as this)?

>

> --

>

>

> > >

> > > Hi...

> > >

> > > I have a question for you. If you saw an advertisement (either a

> > > commercial or print ad) for a scoliosis surgeon, would it:

> > >

> > > Give you confidence in the surgeon's skill?

> > > Cause you to question the surgeon's skill?

> > > Have no impact in terms of your opinion of the surgeon's skill?

> > >

> > > Thanks in advance for your response.

> > >

> > > Regards,

> > >

> > >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Another medium to get scoliosis information out to parents is through the

school system. In Virginia, schools are required to provide information about

scoliosis for students each year in 5th grade through 10th grade. Parents can

request that their children be screened by the school nurse plus many schools

provide in-school screening. Having this information provided yearly during

the growth years alerts parents about scoliosis and annualy reminds them to

check their children.

[Guest guest]

> There are many adults with scoliosis who are told that there is

> nothing that can be done for them. Do any of you have any ideas of how

> those people can be reached with the information that there is help

> (other than in forums such as this)?

>

> --

I'm not sure, but I do know that Hospital for Special Surgery advertises on

TV in the NYC-Metro area, and they are #2 in the country. They don't name

any particular MD, though. They also have print ads, I believe.

D.