The Scientific Program focuses primarily on clinical neurosurgical research and breakthroughs that can help neurosurgeons improve the quality of care provided to their patients. There are other crucial issues that affect the delivery of patient care, however, and in recognition of that, this year’s meeting features significantly expanded programming devoted to the key socioeconomic issues that affect neurosurgeons and their patients.

Monday, April 16, 2:45 to 5:30 p.m.

Medicare Issues

Physician Panel

• Medicare - T he Big Picture , James R. Bean, MD, 2:50-3:05 p.m.
• Medicare - T he Neurosurgeon’s View , Troy M. Tippett, MD, 3:05-3:20 p.m.
• Update on Pay for Performance , Robert E. Harbaugh, MD, FACS, 3:20-3:35 p.m.
• Question and Answer Session , 3:35 to 3:45 p.m.

Administration Speaker

• Medicare Quality Initiatives - Thomas B. Valuck, MD, JD, director, CMS Special Program Office of Value-Based Purchasing, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 3:45-4:15 p.m.
• Question and Answer Session , 4:15-4:30 p.m.

Congressional Panel

• William Wynne, Senate Finance Committee, 4:30-5:15 p.m.
• Melissa Bartlett ( Invited), House Energy and Commerce Committee,
  4:30-5:15 p.m.
• Bridgett Taylor ( Invited), House Energy and Commerce Committee,
  4:30-5:15 p.m.
• Question and Answer Session , 5:15-5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 17, 2:45 to 5:30 p.m.

Emergency Neurosurgical Care Issues

• Improving the System of Emergency Care Delivery , Alex B. Valadka, MD, FACS, 2:45-3:05 p.m.
• EMTALA’s Role in Emergency Care Delivery , John A. Kusske, MD,
  3:05-3:25 p.m.
• Neurosurgical Emergency Coverage in Private Practice , Deborah L. Benzil, MD, 3:25-3:45 p.m.
• Neurosurgical Emergency Coverage in Academics , Domenic P. Esposito, MD, FACS, 3:45-4:05 p.m.
• Fixing the Emergency Medical System, Shelly Timmons, MD, PhD, 4:05-4:25 p.m.
• Legislative and Regulatory Solutions , Katie Orrico, JD, 4:25-4:45 p.m.
• Question and Answer Session , 4:45-5:15 p.m.

Wednesday, April 18, 2:45 to 5:30 p.m.

Patient Centered Care

Panel

• Building a Patient Centered Multi-Specialty Neuroscience Practice , Troy D. Payner, MD, 2:45-3:05 p.m.
• The Benefits of Adding a Practice Manager to Your Practice , Barbara P. Hurlbert, CMPE, NERVES president, 3:05-3:25 p.m.
• Benefits to You and Your Patient of Having an Imaging Center in Your Practice, Thomas A. Kopitnik Jr., MD, 3:25-3:45 p.m.
• Owning an Ambulatory Surgery Center , Craig A. Van Der Veer, MD,
  3:45-4:05 p.m.
• Question and Answer Session , 4:05-4:15 p.m.

Panel

• Physician Owned Hospitals: Point, Counterpoint, Stan Pelofsky, MD and Robert A. Ratcheson, MD, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
• Question and Answer Session , 5:15-5:30 p.m.

The 2007 AANS Annual Meeting press kit includes releases on highlighted scientific research, AANS officer and award winners, and Neurosurgery Awareness Week. This is located in the Media Center Section of the AANS public Web site at: http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/media/press.asp. The AANS Annual Meeting Preliminary Program is available online at: http://www.aans.org/annual/2007/default.asp.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with over 6,800 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, A.C.

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Media Representatives: If you would like to cover the meeting or interview a neurosurgeon - either on-site or via telephone - please contact the AANS Communications Department at (847) 378-0517 or call the Annual Meeting Press Room beginning Monday, April 16 at (202) 249-4010.