Physician FAQs
PHYSICIAN FAQs
Why
should I join the AASP if I already have a working relationship with a
spinecare
professional?
To
increase your exposure to other physicians and spinecare specialists who may
wish to develop a
referral relationship with you. In additional you will receive numerous member benefits,
which include access to affordable flexible continuing educational
opportunities with the option to achieve credentialing with
the AASP (Diplomate; Fellow).
If I
join the organization, will it help grow my practice?
Yes, if
you use the member resources available.
How does the cost of annual membership with
the AASP compare to other
organizations?
The cost of other organizations typically
range from $400 to $1,200 per year versusthe $250 for the annual AASP membership.
Will belonging to the organization help me
obtain staff privileges within a healthcare system, hospital or medical
facility?
It should help. Membership with this
organization demonstrates a commitment to excellence in cooperative spinecare. Credentialing
with AASP will reflect your commitment to continuing education and provide the
insights required to collaborate with other healthcare providers of all
disciplines.
Will I receive patient referrals from the
AASP?
One of the goals of the AASP is to enhance the
recognition and role of members in their community and within the broader
healthcare community. The academy provides many resources and tools which can
be used to develop a spinecare referral network and to educate the public. This
includes a full page profile on the International Directory of Spinecare
Professionals, a highly visible online directory. If an individual contacts the
AASP for a referral, we will refer them to the directory.
Does the American Academy of Spine
Physicians (AASP) award any designation to physicians for participation in
continuing education opportunities through the organization?
Yes. The
academy presently offers physicians Diplomate status with the American Academy
of Spine Physicians (DAASP) and Fellow status with the American College of
Spine Physicians (FACSP) in recognition for reaching defined levels of
academic achievement.
Does the American Academy of Spine
Physicians (AASP) award any designation to non-physicians for participation in
continuing education opportunities through the organization?
Yes. The
academy presently offers non-physician members Fellow status with the American
College of Spine Specialists (FACSS) in recognition for reaching defined levels
of academic achievement.
How will the physician with a Diplomate or
Fellow status awarded by the AASP be recognized?
The physician member who achieves a
credentialed status (Diplomate/Fellow) with the academy will receive a
prestigious certificate suitable for
framing and a personalized press release honoring their achievement. In
addition they will be granted the privilege to use the respective letter
designations after their name on all professional documents and correspondence
during the course of their practice. Those who achieve Diplomate status with the
American Academy of Spine Physicians can use the designation DAASP and those
who achieve Fellow status with the American College of Spine Physicians can use
the designation FACSP. The credentialed status will also be acknowledged on the
members profile page of the International Directory of Spinecare Professionals.
How will the non-physician with a Fellow
status awarded by the American College of Spine Specialist (ACSS) be
recognized?
The non-physician member who achieves
credentialed status (Fellow) with the American College of Spine Specialists
will receive a prestigious certificate
suitable for framing and a personalized press release honoring their
achievement. In addition they will be granted the privilege to use the
respective letter designation (FACSS) after their name on all professional
documents and correspondence during the course of their practice. The
credentialed status also will be acknowledged on the member’s profile page of
the International Directory of Spinecare Professionals.
Do I have to maintain an active membership
with the AASP to apply continuing education credits towards a Diplomate or
Fellow status?
No.
Is the membership fee for a calendar year or
for one-year from the time I join?
AASP
membership is for a term of one year
beginning at the time of acceptance. You can go to the member profile to check your renewal date at any
time.
Will there be a membership renewal fee?
Yes. Membership with the AASP must be renewed each year. Go to the member renewal area of the member dashboard for
additional information.
Can I arrange to have an automatic
withdrawal from my credit card or account for annual renewal to prevent my
membership from lapsing?
Yes.
Does the AASP accept credit cards?
Yes. We presently accept Visa and MasterCard
Does membership in this organization require
me to make referrals to other members?
No.
Will the organization provide therapeutic
recommendations?
The organization will not provide therapeutic
recommendations to physicians or to the general public. The organization will make
available information which may include information about available therapeutic opportunities.
Are AASP continuing education courses approved
for a mandatory license renewal CE or CME at the state level?
The AASP provides continuing education credits to
spinecare professionals of all eligible disciplines. It is the responsibility of each member to
confirm the license renewal requirements with their state organization(s) and/or
governing bodies.
Are the continuing educational opportunities
through the AASP affordable?
Yes. The AASP has attempted to keep the cost of continuing education down by
providing flexible online opportunities.
The average cost of credits is low relative to those obtained through a sit-down seminar,
particularly, when considering the
additional cost of transportation, housing and meals and the lost income from time way from the
practice.
Will the AASP help me develop relationships with
other healthcare professionals in my geographic area?
Yes. The AASP provides numerous resources, which members can
use to help develop interdisciplinary relationships and to develop their own regional
spinecare network. For additional information go to Reasons to Join
on the AASP website.
Will the annual membership fee change each
year?
We do not have plans to increase the annual
membership fee at this time. The fees
may increase in the future to help support additional member services.
Will the AASP be expanding the list of
available educational resources?
Yes. The academy is committed to the ongoing
development of educational resources. This includes growing the list of
available PowerPoint slides, brochures and press releases.
Does the mission of the AASP conflict with
the mission of other professional organizations members may belong to?
No. This organization provides resources which
can be used to enhance multidisciplinary spinecare.
Does the AASP have any affiliation with
managed care or preferred provider organizations?
No.
Will being a member of the organization help
me gain access to managed care organizations?
It may help.
How can I become more involved with the
American Academy of Spine Physicians?
Contact the AASP Membership Office at
(847)697-4660.
Is there more than one category of
membership with the AASP?
Yes. There are presently three categories of
membership. General membership is reserved for practicing physicians,
Affiliate membership is reserved for non-physicians and the Candidate member
status is reserved for students/interns/residents in training.
Will the AASP continue to expand educational
resources and products for members?
Yes.
As a member of the AASP will I be able to
provide input to the Academy Council?
Yes. On the AASP website there is a designated
area for contacting the AASP to share concerns
or ideas. The academy encourages member contributions
and interaction.
Will
being a member of the AASP reduce my malpractice risk?
Yes. The application
of
knowledge gained through continuing education, the cultivation of cooperative
interdisciplinary relationships and the making of timely referrals will reduce
your exposure to malpractice.
Can I obtain more than one personalized wall
certificate?
Yes. Additional certificates can be downloaded
through the online member dashboard. There are no fees for additional
certificates.
Will my membership in the AASP help me
network with local healthcare professionals?
Yes. The AASP provides members with resources, which can be used to develop integrated
spinecare teams and referral relationships.
Does the AASP provide online networking
resources which are user ready?
The AASP
provides numerous networking resources, which include press releases, brochures,
introductory letter templates, an “Inform a Colleague” email system with an
information link archive, and a profession networking tool referred to as
SpineLink (Spinecare360). The
SpineLink (Spinecare360) solution offers many of the communication resources
and tools of social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
I belong to a lot of professional
organizations already. How is this one different?
This is a
unique multidisciplinary organization. The AASP provides members with
resources to help develop relationships with other spinecare professionals.
Unlike many state and national organizations, the AASP is not designed to prop
up and support a single healthcare discipline or specialty. The AASP was developed
to help shape the future of spinecare in a manner which promotes collaborative
care for the benefit of the patient.
Can candidate members of the American
Academy of Spine Physicians take continuing education courses?
Yes.
Can candidate members of the AASP achieve a
credentialed status such as Diplomate or Fellow?
No. The
candidate member can complete AASP continuing education course and acquire the
credits for completion. The credits acquired while in training will not apply
toward credentialing. There are certificates of achievement available for
candidate members for some continuing education topics. An AASP member must be
a graduate licensed to practice in their respective field.
What is the benefit of joining as a
candidate member?
The American Academy of Spine Physician (AASP)
provides a unique opportunity for the student, intern and resident to begin formulating
goals and a plan for practice while in training. New skill and insights can be
acquired while still in training. The
candidate member can use available member resources to pursue career
opportunities and to begin networking with practicing spinecare professionals.
Can an application for AASP membership be
completed online?
Yes.
When will I receive a response from my
application to the AASP?
The usual turn around time for application
processing and review is within several weeks.
Welcome to the Inform a Colleague area of the Academy Website. The American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP) strives to implement new and more efficient methods for members to communicate with other healthcare professionals. One of the most effective tools is the online "Inform a Colleague" function. This function can be used to expand and educate your spinecare referral network. It also represents a resource to conveniently inform others about trends in spinecare and about offers of organizations such as the American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP), the International Spine Association (ISA). The link library also contains an application for membership with the AASP. 
