Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2013 - (Page 4)

mnA REpORT tO Meet MeMBeR neeDS, YOu HAVe tO KnOW MeMBeRS PCSO by Jill Nowak, PCSO Executive Director leadership is committed to learning more about our members and developing strategies and programs to meet their needs. To that end, PCSO undertook a broad survey of members this spring. All PCSO members with email addresses on file (about 98%) were sent the survey, and PCSO received over 400 responses. PCSO conducts such a survey every three years, and the number of respondents has been surprisingly consistent, ranging from 347 to 413 respondents each time. The good news is that an overwhelming majority of members—81%—are satisfied with PCSO’s accomplishments related to its primary mission—providing CE opportunities for doctors. PCSO rated well in other key areas, too: 73% of its members are satisfied with PCSO publications, and 68% feel PCSO does a good job of representing them to the AAO. Members are concerned about PCSO’s ability to assist them in the critical areas of facing current challenges in the marketplace and educating the public about the value of orthodontists. Over the past few years, PCSO has implemented programs to try to address the growing concern within the specialty regarding how to ensure the public receives excellent orthodontic care from a trained orthodontist. These programs have dovetailed with the AAO’s efforts to do the same. But the survey responses in this area tell us we must do more, and we must better communicate the programs in place to assist members with this challenge. As PCSO leadership meets at the fall Annual Session, this issue will be a priority on the agenda. The survey delved into member satisfaction with continuing education offered by PCSO—particularly at the Annual Session. This three-day meeting is the apex of PCSO’s education program and it seems that, for most members, the meeting is a valuable benefit for themselves and their staffs. In fact, 76% of respondents rated the relevance and usefulness of the PCSO Annual Session as “Excellent” or “Very Good.” We also learned that, for U.S. members, the destination is a very important part of their decision to attend—a full 96% rate the location as key. For Canadian members, networking is a vital benefit of the Annual Session, with 84% rating it as very important. Contrary to some conventional wisdom, members in practice 4 less than eight years (New and Younger Members) rated social networking very important to their decision to attend. Entertainment options are also more important to younger members, with 44% ranking it as important, compared with 29% of other respondents. PCSO Planning Committees will take these findings into consideration when planning future Annual Session Welcome Parties, taking care to design an event that is fun and lively but also offers plenty of opportunities for meaningful connections and conversations. Members also expressed a desire for more online education— and when PCSO launches its mobile app in the fall, they will get it! One area of the app will feature online webcasts and videos of Annual Session presentations that can be accessed on members’ schedules—not just when we have a room and a microphone. Look for more information soon. PCSO is developing the app based upon information gained through this survey, so thanks to all respondents who mentioned the need for on-the-go learning and information. The survey has shone a light on PCSO’s changing demographics: • 20% of respondents were New and Younger Members, but more than half of the respondents have been in practice for more than 20 years. • 47% of respondents noted they were within 10 years of retirement. • Four out of five respondents said they prefer to get information via the Internet or email. In the 2006 survey, only about 30% felt this way. • 44% of younger respondents are female—only 16% of respondents practicing longer than eight years are female. As PCSO members face evolving challenges, and as the environment in which they practice sees many changes, PCSO leadership will be there. They will assess member needs, they will develop programs to meet those needs and they will constantly monitor the effectiveness of those programs. PCSO is its members—and its members are PCSO. You are PCSO, and we are so glad you made your voices heard! S PCSO BuLLetin • FALL 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2013

An Editor's Journey
A Sense of Belonging
To Meet Member Needs, You Have to Know Members
Stronger, More Efficient, More Focused
Service Behavior
Class II, Division 2 Malocclusions, Part II
Dr. Terry McDonald Interviews Dr. Douglas Klein
Mark Douglas, DDS
Vincent G. Kokich, Sr., DDS, MSD
Elastic Wear Tips
AAOF
PCSO Business
Component
PCSO at a Glance
Case Report Pre-Treatment
Case Report Post-Treatment

Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2013