AAHKS is continuing its membership in the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) for 2015. The Bone and Joint Decade, now called the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health, was established to increase the priority worldwide for bone and joint disorders. The USBJI conducts vital programs to accomplish the following objectives:
- Increase awareness of the importance of comprehensive, multidisciplinary musculoskeletal care;
- Advocate for treatment innovation and research;
- Advocate for improved technology for diagnosis and treatment;
- Advocate for access to specialist care, as well as for system-wide models of care that cover the lifespan;
- Provide detailed and reliable data on the prevalence, economic and societal costs of major musculoskeletal conditions for use in advocacy and research;
- Provide public education programs on prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders;
- Develop a pipeline of funded clinician-scientists and offer education and mentoring programs t oassure their success;
- Organize symposia of musculoskeletal healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and governmental leaders to address important trends in health care delivery.