Curriculum
Fellows Responsibilities
The fellow is an integral part of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service, and is involved in all aspects of the care of trauma patients admitted to our service. This includes but is not limited to rounding in advance of procedures, the preoperative evaluation and development of a treatment plan, intraoperative decision making and performance of surgical intervention, and finally, management of the postoperative course. A graduated level of responsibility will ensue as skill sets are mastered and performance levels have been met.
In addition, as a clinical faculty member with an instructor appointment at our affiliated university, our fellow participates in teaching orthopedic surgical residents, sports medicine fellows and medical students from the local branch campus of the university medical school, as well as rotating residents from the orthopaedic surgery residency program at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.
Assistance in Surgery
Initially, as the skill set is being determined, the fellow is assisted by the Program Director or other faculty. Once competence has been determined, a graduated level of responsibility is earned to the point of gaining independence in the management of some injuries.
Assistance in Clinic
The Orthopaedic Trauma Fellow assists the program director and other faculty in their clinic one day each week. After the fellow has had time to develop his own patients, he/she is responsible for following these patients in one of the clinics currently staffed by the faculty.
Occasionally, the fellow may be called on to assist in the evaluation of patients referred by the department of surgery or other clinical services of our affiliated university teaching services.
Hospital Rounds
The fellow is responsible for daily postoperative rounds on all patients he/she treats surgically who are admitted to the hospital. He/she has the assistance of two physician assistants to complete the rounds is required to communicate with them regarding who will be doing the appropriate charting.
Typical Week
Our weekly educational schedule is designed so that pre-and-post-operative teaching occurs daily. Friday morning is designated for didactic teaching and research. The schedule is adjusted for each fellow with protected time as needed.
- Monday: Surgery
- Tuesday: Surgery
- Wednesday: Clinic full day
- Thursday: Surgery
- Friday: Half day didactic teaching, half day surgery
Monthly
- Second Wednesday is book club
- Third Wednesday is journal club
- Fourth Wednesday is research meeting
On Call Responsibilities
The fellow is licensed and privileged to take call independently for unassigned orthopaedic patients at a frequency to be determined, but not greater than 6 nights per month.
The fellow is available M-F, 7-4 as is the Program Director for orthopaedic trauma. Initially, the fellow is backed up by the Program Director until such time a level of competence has been determined.
The fellow always has at least 1 day in 7 free of all academic and clinical responsibilities.
