CLINICAL ROTATIONS DURATION IN WEEKS
Intro/General Orthopedics 12
Pediatric Clinic: Fractures & Congenital (Clinic Weds) *8
Upper Extremity and Hand Clinic (Clinic Mon, OR Tues) 8
Trauma Clinic (Clinic Thursday, OR Weds and Friday) 8
Total Joint: Clinic (Clinic Mon/Weds, OR Monday/Tuesday 8
Sports Medicine (Clinic Tues/Fri, OR Thursday) *8
Elective Rotation 8
  52 Weeks
*Note sports medicine and pediatrics are combined in same rotation Pediatrics has very few elective OR cases; therefore, they fall into all subspecialties.  
**PA Fellows are still rotating on general orthopaedics while on their subspecialty rotation.  

 

Physician Assistant Fellows are required to attend the following weekly conferences:

Monday 7-8:30AM Pre-Op and Post-Op Conference/hand & upper extremity weekly with Dr. Caputo, Joint education Dr. French and Dr. Drinhaus
Tuesday 7-8:30AM Radiology Lecture (Twice a month) Dr. Byron Thomson, Sports Med/Dr. Powers (Once a month) Total Joints/Dr. French (Once a month)
Wednesday 7-8:30AM X-Ray Review/ Pediatrics lecture- Dr. Schlechter or Trauma lecture – Dr. Robinson
Friday 7-8:30AM Sports Lecture – Dr. Faerber, Spine Lecture Alternating Spine Attendings, combined Trauma and Ortho lecture (2nd Friday of the month)

 

ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:​

Grand rounds/Department Meetings are held once a month on a Monday evening. An Orthopaedic Surgeon guest speaker traditionally gives an Orthopaedic based lecture. Review of M&M cases Attendance for these Monday night meetings is mandatory. This is for your benefit and knowledge.

In addition to the conferences described above, the hospital offers a wide variety of educational conferences and lectures throughout the month and Fellows are encouraged to attend those of interest to them as their schedules permit.

The program also provides weekly exams through OrthoBullets PASS program. The program also sends you to the Annual Physician Assistant Orthopedic Surgery (PAOS) conference all expenses paid by the program. This conference is considered education/working and you are paid for your time. The PAOS conference provides you with approximately 25 CME category I units to be logged towards your NCCPA recertification.

Training Duties

CLINIC:

  • Perform History and Physicals and implement treatment plan
  • Perform post op follow up evaluations
  • Procedures to include injections, assisting with splinting and casting, and wound management

CALL:

  • Rounding on all Orthopedic inpatients
  • Completing required documentation for management of inpatients
  • Completing consults requested from Emergency Department and other Specialty Services in Hospital
  • Procedures in Emergency Room may consist of splinting, casting, reduction of fractures, revision of amputated digits, reduction of dislocated joints, aspiration of joints, orthopedic evaluation of trauma patients

OPERATING ROOM (OR):

  • Assist with patient positioning and draping
  • First assist during procedure
  • Wound closure
  • Application of sterile bandages
  • Splint/Cast application
  • Accompany the patient to PACU after surgery along with Anesthesia
  • Place post op orders

Weekly Time Expectations

Schedule of hours do vary based on subspecialty rotation or if Fellow is “on call”. Typical schedule breakdown is listed below. Times can vary each day given clinic/OR/inpatient floor census.

  • Sign outs with “On Call” Resident/Fellow and Senior Residents
  • Round on Patients with Residents
  • Daily Education Conferences/Daily Lectures
  • Daily Pre-Determined Assignments (Clinic, OR, or “On Call”)
  • Monthly Workshops or Labs after daily assignment

Total Hours in Clinic or OR: approximately 50 hours (Monday – Friday)
Total Hours “On Call”: approximately 80 hours (Monday – Sunday) *
* PA Fellows are “On Call” one week per month