Goals and Objectives

The specific goals and objectives of the program are to:

• Gain proficiency in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of adult and pediatric patients with musculoskeletal disorders with emphasis on maximal restoration of function and preservation of further disability.
• Gain confidence and competency in performing orthopedic history and physical examination and formulating and executing a treatment plan for patients in outpatient, inpatient and consultation settings.
• Develop a proficiency of technical skills in the operating room in the surgical management of musculoskeletal disorders and demonstrate increasing autonomy from one year to the next. At the conclusion of the residency, the resident will be expected to be able to practice orthopedic surgery competently and independently.
• Develop leadership skills needed to lead a multidisciplinary team of allied health care workers including health care extenders, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and nutritionists, and to understand their role and contribution to patient care.
• Become proficient in writing prescriptions for therapeutic exercises, modalities, prostheses, orthoses, and durable medical equipment.
  Develop interpersonal skills needed to effectively engage patients and family members to enhance communication and education.
• Develop competency in management of the orthopedic inpatients including administration, quality improvement, and leadership through the use of effective verbal and written communication skills
  Gain experience and proficiency in direct supervision and teaching of fellow residents and medical students.
• Master the skills needed to independently research scholarly sources for the purposes of presenting the topic to be of educational value to other medical staff and to enhance patient care.
• Develop a sense of personal responsibility to patients and a commitment to providing excellent clinical care with proper and ethical professional behavior.
• Provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health as it is related to the field of orthopedic surgery.
• Acquire medical knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, cognitive sciences and demonstrate the competent application of this knowledge to patient care.
• Demonstrate practice-based learning and improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of patient care, appraisal, and assimilation of scientific evidence and improvements in patient care.
• Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals.
• Demonstrate professionalism as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.
• Demonstrate system-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.