Program Outline

At all levels of training, the resident is expected to be actively involved in all aspects of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Program. In general, a resident will be on-call about every third night and every third weekend. This call is split between in-house and home call. An on-call room is provided for the resident during their night and weekend duty.

The general outline of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training Program is four years of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation. The rotations for residents are listed below and satisfy board eligibility requirements:

- Trauma
- Sports
- Spine
- Pediatrics
- Laboratory (Basic Science/Clinical Research)
- Emergency Room
- Reconstruction
- Hand
- Foot

Patient Services

The trend of surgical care shifting from inpatient to outpatient setting is reflected in the orthopaedic service. The orthopaedic census at Fletcher Allen Health Care averages twenty patients a day. The rehabilitation section maintains an active 40-bed service.

The Medical Center Campus is the site of inpatient services including total joint reconstruction, trauma, spine, hand and pediatric surgery. The majority of outpatient procedures, such as arthroscopy, shoulder, hand and elbow surgery take place at the Fanny Allen Campus.

All inpatients are actively utilized in the training of orthopaedic residents. A very active emergency room is present at the Medical Center Campus. The outpatient activities for the Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation Health Care Service occur at the University Health Center and Fanny Allen Campuses. Due to Fletcher Allen Health Care's unique environment, residents are exposed to a wide variety of orthopaedic problems ranging from primary to tertiary care orthopaedics.

Strong emphasis is placed on outpatient management of musculoskeletal problems in order to provide a well-rounded post-graduate experience. A unique program, the Children with Special Health Needs, a division of the Vermont State Health Department, provides an additional wealth of pediatric patients for the orthopaedic resident.

Summary

The Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Residency Training Program is designed to offer a broad exposure to orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation, both in the operative and non-operative treatment of patients. This occurs through evaluation of patients in the Emergency Department, clinics, wards, formal conferences, and research.

Because of Burlington's unique geographic location, primary, secondary, and tertiary orthopaedic care problems are readily available for residency training.

The residency is approved for complete training in all aspects of orthopaedic surgery as outlined by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

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