When Is an Orthopedic Intern Ready to Take Call?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery Training
• Medical Simulation
• Skills Assessment

Background:

• Orthopedic residency requires interns to transition from direct to indirect supervision.
• Reliable assessment of basic procedural skills is crucial for intern progression.
• Existing training evaluation methods may not adequately capture readiness for independent call.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of a novel Orthopaedic Intern Skills Assessment (OISA).
• To assess the skill levels of orthopedic trainees in a simulated environment.
• To determine if the OISA can differentiate skill levels across different training stages.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study was conducted in a medical simulation lab.
• Participants (medical students, preinterns, postinterns) completed eleven basic orthopedic skills.
• Skills were assessed using standardized patients and/or cadaveric specimens.

Main Results:

• Postinterns showed significantly higher skill completion rates than preinterns and medical students.
• Preinterns also performed significantly better than medical students.
• The OISA demonstrated a clear progression of skills with training level.

Conclusions:

• The OISA confirmed that postinterns achieve a basic orthopedic skill level suitable for junior resident call.
• The assessment identified specific areas needing further training focus within orthopedic programs.
• The OISA can aid in verifying trainee skill progression and tailoring educational interventions.