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The NorthStar Trauma Network: An Orthopedic Care Network across Three Health Systems
Peter A Cole1,2,3, Brian Cunningham4, Mai Nguyen5,2
1Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery
|July 7, 2026
Summary
The NorthStar Trauma Network (NSTN) improved regional fracture care by building dedicated trauma programs, fostering collaboration, and expanding access to specialized orthopedic care across multiple health systems.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Trauma Care Systems
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Systemic challenges in metropolitan fracture care delivery were identified.
- A need existed to improve the quality and accessibility of specialized trauma care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the evolution and methods of the NorthStar Trauma Network (NSTN) model.
- To provide an example for other regions seeking to enhance trauma care delivery.
Main Methods:
- Development of a regional fracture care model serving multiple hospitals and health systems.
- Establishment of dedicated trauma-trained staff and a unified leadership team.
- Focus on subspecialist-level orthopedic trauma care at various trauma center levels.
Main Results:
- Successful expansion of the NSTN model to seven hospitals across three health systems since 2018.
- Achieved 100% surgeon retention rate over six years.
- Enhanced access to specialized orthopedic trauma care at community hospitals.
Conclusions:
- The NSTN model offers a replicable framework for improving specialty-specific trauma care quality.
- Shared academic values and dedicated staffing are key to successful trauma network development.
- This model effectively aligns surgeons and promotes growth in surgical care delivery.
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