Extract
Affiliation with a level-I trauma center imposes a heavy burden on any
orthopaedic practice. This burden is manifested in the required trauma call;
the issues centered on providing appropriate, timely care for trauma patients;
and, finally, in the financial disincentive to providing trauma
care1,2.
These issues are expanded in terms of the required commitments to achieve
success, including institutional support, support from the academic department
chairman, and dedication from all members of the orthopaedic
practice2-5.
Although certainly not unique, the system developed at our medical center has
demonstrated efficient, high-level care for patients with musculoskeletal
injury. It has improved our ability to generate revenue for the department,
and it has prevented "burnout" or turnover of the musculoskeletal
traumatologists. We describe this model as an example of a system that has
worked well in a level-I academic trauma center.