The OTC Foundation offers numerous courses within its respective Chapters. Our goal is to train surgeons in every stage of practice and experience. Chapters focus on the specific professional level of course participants. Three levels for training course participants are defined: beginner, advanced, expert.
OTC Education
« Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. »
– Nelson Mandela
Our vision is to facilitate trauma education for all OTC chapters. Assistance is offered as needed within the OTCF education program. Divided into three levels of experience, the different OTC chapters regularly organize CME accredited courses for orthopedic surgeons – young and old. Since the establishment of our education task force, nearly 12000 medical professionals have participated in OTC courses all over the world. However, we do not only focus on quantity but also want to be able to offer top quality courses which the reason is why we are constantly improving course evaluation processes. This all mounts in one big mission: Bringing trauma education to the next level!
LEVELED TRAUMA EDUCATION
The chapters within the OTC Foundation offer numerous courses. Our goal is to train surgeons in every stage of practice and experience. Chapters focus on the specific professional level of course participants. The chapters focus individually on leveled trauma education. Our goal is to provide beginner-, advanced- and expert courses in your OTC country. The wide range of course options provide sawbone workshops. The establishment of cadaveric courses as well as courses with prefractured bone specimen is the main goal to be established as a standard in trauma education. Also digital course formats such as Webinars, live streams and relive video sessions are being implemented as training innovations.
Chapter courses may also provide training opportunities in spinal surgery, neurosurgery, arthroscopy and emergency aid.
Please refer to the chapter overview to find your perfect course match.
| Education Level of participants | Course faculty | Education materials | Course content | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner Course | You have finished a school of medicine and has basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the musculo-skeletal system. The participant has no or limited experience in performing surgery of the musculo-skeletal system. | The faculty is made up of medical specialists, possibly together with paramedics, performing basic trauma care on a daily base in practice. The faculty is formed mainly on local/national OTC members. | The materials used during beginner courses are simple to put focus on basic principles. The use of simple mechanical models, sawbones and in vivo demonstration of non-invasive techniques among course participants is advocated. | The content of beginner courses can be on the closed treatment of fractures and dislocations (classification, reduction and fixation) or basic surgical techniques for treatment of fractures (principles of plating, nailing and external fixation). |
| Advanced Course | You have knowledge of closed treatment of fractures and the basic principles of surgical fracture treatment and basic surgical skills for successful surgical treatment of the musculo-skeletal system. | The faculty is made up of medical specialists, with at least five years of clinical experience on the specific topic. The faculty is formed by national OTC members. Ideally one or two faculty members from another state or country, with more than ten years of clinical experience or specific scientific knowledge, are invited to exchange their knowledge. | The materials used during advanced courses must mimic a realistic setting. Sawbones with complex fractures, which are coved with soft materials, can be used. The use of fresh frozen cadavers and the use of modern implant materials and instruments is promoted. | The content of advanced courses can be on focused on trauma care of a specific anatomical region, a special patient selection (geriatric, pediatric, sporters) or special surgical technique (arthroscopy, 3D navigation, nailing, external fixation). Due to the international focus, the content must be taught in the main language of the region (English, Spanish). |
| Expert Course | You have the knowledge and skills to treat most fractures in humans. You should have at least ten years of clinical experience as a medical specialist. | The faculty is made up of medical specialists with at least ten years of clinical experience on the specific topic. The faculty is formed by international OTC members with more than fifteen years of clinical experience or specific scientific knowledge. | Practical hands on courses can be limited to workshops with fresh frozen cadavers or interactive live-surgery. | In our expert courses, we focus on the improvement of international state-of the-art protocols and the discussion on best diagnosis and treatment of complex trauma cases. |
EDUCATION COORDINATION
The OTCF Executive Board has set up a special EB Task Force Education. Its objective is to stimulate and enhance training activities in the OTC chapters. The EB Task Force Education furthermore reinforces support by the OTC Foundation to the chapters in terms of organisation of courses or ideas for new initiatives.
The Task Force is composed of:
- Alessandro Are, OTC Italy (Chairman)
- Micha Holla, OTC Netherlands (Past chairman)
- Taco Blokhuis, OTC Netherlands
- Sithombo Maqungo, OTC South Africa
- Robert Dunbar, FOT USA
- Ronald Wong, AADO
- Melanie Kall, OTC Germany
- Jesus Gómez Vallejo, OTC Spain
- Filip Stockmans, OTC Belgium
LEADERSHIP FORA
Annual conferences at expert level are held in conjunction with the General Assembly of OTCF, the Leadership Forum. The Leadership Forum takes place every year in June. The event is being usually hosted by new chapters.
ONLINE COURSE EVALUATION TOOL
The OTCF had an online course evaluation tool developed.
Some of its strong points are:
- web based interface for laptop and mobile phone
- possibility to export data via Excel or PDF for further processing
- template creator, which enables to share templates with all other course directors
- QR generator
- option to temporarily save course evaluations
All course directors can sign up and use the tool, which is accessible under the following link: http://otc-voting.org
Every chapter is encouraged to implement the evaluation tool, because it is easy to navigate for course directors and participants alike. Thus, it enables to secure a high number of respondents and contributes to improving education within the OTC alliance.