The COA Board has approved the guidelines for "Emergency Orthopaedic Workload and Patient Access to Orthopaedic Care"

The Canadian Orthopaedic Association recognizes, acknowledges and accepts their responsibility to treat the people of Canada who require orthopaedic care.

There has been a recognized understanding with the hospitals of Canada whereby orthopaedic surgeons provide coverage for the Emergency Departments and the hospitals provide the resources necessary to treat and follow patients.

The proper facilities required for basic patient care include:

Fracture Room
Adequate space is required for outpatient fracture treatment.
A fully staffed Fracture Room requires :
• an Orthopaedic Technologist;
• Fracture Room Nurse;
• Physiotherapist;
• Booking Clerk.

Operating Room
A properly staffed OR with all the required equipment and personnel is needed to supply adequate care in emergency situations.
Emergency patients with musculoskeletal injuries and those requiring surgery should have access to care in a timely fashion. Every effort should be made to accommodate these cases during daytime operating hours without interfering with elective operating time.

On Call Frequency
Subgroup A:
Primarily a Main Trauma Referral Centre
A minimum of five (5) orthopaedic surgeons is needed to take full call. This allows for conference, education, and vacation leave with one (1) in four (4) schedule for those remaining.

Subgroup B:
No major multi-trauma
A minimum of three (3) orthopaedic surgeons should take full call, preferably four (4).

On Call Reduction
Following 25 years of service or age > 55, the option to reduce call to _ normal is recommended.
At age 60, call should cease without penalty.

Printed in the November/December 1999 #47 edition of the COA Bulletin. Pg. 14-15