The BWH Orthopaedic Trauma Service is made up of many personnel responsible for providing services throughout all phases of trauma care. The attending orthopaedic trauma surgeon becomes responsible for your overall clinical management once you have been evaluated and released from the care of the General Surgery Trauma Service. When you are first admitted to the Hospital after your traumatic injury, it is often the General Surgery Trauma Doctor who will assess your body for injuries outside of the musculoskeletal system. It is often these other injuries that necessitate your stay in the Intensive Care Unit. These doctors (referred to as your “attendings”) work closely with you, your family, our orthopaedic trauma surgery team, trauma coordinators, and registered nurses in organizing your daily medical care. Depending on your specific needs, other specialists and their teams may be involved in your care.
You and your family are the most important part of our team. Your fellow team members and descriptions of their roles are given below:
Attending orthopaedic surgeon: The doctor who directs your care and is ultimately responsible for all treatments and the overall plan of care for your musculoskeletal injuries. He/she meets with the team daily and as needed to discuss treatment options and recommendations. Usually, the doctor listed as your “attending” is the one who will perform any surgeries you may need. If he/she is not available at the specific time of your surgery, another orthopaedic trauma attending physician will conduct the surgery. The Orthopaedic Trauma Service acts as a fully integrated team to facilitate your care in the most timely fashion
Resident orthopaedic surgeon: A doctor who has completed medical school and is in the midst of obtaining specialized training in orthopaedic surgery. On the trauma service, we have residents who are just beginning their specialty training and doctors who are just finishing (soon they will leave to practice on their own). The residents are critical members of the team. Although the attending surgeons are directing your care, they depend greatly on the residents for assistance. There is no question that these fully trained doctors help to improve the care we deliver.
Trauma coordinator: A nurse with specialized and advanced training who coordinates the services involved in your care (i.e., physical therapy, case management, social services) throughout your hospitalization. These expert nurses work closely with all members of your team and are an important resource for you and your family.
Inpatient unit nurse: A registered nurse who will work with you and your family to coordinate the day-to-day activities associated with your care. Stationed on your inpatient unit, he/she also will provide education, help manage your pain, prevent complications and increase your mobility.
Physical therapist: A rehabilitation professional trained to examine and evaluate physical impairments, functional limitations and disability. The physical therapist provides exercise therapy and functional training to help you achieve your best function. The judgment of the physical therapist plays an important role in the type of care you will require upon discharge from the hospital, ranging from a rehabilitation hospital to going home with services.
Occupational therapist: A rehabilitation specialist trained to evaluate and treat restrictions/limitations in your ability to function independently in daily life roles. The occupational therapist provides treatment to address identified limitations or to teach other strategies to compensate for any loss of function.
Case manager: A registered nurse who helps you and your family make plans for further care and treatment once you leave the hospital (i.e., in a rehabilitation facility or at home). You will meet your case manager
during the early part of your hospitalization and are encouraged to share any concerns you may have about the care you will receive once discharged from BWH.
Nutritionist: A professional with specific clinical training who addresses issues pertaining to diet and nutritional status.
Anesthesiologist: A physician who has special training in the branch of medicine that deals with anesthetics. He/she is the person who puts you to sleep before your surgery and monitors you during and immediately after surgery.
Pain service clinician: A physician or certified nurse anesthetist who has specialized training in the science of pain management. This person is consulted when routine methods of pain control are not effective.
Addiction services worker: A clinical professional — usually a nurse or a counselor — with specialized training in the field of alcohol and drug dependence. The team may consult this service when a patient’s injury was caused by or related to drug or alcohol use or if a patient’s social history shows potential drug and alcohol dependence.
Clinical nurse specialist: A nurse who has special knowledge and experience in a clinical area (in your case, Orthopaedics). This nurse gives advice to the nursing staff and health care team members on caring for a patient and is available to answer your questions about your injuries.
Social worker: A licensed mental health professional who is trained to help people find solutions to many problems — from everyday issues to life’s most difficult situations. Social work services are private and confidential.
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