This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Standard needed to recognize orthopaedists moving throughout Europe
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
The European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT) is growing and intends to become the largest European society covering all topics within orthopaedic surgery, including trauma.
 Per Kjaersgaard-Andersen |
By fostering an intensive educational program not only at the annual congresses but also through shorter meetings in various European countries throughout the year, EFORT is the natural master – together with the European Union of Medical Specialists and the European Board of Orthopaedics and Traumatology — to guide the necessary educational program and standards when orthopaedic surgeons move from one country to another within Europe.
The truth is, many European countries will lack specialists during the next decade. Paradoxically, this situation will contrast with other European nations that will “overproduce” large numbers of medical doctors. The specialists from the overproducing countries will, by common sense, seek a job in the countries where they are missed. That sounds like a workable solution, but the overriding problem is whether they can transfer their education as a specialist from one country to another.
Recognition across Europe
At the moment, there is no rule that requires an orthopaedic surgeon to pass an examination before he or she is eligible to practice in another European country. The only stipulation is that he or she must hold the customary doctorate of medicine degree (MD) or comparable degree that can be verified by each country’s national institute of health.
What we need to decide is whether an orthopaedist’s clinical and educational experience must be at a specific level in order to qualify him or her as a skilled orthopaedist capable of practicing in any European nation. This is no small discussion, and it will take a while before we can arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. This discussion may also require the involvement of various governments.
Working with EFORT
We need to start this discussion across Europe on how we should proceed, and this discussion can also take place in Orthopaedics Today Europe. As chairman of the editorial board for Orthopaedics Today Europe in 2009 and as the local organizing chairman for the EFORT 2011 Congress in Copenhagen, it is an issue that is close to my heart and one that I plan to address throughout the year.
Likewise, Orthopaedics Today Europe and EFORT will work much closer together in 2009. You can expect to see more coverage of EFORT news and announcements in the pages of Orthopaedics Today Europe. I welcome that collaboration, and I look forward to an exciting year of growth.
For more information:
- Per Kjaersgaard-Andersen, MD, is an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, Vejle Hospital at South Danish University, Vejle, Denmark, and is the president of the Danish Orthopaedic Association. He is also chairman of the Orthopaedics Today Europe Editorial Advisory Board for 2009. He can be reached at ote@slackinc.com.