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ESTRO: A new partner in EFORT’s goal to improve orthopaedic and traumatology training, education
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In European countries that are members of the European Union, the organization and delivery of health care is the responsibility of each state. For that reason, medical specialist training is primarily national orientated and national rules and regulations prevail. The influence of Brussels on training is limited and the implementation of E.U. directives is slow.
However, European medical specialists observe there are new challenges that need to be addressed. The cross-border health care activities of patients, health care professionals and institutions are increasing. There is increasing scientific and medical European cooperation in research projects under the E.U. program of Horizon 2020. Many medical specialists realize there is a need to reduce variations in education and professional standards between countries.
There also is another global development that requires closer cooperation with respect to training and education. Increasingly, there is subspecialization in all medical specialties and the platform for these subspecialists have become European or even global subspecialty organizations. Continuation of medical education after professional training in lifelong learning is a development that leads to an increased need of intensified European cooperation.
Orthopaedics is following the same trend. The European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT) is the representative of the national orthopaedic and trauma associations in Europe. In its 2016 to 2021 strategic plan, EFORT has given training and education a prominent place. It is one of the four pillars of this plan. In 2015, EFORT initiated the concept of a European curriculum of orthopaedics and collaborated with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) to achieve necessary modernization of the orthopaedic curriculum.
This month, EFORT is proud to present the launch of its European Education Platform, which offers many educational activities around Europe. This ensures that all European orthopaedic surgeons will develop the same main core competences. The new website has many new opportunities for the members of EFORT.
EFORT, as the representative of the European orthopaedic surgeons, is closely cooperating with other organizations that want to improve the training of orthopaedic surgeons in Europe. There is good cooperation not only with the UEMS, which has representation in Brussels, but also with the Federation of Orthopaedic Trainees in Europe (FORTE), the association of orthopaedic residents.
In this issue of Orthopaedics Today Europe, there is an article about the excellent initiative of the ESTRO group, which will try to find new ways for better training and education in orthopaedics. The results of this trial, supported with money of the European Union, will be used by EFORT to further improve the European curriculum.
Our members can be sure that EFORT will coordinate all activities to improve training and education in full coordination with all European countries. With our partners UEMS, FORTE and now also ESTRO, we should be able to reach a top level that is an example for many countries over the world.
- For more information:
- Jan A.N. Verhaar, MD, PhD, is the president of EFORT. He can be reached at Erasmus University Medical Center, Room HS-101, 3000CA Rotterdam ZH, The Netherlands; email: j.verhaar@erasmusmc.nl.
Disclosure: Verhaar reports no relevant financial disclosures.