AO In-Hospital for ORP marks ten years of empowering ORP with knowledge, skill, and purpose
Celebrating its ten-year anniversary in June 2025, AO Trauma’s AO In-Hospital for Operating Room Personnel (ORP)—which began as a single Clinical Training Module (CTM) aimed at providing ORP with highly relevant and credible training—continues to advance patient care worldwide by empowering ORP with knowledge, skill, and purpose. Since the pilot module became available in June 2015, 9,442 ORP have taken part in 554 AO In-Hospital events featuring 972 modules in 41 countries across the AO’s five regions.
Additionally, the AO In-Hospital for ORP platform has grown to seven trauma modules—with the eighth currently in production—and two veterinary modules.
Answering ORP educational needs
Driven by a task force representing ORP education champions from around the world, AO In-Hospital for ORP began as a direct response to ORP’s need for education despite limited time and financial resources, along with keen interest in easily accessible orthopedic traumatology training. In parallel, the task force aimed to open opportunities for ORP to learn principles in their own hospital environments, with their own surgeons and peers where local needs, policies and guidelines can be integrated. Task force members included Khalida Alsmadi, Oman; Pauline Johnston, United Kingdom; Nicola Kildea, Australia; Alan Norrish, United Kingdom; Mahmoud Odat, Jordan.
Short, highly interactive sessions
Delivered by experienced AO Faculty in support of nurses, technicians, and other ORP at the point of care, AO In-Hospital for ORP events are short (2.5 to 3.5 hours each), highly interactive, free-of-charge sessions covering the basic principles of orthopedic trauma and veterinary surgery. The modules are developed by the AO Trauma ORP Educational Task Force and are aligned with the AO Trauma curriculum for ORP. The veterinary modules were developed by the AO VET Education Commission to fit the needs of the AO VET ORP.
Importantly, AO In-Hospital for ORP—formerly known as Clinical Training Modules (CTMs) for ORP—is designed to support AO Faculty in organizing in-house educational sessions specifically for ORP. The modules cover a range of key trauma and veterinary topics, beginning with an introductory module. On the trauma side, AO In-Hospital for ORP also includes four osteosynthesis modules covering plates and screws; intramedullary nailing; tension-band wiring and external fixation; and the proximal femur, as well as modules on implant removal and infection control. On the veterinary side, the introductory module is followed up by a module on osteosynthesis with plates and screws.
Post-event evaluations show that 100 percent of participants would recommend AO In-Hospital for ORP training to colleagues and peers, underscoring the platform’s continuing role in improving patient care. Moreover, ten years after its launch, AO In-Hospital for ORP remains as relevant as ever, according to AO Faculty.
‘A new standard in surgical education’
“AO In-Hospital for ORP has set a new standard in surgical education. The modules—highly successful across the Middle East—continue to enhance the confidence and capabilities of ORP teams through hands-on excellence,” said Fadia Shahin, ORP, Saudi Arabia.
‘A great resource’
David Melling, AO Trauma surgeon, United Kingdom, applauded both the content and how easy it is to deliver to learners.
“Planning and running an AO In-Hospital for ORP event could not be easier,” he explained. “The events always run so well because the content is so well written. The operating room staff have found them accessible and a great resource. It’s amazing to see their faces when they understand why they’ve been giving us a big drill then a small drill for a lag screw.”
‘Training like no other’
Hyacinth Babag, AO In-Hospital for ORP organizer in the Philippines, recounted participants’ response to the educational experience.
“At the end of the event, during the feedback session, we come to a general consensus: This is a training like no other,” she said. “There is a better understanding on the how, why, and when of trauma care which enables participants to be a more efficient ORP.”
‘Best face-to-face learning experience’
AO Trauma ORP Primož Počrvina, Slovenia, described AO In-Hospital for ORP as “the best face-to-face learning experience for those who work in trauma operating room.” His advice to busy AO Faculty confronting the need to deliver high-quality, regular, in-hospital training for ORP is simple.
“Try it, experience it, be part of it,” he advised.
‘A special opportunity’
AO VET surgeon Anas Datoussaïd, Belgium, said AO In-Hospital for ORP is a unique, once-a-year event for veterinary ORP in his country.
“It is designed to help us speak the same language—for the benefit of the patient,” he pointed out. “It’s a special opportunity to bring together surgical teams and operating room staff, learning and growing together…a chance to connect, reflect, and train as a team—just as a surgical unit would welcome us.”
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