AO In-Hospital modules are effective in enhancing participants’ knowledge

Traditional face-to-face educational events often present challenges such as time constraints, travel and accommodation costs, and the risk of disrupting clinical duties or family life. These barriers can limit access to continuing education, particularly for early-career practitioners.

To address these limitations, the AO developed AO In-Hospital, a series of modular enabling workplace-based education offerings designed to deliver flexible, locally relevant learning directly at the workplace.

In the recently published article, How can a global organization make education local? Workplace education for surgeons treating orthopedic trauma cases, the AO Education Institute and the AO Trauma In-Hospital steering committee evaluated the impact of this initiative on surgical education.

Between June 2022 and June 2024, 169 courses were delivered in 30 countries reaching 3,950 learners. Evaluation data indicate high participant satisfaction, particularly for clinical relevance and educational value of the content. Importantly, measurable increases in participant knowledge confirm the effectiveness of the modules in addressing learner gaps.

“This decentralized, flexible approach addresses critical gaps in trauma education, particularly in resource-constrained settings, aligning with global efforts to improve trauma care outcomes,” the authors conclude. “The [AO] In-Hospital modules represent a successful model for workplace-based CME/CPD, offering a scalable and adaptable solution for advancing trauma education globally and validating the necessity for continued program enhancement.”

Special thanks go to the AO Trauma In-Hospital steering committee members Kodi E Kojima (Instituto de Ortopedia, Hospital das Clinicas HCMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil), Wa'el S Taha (Department of Orthopedics, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia), and Michael R Baumgaertner (Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, United States), and to the AO Education Institute for this work.

Read the full article on the impact of In-Hospital modules here.