OAO Mission Statement
The Oregon Association of Orthopaedists exists to influence the socioeconomic and political issues that affect or control the ability of Oregon orthopaedic surgeons to provide high-quality medical care to our patients.
OAOE Mission Statement
The Oregon Association of Orthopaedic Executives (formerly Oregon BONES) promotes the professional development of the Orthopaedic manager through peer interaction and group education programs, by developing interest and research in Orthopaedic practice management, and by representing the concerns an ideas of a broad base of Orthopaedic managers on healthcare related issues.
What is Orthopaedics?
Orthopaedics is a medical specialty focusing on the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients with disorders of the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and skin. These elements make up the musculoskeletal system. The physicians who specialize in this area are called orthopaedic surgeons or orthopaedists.
Orthopaedists are involved in all aspects of health care pertaining to the musculoskeletal system. They use medical, physical and rehabilitative methods as well as surgery. Typically, as much as 50 percent of the orthopaedist's practice is devoted to non-surgical or medical management of injuries or disease and 50 percent to surgical management. Surgery may be needed to restore function lost as a result of injury or disease of bones, joint, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves or skin.
The orthopaedist also works closely with other health care professionals and often serves as a consultant to other physicians. Orthopaedists play an important role in the organization and delivery of emergency care. They are members of the teams which manage complex, multi-system trauma.
Learn more about orthopaedic medicine and orthopaedic surgery.
Visit the US Bone and Joint Decade website.