pbi wins next big thing award, page-13

surgeons say simulators are go
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Media releases
Accelerated training to address workforce shortages
Monday 15 May, 2006

In response to the critical shortage of surgeons in Australasia, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons will reduce the training time for surgeons to get them operating earlier.

The new system would accelerate training so most would become fully qualified surgeons within six years. Wider use of simulator technology would be one of the ways to cut training time.

The President of the College, Dr Russell Stitz said alarming results of a College survey showed that the shortage of surgeons was worse than the College previously thought.

Australasia’s surgical workforce crisis is one of the issues dominating the College’s Annual Scientific Congress in Sydney this week.

Training surgeons can take up to a decade and is split into two parts: the basic course that teaches the basic general skills and the advanced course which qualifies doctors to become specialist surgeons such as plastic surgeons.

The new system would see would see the basic and advanced courses merged into the one programme, with increased use of simulator training like that undertaken by trainee pilots. The College hopes to have the new system in place by 2008.

Also at the Conference today world expert on simulator training, Professor Tony Gallagher will join with Australian expert Dr Patrick Cregan on how simulated training will change surgical and medical training in the future

“Simulated training is the way of the future for surgical training as they give trainee surgeons the experience and precision they need to minimise adverse events and deliver excellent patient care,” Dr Cregan said

“This morning we have been hearing about the latest study of simulated training which shows that it is more effective then we previously thought

“People learn at different rates and with simulator training we can now train to pre determined levels. Some people will take a shorter time to get to that level and others longer. Because it is simulated we can test competency more accurately.

“It is certainly a cheaper method of training and we don’t injure the patient.

“Also difficult and complex operations can be taught over and over again in a simulated setting, but in the operating theatre trainee surgeons don’t have the time to practise it again.

“If a mistake happens in the operating theatre there’s no time to discuss what happened then and there, the priority is the patient. In a simulated setting you can master the technique with an experienced surgeon looking over you shoulder.” Dr Cregan said

More than 2,000 surgeons from around Australia and New Zealand will attend the week long conference where over 850 papers on the latest techniques, surgical innovation and issue about surgery will be discussed.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is the peak representative body for Australasia 7,100 surgeons and 1,650 trainees. The College is the recognised body for maintaining surgical standards and the training and practice of surgeons.

The College represents nine specialists societies which includes general surgery, plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, urology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular, otolaryngology hand and neck, neurosurgery and paediatric surgery.