Need
To avoid unnecessary patient injury, the Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital needed to ensure surgeon competence in the performance of robotic surgery.
Intervention
In partnership with the Center for Robotic Surgery, STRATUS implemented a procedural skills assessment employing a full-scale robotic simulator. Participants are required to achieve baseline competency in a variety of skills measured by the robotic simulator before conducting robotic surgery on actual patients.
Impact
Approximately 30 surgeons are tested at STRATUS each year, resulting in higher confidence for the surgeon and ensuring patient safety and optimal patient care. In addition, surgeons frequently utilize the robotic equipment at STRATUS on an ongoing basis to keep their skills sharp.
