UNMC is one of the first three centers in the country to be designated as a testing center for the Fundamentals of Endoscopic SurgeryTM (FES) program, a comprehensive educational and assessment tool designed to teach and evaluate the fundamental knowledge, clinical judgment and technical skills required in the performance of basic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic surgery (endoscopy).
The goal of the program is to provide participants with an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of endoscopic surgery in a consistent, scientifically accepted format, and to test cognitive and technical skills – all with the goal of improving the quality of patient care.
“Being able to use flexible endoscopy for upper GI procedures and colonoscopies is a very important skill for surgeons,” said Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D., the Joseph and Richard Still Endowed Professor of Surgery. “Just like you have to pass a driving test to be able to drive a car, the testing center will allow us to make sure that surgeons are proficient in endoscopic procedures.”
The testing center at UNMC was made possible in part by a donation from Paul Hodgson, M.D., establishing the Paul E. Hodgson, M.D. Innovations in Surgical Technology Fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation. Dr. Hodgson, former chairman of the UNMC Department of Surgery, died Aug. 28 at the age of 91.
Dr. Hodgson’s fund paid for half of the equipment and materials needed for the testing center. The other half of the funding will come from the Alton K. Wong, M.D., Distinguished Professorship held by pediatric surgeon, Ken Azarow, M.D.
The testing center equipment is located in the Dr. Wayne and Eileen Ryan Surgical Simulation Suite in the Sorrell Center.
“Under the guidance of our chairman, Dr. David W. Mercer, and his unequivocal support of educational efforts such as FES, the department of surgery is on the path to becoming a regional and national leader in surgical education,” said Chandra Are, M.B.B.S., vice chair for education and associate professor, surgical oncology. “Obtaining the designation as testing center for the FES program is another milestone in satisfying the vision of our department to become an educational powerhouse.”
Being designated as a FES testing center culminates a lengthy certification process for UNMC, Dr. Oleynikov said, and is indicative of how UNMC “has become a leader in education in the region.”
FES was designed for medical and surgical residents, fellows, practicing general surgeons, gastroenterologists, and other physicians to learn and test basic endoscopic skills required to form a foundation in the practice of flexible endoscopy. FES is meant to set a validated benchmark of understanding and skill in basic endoscopy.
The educational module consists of a web-based multimedia presentation of didactic content. The FES test measures cognitive knowledge and judgment, and uses a virtual reality platform to evaluate fundamental technical skills. Those who successfully complete both the educational and assessment components will have demonstrated the basic knowledge, judgment and technical skills fundamental to the performance of endoscopic surgery.