Surgical Robot Risk and Safety: ECRI Institute and Hartford Hospital Launch New Education Series

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Robotic surgery is creating buzz among the surgical community, patients, and media, both for the promise of improved outcomes and the potential risks to patient safety. The quick deployment of surgical robots and market pressures to use this expensive new technology are prompting facilities to evaluate their robotic surgery training programs and ensure proper education for the entire surgical team.   

ECRI Institute (www.ecri.org), a nonprofit organization that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, in collaboration with Hartford Hospital, announces the launch of a new 3-part series, an approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit/California State Nursing virtual conference, "Robotic Surgery and Risk Management: Virtual Conference Series."  

"The robot is a sophisticated surgical tool that can build upon a surgeon's skill, but formalized operator and OR team training and proper, enterprise-wide safety systems are paramount," says Steven Shichman, MD, medical director at Hartford Hospital Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI), and the Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute. "Like with any tool, you need quality training for the best outcomes."

"Robotic malfunction is a new reality in healthcare facilities. This program aims to raise awareness and provide risk management guidance about the unique medical and technical considerations associated with robotic surgery," says James P. Keller, Jr, MS, vice president, health technology evaluation and safety, ECRI Institute. "We are thrilled to be teaming up with Hartford Hospital to help surgeons, OR teams, hospital administrators, and other healthcare professionals learn from our experience as they make important decisions regarding robotic usage in their own facilities."

The kick-off course, "The Building Blocks of a Robotic Surgery Program: A Risk Management Approach," begins on Thursday, October 2, 2014, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., ET. The follow-up courses are:

• Part 2: "Maximizing Staff and Provider Training and Credentialing," Thursday, October 30, 2014
• Part 3: "Honors Program: Case Studies Demonstrating Opportunities for Prevention of Complications and Risk Mitigation," Thursday, November 13, 2014

The objective of this AMA PRA Category 1 Credit approved virtual series is to help participants:

• Learn the major elements of a comprehensive risk management program for robotic surgery
• Support the development of a robotic surgery credentialing and training program
• Identify specific competencies recommended for surgeons and other members of the surgical robotics team

Presenters include:

• Steven Shichman, MD, Medical Director at Hartford Hospital Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI), and the Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute
• Michael Gilgenbach, RN, BSN, CNOR, Perioperative Service Nurse Manager, Hartford Hospital
• Maura Crossen-Luba, MPH, CPH, Risk Management Analyst, ECRI Institute

Moderator:

• James P. Keller, Jr, MS, Vice President, Health Technology Evaluation and Safety, ECRI Institute

This program is intended for surgeons, hospital risk managers, clinical and biomedical engineering professionals, surgery department heads, surgical steering committees, operating room managers, operating room nurses, hospitals that are reviewing their current surgical robot program, and administrators. The interactive format of ECRI Institute's web conference encourages participation and will provide ample Q&A time with the panel.

CME Accreditation Statement
This live activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). ECRI Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement
ECRI Institute designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^tm. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Nursing
This activity has been approved for a total of 1 California State Nursing contact hours by the provider, Debora Simmons, who is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13677.

To learn more about the series, or to register, visit the website or contact ECRI Institute by telephone at (610) 825-6000, ext. 5889; by e-mail at [email protected]; by fax at (610) 834-0240; or by mail at 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA. ECRI Institute also offers free resources in our free eNewsletters.

Social Sharing

• Web conference announced #EINews: virtual conference covers the fine points of surgical robotic training @ECRI_Institute ly.ecri.org/NNfMIo5

About ECRI Institute
(www.ecri.org), a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to discover which medical procedures, devices, drugs, and processes enable improved patient care. As pioneers in this science for more than 45 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. Strict conflict-of-interest guidelines ensure objectivity. ECRI Institute is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI Institute PSO is listed as a federally certified Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find ECRI Institute on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ECRIInstitute) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ECRI_Institute).

About Hartford Hospital
Hartford Hospital, founded in 1854, is one of the largest teaching hospitals and tertiary care centers in New England with one of the region's busiest surgery practices. It is annually ranked among America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and has been recognized nationally for the quality of many of its programs, including cardiology, cancer, urology, robotic surgery, stroke, joint, and spine care. The 867-bed regional referral center provides high-quality care in all clinical disciplines. The Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI) is one of the only facilities in the country to offer a fully comprehensive range of psychomotor task training and cognitive-team training using its state-of-the-art high-technology facility. The training facility is a destination center, and the site where more than 6,000 providers are trained each year. Hartford Hospital surgeons have more experience, and the highest volume of cases in the region and are global leaders in using robotics to provide the finest in surgical care. As of January, 2014, the hospital has eight surgical robots: four in our operating rooms, three in CESI (our Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation) and one in Research.

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SOURCE ECRI Institute