Reforming our general surgery residency program at an urban level 1 Trauma Center during the COVID-19 pandemic: Towards maintaining resident safety and wellbeing

Meneses, Evander; McKenney, Mark; Elkbuli, Adel

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.06.001

Cited by 16 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…7 Unlike this study, prior literature did not address the effect of this restructuring on resident training, but discussed their experience and offered recommendations on how to safely and effectively prepare hospitals and programs. 8,9 In this study, we demonstrate that surgical residents had a significant contribution to the overall COVID-19 response at Danbury Hospital, with an average resident spending 28 to 38 hours per week caring for critical COVID-19 patients ( Table 1). This contribution resulted in a decrease in clinical duty hours by 35.1%, from 64.7 to 40.8 hours per week, in addition to fewer outpatient clinics attended, and less operative experience.…”

Section: Clinical Experiencementioning

confidence: 64%

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a First Wave COVID-19 Epicenter

Ostapenko

McPeck

Liechty

et al. 2020

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development

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Purpose: This study aims to identify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical resident training and education at Danbury Hospital. Methods: We conducted an observational study at a Western Connecticut hospital heavily affected by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess its effects on surgical residents, focusing on surgical education, clinical experience, and operative skills development. Objective data was available through recorded work hours, case logs, and formal didactics. In addition, we created an anonymous survey to assess resident perception of their residency experience during the pandemic. Results: There are 22 surgical residents at our institution; all were included in the study. Resident weekly duty hours decreased by 23.9 hours with the majority of clinical time redirected to caring for COVID-19 patients. Independent studying increased by 1.6 hours (26.2%) while weekly didactics decreased by 2.1 hours (35.6%). The operative volume per resident decreased by 65.7% from 35.0 to 12.0 cases for the period of interest, with a disproportionately high effect on junior residents, who experienced a 76.2% decrease. Unsurprisingly, 70% of residents reported a negative effect of the pandemic on their surgical skills. Conclusions: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical residents’ usual workflows changed dramatically, as much of their time was dedicated to the critical care of patients with COVID-19. However, the consequent opportunity cost was to surgery-specific training; there was a significant decrease in operative cases and time spent in surgical didactics, along with elevated concern about overall preparedness for their intended career.

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Section: Clinical Experiencementioning

confidence: 64%

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a First Wave COVID-19 Epicenter

Ostapenko

McPeck

Liechty

et al. 2020

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…7 Unlike this study, prior literature did not address the effect of this restructuring on resident training, but discussed their experience and offered recommendations on how to safely and effectively prepare hospitals and programs. 8,9 In this study, we demonstrate that surgical residents had a significant contribution to the overall COVID-19 response at Danbury Hospital, with an average resident spending 28-38 hours per week caring for critical COVID-19 patients (Table 1). This contribution resulted in a decrease in clinical duty hours by 35.1%, from 64.7 to 40.8 hours per week, in addition to fewer outpatient clinics attended, and less operative experience.…”

Section: Clinical Experiencementioning

confidence: 64%

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a first wave COVID-19 epicenter

Ostapenko¹,

McPeck

Liechty³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: This study aims to identify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical resident training and education at Danbury Hospital. Methods: We conducted an observational study at a Western Connecticut hospital heavily affected by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess its effects on surgical residents, focusing on surgical education, clinical experience, and operative skills development. Objective data was available through recorded work hours, case logs, and formal didactics. In addition, we created an anonymous survey to assess resident perception of their residency experience during the pandemic. Results: There are 22 surgical residents at our institution; all were included in the study. Resident weekly duty hours decreased by 23.9 hours with the majority of clinical time redirected to caring for COVID-19 patients. Independent studying increased by 1.6 hours (26.2%) while weekly didactics decreased by 2.1 hours (35.6%). The operative volume per resident decreased by 65.7% from 35.0 to 12.0 cases for the period of interest, with a disproportionately high effect on junior residents, who experienced a 76.2% decrease. Unsurprisingly, 70% of residents reported a negative effect of the pandemic on their surgical skills. Conclusions: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical residents' usual workflows changed dramatically, as much of their time was dedicated to the critical care of patients with COVID-19. However, the consequent opportunity cost was to surgery-specific training; there was a significant decrease in operative cases and time spent in surgical didactics, along with elevated concern about overall preparedness for their intended career.

show abstract

“…7 Unlike this study, prior literature did not address the effect of this restructuring on resident training, but discussed their experience and offered recommendations on how to safely and effectively prepare hospitals and programs. 8,9 In this study, we demonstrate that surgical residents had a signi cant contribution to the overall COVID-19 response at Danbury Hospital, with an average resident spending 28-38 hours per week caring for critical COVID-19 patients (Table 1). This contribution resulted in a decrease in clinical duty hours by 35.1%, from 64.7 to 40.8 hours per week, in addition to fewer outpatient clinics attended, and less operative experience.…”

Section: Clinical Experiencementioning

confidence: 65%

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a first wave COVID-19 Epicenter

Ostapenko

McPeck²,

Liechty

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: This study aims to identify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical resident training and education at Danbury Hospital.Methods: We conducted an observational study at a Western Connecticut hospital heavily affected by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess its effects on surgical residents, focusing on surgical education, clinical experience, and operative skills development. Objective data was available through recorded work hours, case logs, and formal didactics. In addition, we created an anonymous survey to assess resident perception of their residency experience during the pandemic. Results: There are 22 surgical residents at our institution; all were included in the study. Resident weekly duty hours decreased by 23.9 hours with the majority of clinical time redirected to caring for COVID-19 patients. Independent studying increased by 1.6 hours (26.2%) while weekly didactics decreased by 2.1 hours (35.6%). The operative volume per resident decreased by 65.7% from 35.0 to 12.0 cases for the period of interest, with a disproportionately high effect on junior residents, who experienced a 76.2% decrease. Unsurprisingly, 70% of residents reported a negative effect of the pandemic on their surgical skills.Conclusions: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical residents’ usual workflows changed dramatically, as much of their time was dedicated to the critical care of patients with COVID-19. However, the consequent opportunity cost was to surgery-specific training; there was a significant decrease in operative cases and time spent in surgical didactics, along with elevated concern about overall preparedness for their intended career.

show abstract

Reforming our general surgery residency program at an urban level 1 Trauma Center during the COVID-19 pandemic: Towards maintaining resident safety and wellbeing

Cited by 16 publications

References 5 publications

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a First Wave COVID-19 Epicenter

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a First Wave COVID-19 Epicenter

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a first wave COVID-19 epicenter

Impacts on Surgery Resident Education at a first wave COVID-19 Epicenter

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