The amount of procedures performed through robotic surgery has grown exponentially, progressing at least 10 percent each year. As the industry grows, concern for patient safety grows with it and an overall question arises: How can we ensure surgeons are receiving the best possible training to operate this technology?
At the Nicholson Center, we have created a multi-faceted curriculum purely dedicated to serving as a national standard for robotic training. However, while curriculums provide the knowledge and know-how in robotic surgery, the need for simulation labs is critical for hands-on robotic surgery training. Below are some of the benefits of robotic simulation:
Resources Are Available
Similar to how pilots are taught the complexities of aircrafts via simulators before getting in the air, the same is required of surgeons. The challenge when training with a da Vinci simulator is that there are not an endless supply of these systems in every hospital, and using a system for training may take up a valuable resource that could be used in a procedure. Many hospitals, do not offer other simulators such as a Simbionix or Mimic trainer, which would be more cost effective and would not tie up a console.
This is where medical simulation comes into the picture. Regularly used by the military, surgical simulation solves the issue of valuable equipment and personnel being used while also increasing patient safety.
Training is Time and Cost Efficient
For a physician to become proficient in the robotic surgery system, it takes 200 iterations of a procedure. However, it would not be time- nor cost-efficient for a surgeon to perform this many procedures using an actual system before he or she is proficient. The computer simulators we use at the Nicholson Center are comprehensive and realistic, giving the user the feel of actually performing surgery. It can also be used once a surgeon is considered an expert in case he or she needs any additional training prior to procedures.
Simulation Training Decreases Surgery Time
Using surgical simulators can also improve timing when it comes to robotic procedures. In a study using virtual reality simulation, surgical residents who participated were able to dissect a gallbladder 29 percent faster than those without the simulation.
It’s safe to say that surgical simulation is changing the way training is conducted for robotic surgery, and we are hard at work making sure our facilities provide top-notch training for surgeons. We aim to improve patient safety outcomes, strengthen time and accuracy and create a universal standard for robotic surgery training. To learn more about how you can train with us or host an event at our facility, get in touch with us today.
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