Abstract
Purpose: :
To standardize the surgical simulator training platform and curriculum among all military ophthalmology residencies, and to centralize data collection.
Methods: :
The Army Medical Department created the Central Simulation Commitee to standardize simulator platforms and curricula across itsmany residency programs and locations. Ophthalmology was one of thecharter specialties included. Currently, all Army and Air Forceophthalmology residencies have identical surgical simulators (EyeSi,VRMagic GmbH, Mannheim, Germany). A common simulation curriculum was recently created and incorporated into each ophthalmology residency program. Performance data from each resident is stored at each simulator platform and reviewed by the residency program director. Data from each program is sent electronically to be reviewed by a Surgical Simulation Committee in order to evaluate performance from each training program, thus centralizing data collection.
Results: :
Currently 4 out of the 5 military ophthalmology residencies have the EYESI ophthalmosurgical simulator. The remaining program is in process of purchasing the simulator. All military ophthalmology residencies have agreed to incorporate surgical simulation as an integral part of the training program under the same training protocol. All residents will train on the surgical simulator at least one day per week for a minimum of 30 minutes per training session. Performance goals on the surgical simulator are based on the training level the residents are in. First year residents perform exercises on the simulator in order to develope the following skills: 1. fine motor dexterity; 2. hand-eye, bimanual and bipedal coordination; 3. working within a confined surgical space. Second year residents perform simulator exercises that concentrate on developing beginner cataract surgical skills (capsulorrhexis and phacoemulsification divide and conquer techniques) and non dominant hand dexterity training. Third year residents' surgical simulator training is based around the following goals: 1. advance cataract surgical skill exercises 2. progression of non dominant hand surgical dexterity training 3. pre-operative warm up exercises.
Conclusions: :
By standardizing the surgical simulator platform andtraining curriculum, performance data evaluation should contain lessvariables between training programs. With the same training curriculumamong all military residencies, performance goals can becomestandardized. By centralizing the data collection, resident andtraining center performance data will be easier to evaluate and compare.
Keywords: training/teaching cataract surgery • learning • anterior segment