• Amy L Halverson, Debra A DaRosa, David C Borgstrom, Philip R Caropreso, Tyler G Hughes, David B Hoyt, and Ajit K Sachdeva.
• Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair, Chicago, IL, USA; Nora Institute for Surgical Patient Safety, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: ahalverson@nmff.org.
• Am. J. Surg. 2014 Jul 1;208(1):136-42.

BackgroundRural surgeons have unique learning needs not easily met by traditional continuing medical education courses.MethodsA multidisciplinary team developed and implemented a skills curriculum focused on leadership and communication, advanced endoscopy, emergency urology, emergency gynecology, facial plastic surgery, ultrasound, and management of fingertip amputations.ResultsTwenty-five of 30 (89%) rural surgeons who completed a follow-up course evaluation reported that the knowledge acquired during the course had improved their practice and/or the quality of patient care, particularly by refining commonly used skills and expanding the care options they could offer to their patients. The surgeons reported incorporating changes in their communication and interaction with colleagues.ConclusionsThis course was successful, from participants' perspectives, in providing hands-on mentored training for a variety of skills that reflect the broad scope of practice of surgeons in rural areas. Attendees felt that their participation resulted in important behavior and practice changes.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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