Journal of surgical education
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Palliative care is a medical specialty focused on improving the quality of life of patients and their families with life threatening illness by preventing or relieving suffering. An assessment of a thoracic surgery service was performed to identify the scope and frequency of care that was considered palliative and any implications the findings might have on the current thoracic surgery residency curriculum. ⋯ This investigation found that thoracic surgeons commonly care for patients when the intention or indication or both is palliation. Most of these patients have an associated malignancy, a poor performance status and a projected significantly decreased survival compared with the general population. Thoracic surgeons should be familiar with the concepts of palliative care and consideration should be given to expanding exposure to the principles of palliative care in the cardiothoracic residency training curriculum.
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To describe the development of cognitive task analysis (CTA)-based multimedia educational videos for surgical trainees in plastic surgery. ⋯ Instructional videos for basic surgical skills may be generated using CTA to help experts provide comprehensive descriptions of a procedure. A CTA-based educational tool may give trainees access to a broader, objective body of knowledge, allowing them to learn decision-making processes before entering the operating room.
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Most residency programs still lack formal education and training on the basic clinical documentation and coding principles. Today's physicians are continuously being held to increasing standards for correct coding and documentation, yet little has changed in the residency training curricula to keep pace with these increasing standards. Although there are many barriers to implementing these topics formally, the main concern has been the lack of time and resources. Thus, simple models may have the best chance for success at widespread implementation. ⋯ The current healthcare environment necessitates better physician awareness regarding clinical documentation guidelines and coding principles. Very few adjustments to incorporate these teachings have been made to most residency training curricula, and the lack of time and resources remains the concern of many surgical programs. We have demonstrated that orthopedic resident knowledge in these important areas drastically improves after a single, high-yield 45-minute teaching session.
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Comparative Study
Factors Associated With Publication Impact at Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Fellowships.
Quantitative metrics for comparing fellowship programs are lacking in orthopedic surgery. The purpose of this work was to determine the publication citation frequency at shoulder and elbow fellowships in the United States and to identify factors associated with increased productivity. ⋯ Total years of experience of a faculty in a fellowship program and medical school affiliation appear to be the most significant factors associated with increased publication citation frequency among many others. These data may be useful for prospective applicants evaluating fellowships and program leadership seeking to improve their academic productivity.