New Course Provides Refresher And Certification For Surgeons Performing Laparoscopic Surgery at Beth Israel in Boston

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox and will now require certification for laparoscopic surgeries raising the bar to a new level. The CEO also blogs to keep all updated and you can find a link to the site in the right hand reference side of this page. BD

Attending general surgeons at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) will be required to prove basic motor skills outside an operating room before performing laparoscopic surgery on patients.
CRICO/RMF, the Harvard medical community's professional liability insurer, will offer "Fundamentals in Laparoscopic Surgery" (FLS) as a refresher course in January 2008. As an incentive for this voluntary program, CRICO/RMF is providing a one-time patient safety incentive to attending general surgeons who demonstrate successful completion of the FLS exam.
In an unprecedented requirement, all BIDMC general surgeons will need FLS certification to obtain privileges in laparoscopy. This requirement for certification for privileging at BIDMC is the first time surgeons in the United States will be required to demonstrate motor skills, according to Daniel B. Jones, MD, FACS, BIDMC's Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery.