Updated: Jun 28
In the mid-16th century, medical apprentice training began at around 13 years of age under a single mentor.
This process involved direct observation and imitation of skills in a clinical environment for 5 to 7 years, which was followed by independent practice. There was no regulation on the requisite skills, structure of training, or oversight after independent practice.
Over time, the development of the Halstedian pyramidal graduated autonomy residency model, and the formation of medical boards provided a necessary structure for surgical training.
The evolution of standardization across hospitals and residency review committees and a shift to competency-based education have propelled us into the modern era.
The future of surgical education depends on surgeon leaders recognizing the challenges inherent in acquiring a massive amount of requisite knowledge and skills in an expedited amount of training time.
Rather than a linear “see one, do one, teach one” model, trainees are expected to evolve in multiple domains simultaneously to become well-rounded physician surgeons.
Surgical educators will need to plan beyond the acquisition of technical skills and medical knowledge to emphasize the value of ongoing self-reflection and feedback, increase specialized certification, and encourage the development of nontechnical skills.
The next major shift in the training model is toward a full holistic review of how the trainee performs at all core competencies in the setting of the larger healthcare system.
Updated: Jun 28
Here are 5 examples of the most important soft skills to develop for any surgeon:
Communication
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Interpersonal relationships
Attention to detail
Professionalism
Skill 1: Communication Skills
Physicians spend their days interacting with their patients and colleagues, which means they need strong communication skills to succeed.
Having strong communication skills helps physicians understand the symptoms of their patients, which facilitates the effective diagnosis of patients and recommends the best treatment.
Some of the most critical communication skills for physicians are:
Verbal communication
Written communication
Body language
Clarity of language
Ability to provide feedback
Active listening
Skill 2: Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
Being a surgeon involves a lot of problem-solving and critical thinking to find solutions for your patients.
Surgeons use these skills to assess symptoms, diagnose problems, and develop a treatment regimen for those receiving care.
Problem-solving and critical thinking skills that help surgeons:
Analytical thinking
Creative thinking
Solution Thinking
Ability to ask questions
Open-mindedness
Skill 3: Interpersonal Relationships
For surgeons, interpersonal skills are often described as having a positive bedside attitude, which means they can interact with them empathetically.
Surgeons use this emotional intelligence to ensure their patients feel supported and validated. These skills also extend to a surgeon’s ability to collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
Surgeons should focus on developing interpersonal skills, including:
Empathy
Reliability
Patience
Compassion
Sensibility
Flexibility
Conflict resolution
Skill 4: Attention to detail
Surgeons pay attention to the details during all phases of the patient’s treatment, from understanding the patient’s history to diagnosis, operation categories, and medication prescription.
These skills are the basis of the surgeons' excellent attention to detail:
Observation
Organization
Concentration
Time management
Delegation
Attention
Skill 5: Professionalism
Surgeons must follow certain professional guidelines to ensure that patients feel safe.
Doctors must remain calm, united, and respectful when treating sick patients who are frequently stressed or emotional.
Here are some relevant skills that can help surgeons remain professional throughout their careers:
Respect
Cultural awareness
Positive attitude
De-escalation
Integrity
Reassure
Discipline
Liability
All these non-technical skills can make a big difference in the surgeon’s experience.
Updated: Jun 28
A smart hospital relies on data-based information, including machine learning and artificial intelligence models, to facilitate decision-making.
3 Benefits of a smart hospital
1. Healthcare providers
Smart hospital data can be used to help healthcare institutions optimize their limited resources, increasing operational efficiency for a better patient-centered approach.
Sensors can monitor patients when they are alone in the room.
AI algorithms can help determine which patients to prioritize based on the severity of their cases. Telehealth solutions can help provide care to patients outside of hospital visits.
2. Clinicians
Smart hospital tools can allow physicians, nurses, medical imaging technicians, and other healthcare experts to spend more time caring for patients through routine or laborious tasks.
Such as writing notes about each patient interaction, segmenting anatomical structures into MRIs, or converting physician notes into medical codes for insurance billing.
They can also facilitate clinical decision-making through AI algorithms that provide a second opinion or triage recommendation for individual patients based on historical data.
3. Patients
Smart hospital technology can bring health services closer together, with the ability to have all experts around the world.
By deploying AI and robotics to monitor patterns and automate repetitive tasks, smart hospitals can allow clinicians to focus on interacting with their patients for a better experience.
Operating a smart hospital, however, requires a whole ecosystem of solutions aligned with clinician workflows to accelerate and improve patient care.