Video conferencing in surgery: an evolving tool for education and preceptorships

The advent of advanced laparoscopic procedures has provided unquestioned patient benefits but has also engendered some significant concerns about whether surgical team members are able to stay current in this everchanging arena. The interactive video conferencing program at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, was developed to improve the education and preceptoring of surgical teams. This article describes the evolution of the program and its basic technology and connectivity. Physicians and other health care professionals began to accept this teaching alternative as usage increased. Based on this initial experience, video conferencing in surgery appears to be a valuable and exciting method of enhancing the educational process and augmenting the preceptorship experience. Further studies need to be conducted to determine the actual cost-effectiveness of this teaching method.