Approval of courses in new skills

The Committee on Emerging Surgical Technologies has previously published "Guidelines for Evaluation of Credentials of Individuals for the Purpose of Awarding Surgical Privileges in New Technologies." In that statement, which was approved by the American College of Surgeons' Board of Regents and published in 1994, the completion of a defined educational program in the technology, including didactic and practical elements, was recommended. The following statement, which was approved by the Board of Regents in October 1997, defines standards for courses in new technology that are designed to prepare the practicing surgeon to apply the technology to the care of patients.