Surgical accreditation in liver transplantation

Almost 25 years since the first liver transplantation was performed in Spain, 25 groups support the activities of >1000 transplantations a year. Despite such a significant number, it is necessary to initiate mechanisms of accreditation for programs and surgeons. Professional competence in medical care is defined as "the aptitude of the professionals for integrating and applying the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with the good practices of their profession." Accreditation is the process by which a professional or a training specialist achieves or satisfies a level of competence and quality. Certification consists of the recognition of an institution where a person has completed a process of accreditation. The Division of Transplantation was formed in 2007 from the Section of Surgery of the Union Europeëne des Medecins Spécialistes (UEMS) and the European Board of Surgery (EBS). The Division operates in close collaboration with the European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT). The main objective of the Division is to guarantee the best standard of care in organ transplantation in Europe by ensuring that training in transplantation surgery is maintained at the highest level. Certification can be obtained for the following separate modules: multi-organ retrieval, kidney transplantation, pancreas transplantation, and liver transplantation. The Diploma of the European Board of Surgery Qualification (Transplantation) is obtained by passing Part I (Eligibility) and Part II (Examination). A candidate can be accredited for one or more modules. To obtain accreditation for the liver transplantation module, it is mandatory to obtain accreditation in module 1 as well. The UEMS, through its Medical Committees, offers the opportunity to provide the first steps toward accreditation of training in liver transplantation.