Rural surgery: the North Dakota experience

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Rural Health
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Surgeon availability is a significant challenge in rural areas.
• A declining number of residents are pursuing general surgery careers, exacerbating the issue.
• Patient care in rural communities is at risk due to these shortages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative general surgery training program at the University of North Dakota.
• To address the critical shortage of surgeons in rural and isolated areas.
• To propose solutions for improving surgical training for rural practice.

Main Methods:

• Incorporating exposure to various surgical specialties within general surgical services.
• Adapting residency programs to include training relevant to rural and community practice.

Main Results:

• The program provides residents with broader exposure to surgical subspecialties.
• Highlights the need for tailored training pathways for rural surgeons.
• Demonstrates a model for innovative surgical residency education.

Conclusions:

• Distinct training recognition for urban and rural general surgeons is essential.
• General surgery programs require flexibility to innovate and adapt training for rural needs.
• Programmatic adjustments are necessary to support residents training for rural and community surgical sites.