Excellence needs training "Certified programme in endoscopic surgery"

The complexity of modern surgery has increased the demands and challenges to surgical education and quality control. Today the endoscopic approach is preferred because it increases the surgical possibilities and decreases patient discomfort. Implementing endoscopic surgery without specific training leads to decrease in surgical performance and increase in patient morbidity and mortality. Research of the European Academy for Gynaecological Surgery (+he Academy) has resulted in the establishment of a structured certification and diploma programme with three levels of expertise. One level should be passed to obtain access to the next level. Furthermore one should first pass +he Academy skill exam before entering the clinical surgical competence programme. The European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE) has defined the different diplomas, whereas the Bachelor diploma is seen as a prerequisite to start the in OR one to one clinical training aiming to provide endoscopic skilled individuals to the clinical one to one training. Further diplomas are the Minimal invasive Gynaecological Surgeon (MIGS), master in hysteroscopy and the laparoscopic pelvic surgeon. This programme is based on the best available scientific evidence. It counteracts the problem of the traditional surgical apprentice tutor model and increases patient safety and surgical performance. It is seen as a major step toward standardization of endoscopic surgical training in general.