Changes in Academic Plastic Surgery Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Raman Mehrzad1, Ronald Akiki, Paul Y Liu
1From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, The Warren Alpert School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|April 9, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted academic plastic surgery programs, reducing surgical case volumes and affecting work hours and salaries. This study provides a baseline for future pandemic preparedness in surgical education.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Pandemic Response
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for surgical training, including operating room closures and resource reallocation.
- This led to both educational difficulties and new opportunities within surgical programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the specific changes implemented by plastic surgery programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A 34-question survey was distributed to attendings in U.S. academic plastic surgery programs in April 2020.
- Data from 113 attendings, including 30 program directors, were analyzed, controlling for multiple responses per program.
Main Results:
- Elective case volume decreased to 23% of pre-pandemic levels; emergent cases dropped to 45% of normal for over half of respondents.
- Nearly all (95.6%) reported working fewer hours, with 40.9% experiencing over a 20-hour weekly reduction.
- A majority (82.1%) experienced a salary decrease, projecting current salaries at 85% of normal.
Conclusions:
- Academic plastic surgery programs experienced substantial changes in operations, education, revenue, and patient care due to the pandemic.
- The findings offer a baseline for future pandemic strategies in plastic surgery training and operations.
