Remediation strategies for the struggling resident: technical skills and beyond

The transition from medical student to surgical resident involves a significant shift in responsibility, learning style, and hands-on training complexity. Navigating all these professional hurdles can be a challenge, and residents may struggle with various aspects of these throughout their training, which can lead to the need for remediation. Residency programs must facilitate efforts to identify and address both technical and non-technical deficiencies through targeted remediation.

Members of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Resident and Fellow Task Force (RAFT) Committee performed a review of technical and non-technical components of resident remediation.

The two primary components of remediation in a residency program are technical and non-technical skill competencies. The role of the program director is essential to guiding and facilitating the remediation process for residents. Additionally, efforts to prevent remediation are important to implement within a residency program's structure. Current resources focus on technical and non-technical skills remediation. Program design and video-based assessments play crucial roles in technical skills remediation. For non-technical skills remediation, these address resident deficiencies in professionalism, interpersonal skills and communication.

Resident remediation is a complex yet essential responsibility for surgical training programs. It requires structured strategies tailored to both technical and non-technical skills, grounded in timely identification and consistent support. Effective remediation begins with early recognition of deficits and the development of clear, personalized improvement plans. These plans must outline specific goals, measurable outcomes, and mechanisms for progress assessment.