Orsi Consensus Meeting on European Robotic Training (OCERT): Results from the First Multispecialty Consensus Meeting on Training in Robot-assisted Surgery

Aude E Vanlander; Elio Mazzone; Justin W Collins; Alexandre M Mottrie; Xavier M Rogiers; Henk G van der Poel; Isabelle Van Herzeele; Richard M Satava; Anthony G Gallagher

doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2020.02.003

Orsi Consensus Meeting on European Robotic Training (OCERT): Results from the First Multispecialty Consensus Meeting on Training in Robot-assisted Surgery

Eur Urol. 2020 Nov;78(5):713-716. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.02.003. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Authors

Aude E Vanlander¹, Elio Mazzone², Justin W Collins³, Alexandre M Mottrie⁴, Xavier M Rogiers¹, Henk G van der Poel⁵, Isabelle Van Herzeele⁶, Richard M Satava⁷, Anthony G Gallagher⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liver Transplantation Service, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
² Orsi Academy, Melle, Belgium; Department of Urology, OLV, Aalst, Belgium; Division of Oncology, Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: eliomazzone@gmail.com.
³ Orsi Academy, Melle, Belgium; Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁴ Orsi Academy, Melle, Belgium; Department of Urology, OLV, Aalst, Belgium.
⁵ Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
⁷ University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁸ Orsi Academy, Melle, Belgium; Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

PMID: 32089358
DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.02.003

Abstract

To improve patient outcomes in robotic surgery, robotic training and education need to be modernised and augmented. The skills and performance levels of trainees need to be objectively assessed before they operate on real patients. The main goal of the first Orsi Consensus Meeting on European Robotic Training (OCERT) was to establish the opinions of experts from different scientific societies on standardised robotic training pathways and training methodology. After a 2-d consensus conference, 36 experts identified 23 key statements allotted to three themes: training standardisation pathways, validation metrics, and implementation prerequisites and certification. After two rounds of Delphi voting, consensus was obtained for 22 of 23 questions among these three categories. Participants agreed that societies should drive and support the implementation of benchmarked training using validated proficiency-based pathways. All courses should deliver an internationally agreed curriculum with performance standards, be accredited by universities/professional societies, and, trainees should receive a certificate approved by professional societies and/or universities after successful completion of the robotic training courses. This OCERT meeting established a basis for bringing surgical robotic training out of the operating room by seeking input and consensus across surgical specialties for an objective, validated, and standardised training programme with transparent, metric-based training outcomes. PATIENT SUMMARY: The Orsi Consensus Meeting on European Robotic Training (OCERT) is an international, multidisciplinary, Delphi-panel study of scientific societies and experts focused on training in robotic surgery. The panel achieved consensus that standardised international training pathways should be the basis for a structured, validated, replicable, and certified approach to implementation of robotic technology.

Keywords: Consensus meeting; Proficiency-based training.; Robot-assisted surgery; Surgical safety; Surgical training.

Publication types

Consensus Development Conference

MeSH terms

Clinical Competence*
Delphi Technique
Humans
Robotic Surgical Procedures / education*