Open AccessStrategies for General Surgery Training Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Alyse M E Ragauskas,
Anthony M Scott,
D. Benjamin Christie,
Danny M. Vaughn,
A.B. Christie,
Dennis W. Ashley
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the american surgeon/american surgeon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1555-9823
pISSN - 0003-1348
DOI - 10.1177/0003134820966271
Subject(s) - preparedness , pandemic , covid-19 , schedule , workforce , curriculum , medical emergency , plan (archaeology) , mass casualty incident , contingency plan , craft , workforce planning , business , medical education , operations management , medicine , political science , psychology , computer science , engineering , management , geography , poison control , computer security , economics , human factors and ergonomics , pedagogy , law , archaeology , pathology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique challenge for Medical systems worldwide. Initial response to the crisis situation for the pandemic closely mirrored plans for a mass casualty event. By leveraging resources including human and physical, and by dividing our surgeon workforce into micro teams we were able to create a flexible and responsive infrastructure to address the crisis as it unfolded. By adoption of virtual platforms and equal division of labor, surgical resident education was continued. Specific adjustments to the schedule and curriculum for medical students allowed them to continue their studies safely and on schedule. Our model serves as an example by which hospital systems of similar size may utilize principles of mass casualty preparedness to craft their own plan for a future contagion response strategy.