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EDITORIAL
Year : 2022 | Volume
: 11
| Issue : 3 | Page : 139-140
Establish the certification system of gynecologic endoscopists
Chyi- Long Lee1, Kuan- Gen Huang1, Chi- Chang Chang2
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Correspondence Address:
Prof. Chyi- Long Lee
Division of Gynecologic Endoscopy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan
Taiwan
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/gmit.gmit_75_22
From simple sterilization procedures to various staging surgeries for cancers, minimally invasive surgery has become a regular surgery in gynecology.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6] However, it is found that the differences in training make a vast difference of outcomes in clinical trials of various researches, then it results in incorrect conclusions which makes gynecologists disoriented and confused among patients. The Asia-Pacific Association for Gynecologic Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy (APAGE) has discerned the seriousness long ago, so we have been committed to the accreditation and training of minimally invasive surgery. Moreover, there are many countries that have participated in the accreditation.[7]
For instance, in this issue, Prof. Maria Antonia E. Habana recorded the training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, accreditation, and education for fellows and residents during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. She is very generous to share with other societies through this journal. The training committee also hopes to complete and institutionalize the training certification system in the Asia-Pacific region.
The minimally invasive central hospital certification in the Philippines includes basic technology and clinical ideas. It used to be field visits, but it is a virtual meeting using the Zoom platform now. Nowadays, there are two certifications for gynecological endoscopy in the Philippines. Moreover, there is a 2-year fellowship program at Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and another is at Southern Philippines Medical Center. Qualifications include written examinations followed by clinical assessments, and fellows who join the society need to present surgical videos in the Society's Annual Congress, so as to be evaluated for surgical ability. As there was no accreditation held during the epidemic, so it was held with an online proctoring mode. One was with the candidates on the spot, and another one watched the operation remotely. That I think it is very important for the certification for residents.
Philippine Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy (PSGE) has always advocated the training for residents to incorporate Minimally Invasive Gynecology (MIG) into its training, which is expected to be fully implemented in 2024. At present, training is gradually achieved in the Philippines, and some leading hospitals in the Philippines have become minimally invasive training centers that can conduct dry box training. It is opened 8 h a day, 6 days a week, and each residence has at least 1 h of basic knowledge practice per week, and self-study videos are provided, which currently work well.
The accreditation committee of APAGE, led by Dr. Bernard Chern, has accredited 12 training centers around the world over the past few years, such as Southwest Hospital, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital in China, KK Women's in Singapore and Children's Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, E-Da Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan, BMEC, Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, Rajavithi Hospital in Thailand, Asan Medical Center in Korea, and Kawasaki Municipal Hospital in Japan.
The accreditation has been suspended during the epidemic. We believe that the opportunity for recertification can also be achieved through the online platform. We also invite qualified training centers from all over the world to participate in this certification. We hope that there will be specialist accreditation throughout Asia and even the world in the near future. I hope everyone enjoys reading this article, which will be of great help to minimally invasive training.
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