Setting up a surgical skills center.

With the increasing use of simulation in medicine, many departments of surgery are considering the development of a surgical skills center. This article focuses on practical issues that must be considered when setting up a surgical skills center. The importance of developing a mission statement and including relevant stakeholders is discussed. The types of curricula that can be developed as well as the appropriate equipment purchased to support different curricula are considerations. Space requirements, funding sources, and staffing are also covered. Setting up a surgical skills center requires institutional buy-in and planning from the outset. Various models of skills centers, depending on local politics, are discussed.