Cesare Stabilini1, Giuseppe Cavallaro2, Paolo Bocchi3, Giampiero Campanelli4, Michele Carlucci5, Francesca Ceci6, Feliciano Crovella7, Diego Cuccurullo8, Landino Fei9, Ezio Gianetta1, Francesco Gossetti6, Dalila Patrizia Greco10, Olga Iorio11, Pierluigi Ipponi12, Antonio Marioni13, Giovanni Merola14, Paolo Negro6, Denise Palombo1, Umberto Bracale14. 1. Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy. 2. Department of Surgery "P. Valdoni", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.cavallaro@uniroma1.it. 3. Valparma Hospital, Langhirano, Italy. 4. Department of Surgical Science, Istituto Clinico Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy. 5. Department of General and Emergency Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. 6. Department of Surgery "P. Stefanini", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. 7. Department of General Surgery, Cotugno Hospital - CTO, Naples, Italy. 8. Department of General, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Surgery, Ospedale Monaldi, Azienda Ospedaliera Dei Colli, Naples, Italy. 9. Department of Anaesthesiological, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy. 10. Outpatient Department, Niguarda Ca' Grande Hospital, Milan, Italy. 11. General Surgery Unit, Aprilia Hospital, Aprilia (RM), Italy. 12. General Surgery Unit, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Florence, Italy. 13. General Surgery Unit, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy. 14. Department of Surgical Spaciailties and Nephrology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The terms "Hernia Center" (HC) and Hernia Surgeon" (HS) have gained more and more popularity in recent years. Nevertheless, there is lack of protocols and methods for certification of their activities and results. The Italian Society of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery proposes a method for different levels of certification. METHODS: The national board created a commission, with the task to define principles and structure of an accreditation program. The discussion of each topic was preceded by a Systematic Review, according to PRISMA Guidelines and Methodology. In case of lack or inadequate data from literature, the parameter was fixed trough a Commission discussion. RESULTS: The Commission defined a certification process including: "FLC - First level Certification": restricted to single surgeon, it is given under request and proof of a formal completion of the learning curve process for the basic procedures and an adequate year volume of operations. "Second level certification": Referral Center for Abdominal Wall Surgery. It is a public or private structure run by at least two already certified and confirmed FLC surgeons. "Third level certification": High Specialization Center for Abdominal Wall Surgery. It is a public or private structure, already confirmed as Referral Centers, run by at least three surgeons (two certified and confirmed with FLC and one research fellow in abdominal wall surgery). Both levels of certification have to meet the Surgical Requirements and facilities criteria fixed by the Commission. CONCLUSION: The creation of different types of Hernia Centers is directed to create two different entities offering the same surgical quality with separate mission: the Referral Center being more dedicated to clinical and surgical activity and High Specialization Centers being more directed to scientific tasks.
BACKGROUND: The terms "Hernia Center" (HC) and Hernia Surgeon" (HS) have gained more and more popularity in recent years. Nevertheless, there is lack of protocols and methods for certification of their activities and results. The Italian Society of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery proposes a method for different levels of certification. METHODS: The national board created a commission, with the task to define principles and structure of an accreditation program. The discussion of each topic was preceded by a Systematic Review, according to PRISMA Guidelines and Methodology. In case of lack or inadequate data from literature, the parameter was fixed trough a Commission discussion. RESULTS: The Commission defined a certification process including: "FLC - First level Certification": restricted to single surgeon, it is given under request and proof of a formal completion of the learning curve process for the basic procedures and an adequate year volume of operations. "Second level certification": Referral Center for Abdominal Wall Surgery. It is a public or private structure run by at least two already certified and confirmed FLC surgeons. "Third level certification": High Specialization Center for Abdominal Wall Surgery. It is a public or private structure, already confirmed as Referral Centers, run by at least three surgeons (two certified and confirmed with FLC and one research fellow in abdominal wall surgery). Both levels of certification have to meet the Surgical Requirements and facilities criteria fixed by the Commission. CONCLUSION: The creation of different types of Hernia Centers is directed to create two different entities offering the same surgical quality with separate mission: the Referral Center being more dedicated to clinical and surgical activity and High Specialization Centers being more directed to scientific tasks.
Authors: C Stabilini; G Cavallaro; P Dolce; S Capoccia Giovannini; F Corcione; M Frascio; M Sodo; G Merola; U Bracale Journal: Hernia Date: 2019-09-23 Impact factor: 4.739
Authors: U Bracale; F Corcione; D Neola; S Castiglioni; G Cavallaro; C Stabilini; E Botteri; M Sodo; N Imperatore; R Peltrini Journal: Hernia Date: 2021-09-07 Impact factor: 2.920
Authors: J A Pereira; A Bravo-Salva; B Montcusí; S Pérez-Farre; L Fresno de Prado; M López-Cano Journal: BMC Surg Date: 2019-08-07 Impact factor: 2.102
Authors: F Köckerling; A J Sheen; F Berrevoet; G Campanelli; D Cuccurullo; R Fortelny; H Friis-Andersen; J F Gillion; J Gorjanc; D Kopelman; M Lopez-Cano; S Morales-Conde; J Österberg; W Reinpold; R K J Simmermacher; M Smietanski; D Weyhe; M P Simons Journal: Hernia Date: 2019-01-23 Impact factor: 4.739