All around us, in this age of consumerism, are expressions of public expectations regarding the quality of medical care. Among the responses of the medical profession to this growing public demand has been a cre scendo of interest in continuing education. Continuing education is not a new concern for the physician. Most major professional organizations were founded to increase the exchange of information among members. But something new is in the wind. Both inside and outside the profes sion, the question is becoming more and more insistent: What does at tendance at meetings or exposure to other types of prepared materials have to do with the quality of care that is provided? Recertification, reexamination, and peer review of outcomes of practice-subjects only recently unmentionable-have become common issues before specialty boards, legislatures, hospital boards, insurance carriers, and even medical societies. As of October of 1979, all 22 of the member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties had made commitments to the principle of periodic recertification of their members. Most boards have explicitly acknowledged that the cognitive skills measured in the objective examination do not assure clinical competence. An assumption behind information-assessing recertification efforts is that, though mastery of the current knowledge upon which clinical decisions should be made does not guarantee competent practice, the lack of it probably impairs competent practice.

Essential Surgery is part of a nine volume series for Disease Control Priorities which focuses on health interventions intended to reduce morbidity and mortality. The Essential Surgery volume focuses on four key aspects including global financial responsibility, emergency procedures, essential services organization and cost analysis.

Acute Care Surgery is a comprehensive textbook covering the related fields of trauma, critical care, and emergency general surgery. The full spectrum of Acute Care Surgery is expertly addressed, with each chapter highlighting cutting-edge advances in the field and underscoring state-of-the-art management paradigms. In an effort to create the most definitive reference on Acute Care Surgery, an evidence-based approach is emphasized for all content included. Also, notable controversies are discussed in detail often accompanied by data-driven resolutions.

There are over 250 surgical residencies in the United States. Most residents experience some degree of shock once they start on the very first day, and the demands of residency are high. The current overall dropout rate is 16%, and there is evidence for higher burnout rates, suicide rates, addiction rates and divorce rates among all surgeons compared to other careers. There is therefore a critical need for the education of resiliency during surgical residency and guidance on surviving this challenging portion of their career. Unfortunately, the experiences of trial and error are the basis for survival, and resiliency training is often overlooked as part of the traditional surgical training. This practical guide is founded on many conversations with struggling general surgery residents and will have wide appeal, utilizing these experiences via interviews with current residents at different residency programs and covering an even wider variety of topics, with variable experiences based on differing ages, races, sexes, and marital statuses. Each chapter begins with a topic and a brief introduction, expansion on the topic based on their unique experiences, and then a concluding list of pearls to remember and use in daily residency. The topics are broken down thematically into five main sections, covering the breadth of residency experience and work/life balance: academics, clinical duties, life outside of work, leadership and ethics, and basic survival skills and self-care. Written by current residents for current residents, General Surgery Residency Survival Guide will be a valuable resource for everyone navigating this challenging portion of their medical career.

The increasing prevalence of morbid obesity has led the World Health Organization to coin the descriptive term “globesity” to reflect the worldwide nature of the problem. Providing health care to these patients, especially when surgery is required, can be extremely challenging owing to the specific needs in respect of logistics, facilities, and professional expertise. Appropriate care has to date often been unachievable and unaffordable outside of established bariatric centers, but such centers themselves usually have insufficient capacity and resources to cope with the demand among the general population. This book therefore provides a wealth of guidance and helpful tips and tricks on how to deal with obese patients within a general surgery setting. Importantly, it highlights the need for global rethinking on public health as regards resource allocation and patterns and standards of care, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes through greater affordability.

Controversies in General Surgery, An Issue of Surgical Clinics, E-Book

Now in its thoroughly updated Fourth Edition, General Surgery Board Review is indispensable for surgical residents and general surgeons preparing for the American Board of Surgery’s certification and recertification examinations. This study guide maintains the core features that have made it one of the most popular board review books in the field, including questions and answers after each chapter and succinct but detailed reviews of all topic areas found on the ABSITE and certification exam. There’s a new chapter on bariatric surgery and minimally invasive procedures.