Integration of smartphone-based mobile health technology into perioperative care-the patient's perspective.

Although numerous use cases demonstrate the value of mobile health technology, there is limited knowledge regarding patient perceptions of such technology, which may explain the lack of broader implementation of mobile health technology. Achieving meaningful, sustained, and equitable use of mobile health technology in surgery necessitates a human-centered design approach with consideration given to end users. This review article draws on evidence from prior qualitative studies of both surgeons and patients to make recommendations that may assist health care systems in realizing the full potential of mobile health technology for delivering high-quality, patient-centered surgical care.

Implementing mobile health in your surgical practice: Results of a multidisciplinary convening.

The perioperative journey remains complex and difficult to navigate for patients and caregivers. Poor communication and lack of care coordination lead to diminished patient satisfaction, outcomes, and system performance. Mobile health platforms have the potential to overcome some of these issues by improving care delivery through timely individualized assessments, improved patient education, and care coordination.

Primary Tissue Repair for Inguinal Hernias: The Shouldice Repair Technique and Patient Selection.

It is estimated that approximately one in four men and one in 20 women will develop an inguinal hernia over the course of their lifetime. A non-mesh inguinal hernia repair via the Shouldice technique is a unique approach that necessitates dissection of the entire groin region as well as careful assessment for any secondary hernias. Subsequently, a pure tissue laminated closure allows the repair to be performed without tension.

The Big Sibling program: Impact of a medical student-resident mentorship program during the surgery clerkship.

Background: We created a Big Sibling mentorship program for medical students and studied the program effects.

Methods: Between July 2019 to December 2020, students completing their surgery clerkship were paired with a Big Sibling surgical research resident. Participation in and perceptions of the program were assessed by survey.

Gaps in Practice Management Skills After Training: A Qualitative Needs Assessment of Early Career Surgeons.

Purpose: Shifts in American healthcare delivery mechanisms pose significant hurdles to new physicians. Surgeons are particularly susceptible to these changes, but surgical residency educational efforts primarily focus on technical and clinical training to the exclusion of business and management practices. This study conducted a needs assessment of perceived gaps in practice management skills among early career surgeons to guide future training curricula.

Practice patterns after implementation of a selective spinal immobilization protocol in a regional trauma system.

Background: Universal spinal immobilization has been the standard of prehospital trauma care since the 1960s. Selective immobilization has been shown to be safe and effective for emergency medical services use, but it is unclear whether such protocols reduce unnecessary and potentially harmful immobilization practices. This study evaluated the impact of a selective spinal immobilization protocol on practice patterns in a regional trauma system.

Gauging the effects of COVID-related changes to the medical student surgical clerkship experience: a mixed-methods study.

Purpose: This study sought to understand the medical student experience on the restructured surgical clerkship during the COVID-era to provide guidance for future scenarios affecting student participation in clinical activities.

Methods: Medical students completing an anonymous 70-question survey at the conclusion of their surgical clerkship from June 2019 to October 2020 were divided into 2 cohorts: students completing their clerkship prior to March 2020 and after June 2020. Quantitative assessment was performed to evaluate the clerkship performance and perceptions.

Passing the Scalpel: Lessons on retirement planning from retired academic surgeons.

Background: Almost half of practicing surgeons in the United States are currently older than 55, but guidelines on how to prepare for retirement are limited. We sought to identify possible facilitators for, and obstacles to, surgeons' preparations for retirement.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with clinically inactive academic surgeons.

Challenges of virtual interviewing for surgical fellowships: a qualitative analysis of applicant experiences.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced surgical fellowship programs to transition from in-person to remote applicant interviews; the virtual interviewing format presented new and unique challenges. We sought to understand applicants' perceived challenges to virtual interviewing for a surgical fellowship program.

Method: A grounded theory-based qualitative study was performed utilizing semi-structured interviews with fellowship applicants from the 2020 fellowship match.

Redeployment of Health Care Workers in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Health System Leaders' Strategies.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the strategies used and critical considerations among an international sample of hospital leaders when mobilizing human resources in response to the clinical demands associated with the COVID-19 pandemic surge.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, qualitative research study designed to investigate strategies used by health system leaders from around the world when mobilizing human resources in response to the global COVD-19 pandemic. Prospective interviewees were identified through nonprobability and purposive sampling methods from May to July 2020.

Influence of weight at enterostomy reversal on surgical outcomes in infants after emergent neonatal stoma creation.

Purpose: Neonates after emergent enterostomy creation frequently require reversal at low weight because of complications including cholestasis, dehydration, dumping, failure to thrive, and failure to achieve enteral independence. We investigated whether stoma reversal at low weight (< 2.5kg) is associated with poor surgical outcomes.