Program permits surgeons to observe and learn complicated colorectal surgeries at Cincinnati Children's
In an effort to share their expertise and experience with fellow medical professionals, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center surgeons at the Colorectal Center have created a unique educational program known as the Visiting Surgeons and Nurses Program.
The program enables pediatric surgeons with complicated colorectal cases to accompany their patients to Cincinnati Children's and work in partnership with the surgeons in the Colorectal Center to achieve a successful surgical outcome. So far, nearly 20 medical professionals per year have participated, and the number continues to grow.
According to Marc Levitt, MD, co-director of the Colorectal Center, one of the program's most significant attractions for U.S. surgeons is that the Ohio medical board, along with Cincinnati Children's, provides them with credentials for a day so they can actually participate in their patient's surgery.
Typically, this process begins with a phone call. "A colleague will call and say they have a difficult case and want our advice," says Dr. Levitt. "I'll say, 'why don't you bring your patient here, get credentialed for the day and do the case here with us.'"
All parties benefit from the collaboration this unique program affords. The patient receives continuity of care, as follow-up appointments can be done with the patient's original surgeon in his/her facility. The visiting nurses and surgeons learn new techniques for future cases and are also able to provide follow-up care in their own facility.
And the Colorectal Center, performing more pediatric colorectal procedures than any other center in the world, fulfills its mission to educate medical professionals from around the world and is able to participate in a full spectrum of complex cases through the referral of these challenging patients.
"The infrastructure at Cincinnati Children's, including the equipment, facilities, nurses and coordinators, make this program possible," Dr. Levitt says. "This infrastructure combined with the credentialing opportunity makes this program something I could not see being anywhere else."
The Center has welcomed surgeons, nurses and their patients from around the world, including countries from Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
