About - Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons (original) (raw)

About SLS

The Society of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons (SLS) was founded on the premise that members of individual surgical specialties can best advance their expertise by sharing their experiences, knowledge, and techniques with each other as well as with members of other surgical specialties.

This non-profit, multidisciplinary and multispecialty educational organization was established in 1990 through the leadership and vision of Paul Alan Wetter, MD and Janis Chinnock Wetter to provide an open forum for surgeons and other health professionals interested in minimally invasive surgery and therapy. SLS endeavors to improve patient care and promote the highest standards of practice through education, training, and information distribution. SLS provides a forum for the introduction, discussion and dissemination of new and established ideas, techniques and therapies in laparoscopic, endoscopic, robotic, and minimally invasive surgical techniques and technologies. A fundamental goal of SLS is to ensure that its members have access to the newest ideas and approaches in these evolving fields. SLS’ unique multispecialty focus provides a comprehensive view of minimal access therapies to promote improved patient outcomes.

SLS has grown to become a vibrant, global, professional organization with a, virtual in-house publishing staff, equipped with state-of-the-art computing and web tools to produce innovative and journals, meetings, textbooks and websites, as well as a resource for postgraduate training fellowships in advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and surgical simulation
JSLS – JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF LAPAROSCOPIC & ROBOTIC SURGEONS, is a widely viewed and read MIS Journal, with over 1.5 Million downloads in 2019 and with an impact factor of 1.65. JSLS is under the editorial leadership of Michael S. Kavic, MD. This peer reviewed journal was first published in January 1997. It is available online with open access for download. Recognized around the world as a leading MIS publication, JSLS continues to expand and has repeatedly placed in the TOP 100 of 15,000 scientific publications on IngentaConnect for full-text downloads. This is a monumental achievement for a specialty society journal.

Prevention & Management of Laparoendoscopic Surgical Complications is a Textbook originally published in 1999, with a Second Edition in 2006. It has been translated into Chinese and Portuguese and is popular around the world. The online version of the first edition was the first of its kind to also be published online, with advanced Web 2.0+ features, including the ability for any Surgeon to access the open access information from their computer, cell phone or other mobile device. The third edition, PM3, was introduced on the SLS website in 2011. Its features include electronic translation to 23 languages, with open access portability and ability to be downloaded to electronic devices, embedded videos, social networking, complete web searchability, and local searchability. PM3 was expanded to 72 chapters by 131 distinguished authors. The fourth edition, PM4.0 was launched in 2012. PM4.0 as one of the first interactive iBook Textbooks for iPad. It incorporates the text from PM3 and adds in more features to make the book even more interactive and easier to navigate.

SLS’s Family of linked websites: www.SLS.org, www.JSLS.SLS.org, www.CRSLS.SLS.org, and www.MISToday.SLS.org, provide powerful search engines to find information when, and where it is needed.

SLS – The Future of MIS
At SLS, We Don’t Wait For The Future…We Create It.

Mission Statement

The Society of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons (SLS) is a non-profit, multidisciplinary and multispecialty educational organization established to provide an open forum for surgeons and other health professionals interested in minimally invasive surgery and therapy.

SLS endeavors to improve patient care and promote the highest standards of practice through education, training, and information distribution. SLS provides a forum for the introduction, discussion and dissemination of new and established ideas, techniques and therapies in minimal access surgery.

A fundamental goal of SLS is ensuring that its members have access to the newest ideas and approaches, as rapidly as possible. SLS makes information available from national and international experts through its publications, videos, conferences, and other electronic media.

SLS Objectives

Provide an efficient, centralized source of information and instruction for surgeons and other health professionals through high quality educational opportunities, publications, videos, website content, and other electronic media.
Promote continuous improvements in the standards of practice of laparoendoscopic surgery through education and training.
Encourage scientific study and its publication.
Recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to minimal access surgery.
Encourage and support hospitals, medical schools, postgraduate educational programs and other entities in the provision of high-quality programs and training in laparoendoscopic surgery and related techniques.
Collaborate with other organizations to maximize benefit to our members, other health professionals and patients.

SLS CME MISSION STATEMENT

PURPOSE: The purpose of our CME program is to:

Stimulate interest, inform, enhance skills, and foster the productive exchange of ideas, approaches, and experiences among practitioners who use and contribute to laparoscopic, endoscopic, and minimally invasive surgery.
Enhance the quality of teaching and learning in laparoscopic, endoscopic, and minimally invasive surgery.
Focus on the knowledge, competence or performance needs of practitioners to improve practice and clinical outcomes.
Improve the quality, safety and outcomes of patient care through educational opportunities and bridges with other entities and stakeholders.

CONTENT AREAS: SLS is an educational and information dissemination organization, focusing mainly on those issues, techniques, skills, and strategies that will enhance the quality of laparoscopic, endoscopic and minimally invasive surgery and improve the ability of physicians to prevent and manage complications related to these procedures. SLS content will improve the quality of patient care by increasing clinical competence and performance by increasing the knowledge of participating practitioners and by striving to identify and reduce the barriers to change.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Our primary audience is comprised of physicians in various specialties, who use or who want to use laparoscopic, endoscopic, and/or minimally invasive surgical techniques, including those who teach in this field. Our secondary audience is comprised of other health professionals, including nurses, technicians, midlevel providers, and others, who work with and support those who make up our primary audience.
TYPE OF ACTIVITIES: SLS fulfills its CME mission through interactive, innovative educational conferences, postgraduate courses, and workshops using experts in laparoscopic, endoscopic, and minimally invasive surgery and in education as presenters, faculty, workshop leaders, and as facilitators of the exchange of information and understanding among peers. SLS interacts with other national and international professional organizations with similar goals to promote professional dialogue and understanding that will catalyze change and improve patient care.
EXPECTED RESULTS: SLS endeavors to continually improve and expand its educational offerings in its role as a leader in laparoscopic, endoscopic, and minimally invasive surgical education. The CME programs offered will be consistent with the intent of the essential requirements for CME of per ACCME criteria. Measurement of continuous improvement in these activities will be developed and will include, but not be limited to, the following indicators:

Participant evaluation average scores of at least 4.0 or 80% (out of 5.0) with regard to content quality and relevance, and appropriate teaching methodology for its CME activities.
Improvement in the educational content of its CME activities by enlisting experts in the field to review course offerings and incorporating adult education strategies in its programming.
Increased interaction among the various specialties that use minimally invasive techniques and with professional and specialty organizations with similar interests and goals.
Increased attendance by the target audience in its programs, and hits to the SLS website.
Increased knowledge and comprehension of minimally invasive surgery procedures and techniques for the targeted audience as measured by a sampling of periodic course testing or a sampling of skills testing by simulation as may be appropriate to the educational activity.
Increased knowledge of strategies to recognize, address and minimize potential complications of minimally invasive surgery as measured by a sampling of periodic course testing or a sampling of skills testing by simulation as may be appropriate to the educational activity.
Evaluation of the impact on improvements in patient safety, quality improvement and clinical outcomes by monitoring publications in the peer reviewed literature and/or through studies conducted in collaboration with other organizations or entities as may be relevant to these topics.
Opportunities for the exchange and transfer of information to professionals, as well as to the general public, as is appropriate and prudent through the website, publications and other activities.

SLS CME PROCESS

In order to provide a high level of continuing medical education for its members, the Society of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons (SLS) follows the Criteria of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

To help as a planning guide, SLS has a CME mission statement, which includes the CME purpose, content areas, target audience and type of activities provided. SLS also identifies the expected results of its CME Program. This is reviewed on at least an annual basis, by the CME committee, Board of trustees and CME staff and published in activity syllabi.

SLS identifies the educational needs and desired results for all CME activities. This is done using numerous methods, a needs assessment, which encompasses surveys of members, post conference evaluation sessions with feedback from faculty, participants, board members, and other experts as well as literature reviews. A statement of purpose or objectives is provided to the learners so that they are informed prior to the activity. This is usually provided in the conference brochure. The effectiveness of the CME activity in meeting the identified educational needs is accomplished by participant evaluations which are summarized and evaluated by the CME committee, Board of Trustees, Faculty, Program Directors, and CME Administrative Team (CAT). Input is also obtained from correspondence, and post conference evaluation sessions, which is a separate short meeting at the conclusion of each CME activity. Based on this and other information the CME process is reviewed several times a year by the CAT, Board of Trustees, CME Committee and Education Committee and recommendations are made for improvements to the CME program.

SLS has an organizational structure that supports our CME Program. An organization chart outlines the various resources and how they function. This chart shows the relationship of the Staff, CME Committee, Education Committee, and Board of Trustees with regard to CME. There is also a written business and management policy manual that relates to human resources, financial affairs and legal obligations. This helps SLS administer to these obligations and ensures that obligations are met. Information on disclosure and commercial support is provided to learners before participation in the CME activity, so that participants are made aware at the time of presentations of any relationships that speakers have with commercial interests.

In order to achieve a level of CME excellence for our members SLS has developed a “Template of Excellence”. This document lists various examples of innovative ideas that SLS utilizes to exceed the basic level of compliance required by the ACCME. SLS looks forward to input from its learners in order to continue to improve these processes and provide meaningful continuing medical education in minimally invasive surgery.

SLS’ AIDE Initiative

ACCOUNTABILITY, INCLUSION, DIVERSITY & EQUITY

A commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity is critical to the practice of medicine and the provision of high quality patient care. The mission of SLS is to promote excellence in patient care by providing an open forum for surgeons and other health professionals interested in minimally invasive surgery and therapy through the introduction, discussion and dissemination of new and established ideas, techniques and therapies in minimal access surgery. Without a dedicated commitment to the advancement of diversity, inclusion and equity across health care, such a mission cannot be approached in a way that ensures the needs of all individuals are met such that they are able to thrive. Efforts and initiatives are needed to increase diversity in the medical workforce and ensuring that workforce and leadership representation reflects the diversity of the US population. Bias and discrimination based upon background, race, color, age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion or veteran status should be opposed.

SLS pledges a commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity. SLS recognizes that efforts and initiatives are needed to increase diversity in the medical workforce, that the pipeline of underrepresented students entering graduate school, medical school, residency programs and advanced fellowships needs to be increased, and that inclusive curricula in undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education needs to address the unique health concerns of underrepresented individuals.

SLS supports the eradication of bias, the development of policies that promote diversity and inclusion, and diverse educational programming. Opportunities for structural change include: joint collaboration with educational institutions and like-minded organizations, development of mentorship networks and resources, facilitation of educational opportunities for basic and advanced training in MIS and robotic techniques and technologies, and efforts to increase representation of skin of color, others underrepresented in medicine, and advancement of women in medicine and surgery, among others.