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The STS meeting in January led to many discussions within the TSRA including both future and current events. Future events included the results of the recent resident survey, upcoming thoracic surgery review book, new opportunities in using social media and further improvement of the "boot camp" weekend for new residents. More immediate conversation included continued adjustments in work hour restrictions, job hunting strategies and a discussion on the steps of completing the board exam.
A Message from Dr. William A. Baumgartner on Behalf of the ABTS to the TSRA at the STS Annual Meeting
Passing a board exam necessitates proving to the examiners you have an accurate plan on where to go with a patient. Applying for the board exam on the other hand necessitates an accurate map of where you have been as a training physician. Documentation of cases performed by a trainee serves as this "map" of past accomplishments. A case journal is not only used as a requirement for board exams. Hospitals, insurers, and industry can also use these data to choose who is going to perform their next test or treatment.
It is the responsibility of the trainee to maintain their case log to confirm they are getting their index cases completed. More and more applicants for the ABTS are applying with holes in their resume with categories of cases not completed. Often the cause of this is not a program's lack of exposure, but poor documentation during the period of training.
Much like not getting paid for poor documentation of procedures when out in practice, the ABTS will soon become stricter on documentation of index cases.
The good news is that the program for logging cases will soon follow the CPT coding system for CT Surgery residents starting in July, 2011. The program will provide for more accurate documentation and will also give a more "real world" experience. In the meantime, check your case log regularly and expeditiously discuss with your program director any deficiencies that may exist.
The STS meeting in January led to many discussions within the TSRA including both future and current events. Future events included the results of the recent resident survey, upcoming thoracic surgery review book, new opportunities in using social media and further improvement of the "boot camp" weekend for new residents. More immediate conversation included continued adjustments in work hour restrictions, job hunting strategies and a discussion on the steps of completing the board exam.
A Message from Dr. William A. Baumgartner on Behalf of the ABTS to the TSRA at the STS Annual Meeting
Passing a board exam necessitates proving to the examiners you have an accurate plan on where to go with a patient. Applying for the board exam on the other hand necessitates an accurate map of where you have been as a training physician. Documentation of cases performed by a trainee serves as this "map" of past accomplishments. A case journal is not only used as a requirement for board exams. Hospitals, insurers, and industry can also use these data to choose who is going to perform their next test or treatment.
It is the responsibility of the trainee to maintain their case log to confirm they are getting their index cases completed. More and more applicants for the ABTS are applying with holes in their resume with categories of cases not completed. Often the cause of this is not a program's lack of exposure, but poor documentation during the period of training.
Much like not getting paid for poor documentation of procedures when out in practice, the ABTS will soon become stricter on documentation of index cases.
The good news is that the program for logging cases will soon follow the CPT coding system for CT Surgery residents starting in July, 2011. The program will provide for more accurate documentation and will also give a more "real world" experience. In the meantime, check your case log regularly and expeditiously discuss with your program director any deficiencies that may exist.
The STS meeting in January led to many discussions within the TSRA including both future and current events. Future events included the results of the recent resident survey, upcoming thoracic surgery review book, new opportunities in using social media and further improvement of the "boot camp" weekend for new residents. More immediate conversation included continued adjustments in work hour restrictions, job hunting strategies and a discussion on the steps of completing the board exam.
A Message from Dr. William A. Baumgartner on Behalf of the ABTS to the TSRA at the STS Annual Meeting
Passing a board exam necessitates proving to the examiners you have an accurate plan on where to go with a patient. Applying for the board exam on the other hand necessitates an accurate map of where you have been as a training physician. Documentation of cases performed by a trainee serves as this "map" of past accomplishments. A case journal is not only used as a requirement for board exams. Hospitals, insurers, and industry can also use these data to choose who is going to perform their next test or treatment.
It is the responsibility of the trainee to maintain their case log to confirm they are getting their index cases completed. More and more applicants for the ABTS are applying with holes in their resume with categories of cases not completed. Often the cause of this is not a program's lack of exposure, but poor documentation during the period of training.
Much like not getting paid for poor documentation of procedures when out in practice, the ABTS will soon become stricter on documentation of index cases.
The good news is that the program for logging cases will soon follow the CPT coding system for CT Surgery residents starting in July, 2011. The program will provide for more accurate documentation and will also give a more "real world" experience. In the meantime, check your case log regularly and expeditiously discuss with your program director any deficiencies that may exist.