Survey of robotic surgery credentialing requirements for physicians completing OB/GYN residency

Abstract

Study objective: To describe credentialing requirements for newly graduated resident physicians for robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery in Alabama.

Design: Cross-sectional study (Canadian Task Force classification III).

Setting: Hospitals in the state of Alabama in the United States.

Participants: Credentialing authorities at hospitals in Alabama that currently use robotic surgery in the field of gynecology.

Interventions: Participants completed an online questionnaire about credentialing policies.

Measurements and main results: Fifteen of 16 hospitals (94%) in Alabama that use robotic technology for gynecologic surgery participated in this survey. All hospitals had a credentialing policy for robotic surgery; however, only 9 of the 15 hospitals (60%) had a separate pathway for physicians with recent residency training. This pathway consisted of an attestation letter from a residency program director in all of the 9 hospitals, a robotic case list in 3 (33%), and proctored cases after residency in 2 (22%). Five hospitals (55%) required a certain number of hysterectomy procedures (median, 5; range, 2-10).

Conclusion: Robotic surgery credentialing requirements in Alabama vary. Validation of requirements in best practices for robotic surgery by graduating resident physicians is needed.