Video-Based Coaching: Current Status and Role in Surgical Practice (Part 1) From the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Health Care Quality and Outcomes Committee

Patient safety and outcomes are directly related to surgical performance. Surgical training emphasizes the importance of the surgeon in determining these outcomes. After training is complete, there is a lack of structured programs for surgeons to audit their skills and continue their individual development. There is a significant linear relationship between surgeon technical skill and surgical outcomes; however, measuring technical performance is difficult. Video-based coaching matches an individual surgeon in practice with a surgical colleague who has been trained in the core principles of coaching for individualizing instruction. It can provide objective assessment for teaching higher-level concepts, such as technical skills, cognitive skills, and decision-making. There are many benefits to video-based coaching. While the concept is gaining acceptance as a method of surgical education, it is still novel in clinical practice. As more surgeons look towards video-based coaching for quality improvement, a consistent definition of the program, goals, and metrics for assessment will be critical. This paper is a review on the status of the video-based coaching as it applies to practicing surgeons.