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.