The International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy is committed, by its Mission Statement to enhance the quality of the practice of endoscopy throughout the world. Therefore at this moment in time the ISGE has an Accreditation program that is accessible to all our members.
This program is structured so that the Accreditation will be of academic and legal value in the specific country where the specific member applying for ISGE Accreditation. To achieve this goal the ISGE Task Force for the Accreditation of Gynecological Endoscopy (TFAGE) and on a world renowned specialist in accreditation Professor Walter Costantini of Milan University in Italy. They have together elaborated the ISGE accreditation program.
This accreditation concerns hysteroscopy and laparoscopy and also the structures and the services where the gynaecological endoscopy is performed as to create a safe environment where the ISGE accredited professional can perform her/his endoscopy.
To obtain this goal the TFAGE did appoint an Accreditation Council. The Council is formed by Alfonso Rossetti, chairman of the Training Committee, Bruno van Herendael, Medical Director, and Adel Shervin who takes the position of Chairman of the Accreditation Council.
Entrance to the Accreditation
In close understanding with MedCollege, the logistical partner of ISGE (International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy) does organize a skill test SEBCOH-i, LASTT, to select the members for a curriculum in the ISGE Accreditation (MedCollege is a company according to European law under the form of a GEIE society for the enhancement of electronic advances established in Rome).
MedCollege does deliver a certificate of skills. The testing occurs during the conferences of the ISGE unless otherwise communicated.
The further steps of the ISGE Accreditation are performed by the ISGE Taskforce for Accreditation and in collaboration with a university or the local authorities in the country of the applicant.
ISGE Accreditation
The ISGE Accreditation Councils goal is
“To certify people to be able to go to theatre and operate safely on patients”
Specific exam on suturing
At the end of the week on Friday’s there will be a specific exam on suturing.
On Saturday a theoretical exam on 100 MCQ’ s is held. The Accreditation Council sets the death line to pass at 60%.
The result
The result will send to the candidates within the six weeks after the final test.
The experience in endoscopy
To have a better idea on the experience in endoscopy of the participants a questionnaire will be send to the applicants to be filled in and send back to the ISGE Secretariat one month before the actual date of the Intensive Week at the moment the payment has to be in the Chicago ISGE Accreditation account.
The Tutors will be notified on the level of experience of the participants so that the Intensive Week can be tailored to this experience level.
STEP II: Laparoscopic Surgeon MIGS
To check the cases submitted
(50 cases specification to follow) the Accreditation council needs:
- Patients history.
- Pathology corresponding to the case.
- Medical Record Department of the Hospital to provide the council with:
- File number of the Medical Record.
- Date of the operation.
Cases Specified
- Number 50 in two years Laparoscopy:
- Adnexal Surgery n=10
Extra-Uterine, Golff ball, Salpingectomy, Adnexectomy. - Myomectomy (Subserosal – Submucosal) demonstrating suturing n=10
- Hysterectomy n=10
- Ovarian cysts n=10
- Endometriosis (Endometrioma – Pelvic endometriosis) n=5
- Adhesiolysis 1 – 2 n=5
- Adnexal Surgery n=10
- Number 50 in two years Hysteroscopy:
- Septa n=10
- Myomectomy (FIGO 1-3) n=10
- Polyps n=20
- Isthmocoele n=5
- Adhesiolysis (1-3) n=5
Interview
When the candidate declares to ready he or she is invited for an interview at the address of the ISGE in Rome Viale Regina Margherita for an interview.
- The members of the Accreditation Council will judge the candidate on:
- The validity of the indications for the surgeries.
- The checking of the video’s submitted.
- The pathology.
- The interview with the specific candidate.
- The video’s submitted by the candidate are stored on www.isge.org with access only for the candidate him or herself and the members of the Accreditation Council.
- The result will send to the candidates within the six weeks after the final test.
STEP III ISGE MASTER IN MIGS
- Here only one or two videos of rare cases have to be presented.
- A thesis of between 2000 and 3000 words is expected to be accompanied by four photographs of each case if multiple cases are presented. Excluding references (maximum 40 in number).
- A final test will be held in the theatre of the candidate judging on repetitive movements during a classical surgery in presence of a member of the local university, co-sponsoring the ISGE Accreditation, and one or more ISGE Accreditation members using the MedCollege App as to witness the endoscopic picture and the conditions of the theatre.
- The result will send to the candidates within the six weeks after the final test.
POINT 2 ISGE FELLOWSHIP
Concerning the ISGE Fellowship the Accreditation council decides to adopt the rules of the AAGL.
- The Council has to talk to specific sponsors to obtain the financial realization of the program.
- Once the finances are OK ISGE does need to publish the Fellowships.
- A number of centers offering fellowships has to be listed.
POINT 3 The Undergraduate Training
- There are at this moment conventions signed with the Sheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar Senegal concerning the undergraduate teaching. ISGE is involved in the training one week on a yearly basis. The problem being that this at this moment is taken up by the MD as these sessions are in French.
- One convention has been signed with the University of Yaoundé I Yaoundé Cameroon. Here ISGE is involved one week three times on a yearly basis. The teaching is in English.
- A definitive organigram has to be set.
POINT 4 ISGE Hands-on Training on Patients
- Talks have been taken place during a video conference on Sunday October 14 between Mr. Alfred Yu, Ms. Yuaiyan, Yvonne, Yang – representing HuanXi Ltd Shanghai – Dr Song for the Chinese delegation Adel Shervin, Alfonso Rossetti, Mrs. Paula Simons and Bruno van Herendael for the ISGE concerning the involvement of Chinese centers. There could be an opening as previously also indicated by Prof. Yang Kuang from Nanning.
- The Accreditation Council states that ISGE does need a specific business plan for the venture.
- Vaginal surgery should be included.
- For the endoscopic part both Hysteroscopy and Laparoscopy have to be included.
- A question is how to publicize.
- AS stresses that setting up such a center is highly important for ISGE as ISGE would be one of the only societies to be able to offer such a service to its members.