Telementoring: The Surgical Tool of the Future

Abstract

With decreased resident experience during training and the constant evolution of new surgical techniques, surgeons are at risk for complications during the early part of the learning curve. Mentorship by experienced surgeons may mitigate these complications. The availability of such advanced telepresence technology makes it logical that this will be used as part of the model to proctor, mentor, and train practicing surgeons. Here, we review the current state of telementoring.

A Systematic Review of the Use of Google Glass in Graduate Medical Education

“…6,10,11,17 Telemedicine offers a potential medium for enhancing remote supervision, education, and evaluation of residents without necessitating increased physical presence. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] A variety of specialties have implemented conventional telemedicine in GME by assessing its feasibility for educating trainees via recorded videos 18,27,31 and live video-teleconferencing (VTC) with good feedback. 17,[19][20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] However, stationary telemedicine end points are not always practical for supervising residents performing hands-on physical examinations or procedures in multiple clinical environments.…”