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Looking for a way to train your surgeons and
staff on electrosurgery safety? A free pro-
gram by the Society of American
Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
(SAGES) called Fundamental Use of Surgical
Energy (FUSE) aims to give surgeons and
staff an all-around education on electro-
surgery devices.
The FUSE program helps fill a surgical safety gap, as there is no
formal training program to promote electrosurgical safety in the
operating room, says the organization. FUSE's curriculum is inter-
active and web-based, and can be found for free online (fusepro-
gram.org). FUSE covers the fundamental principles of electrosur-
gical devices, aspects of commonly used devices in different set-
tings, integration of energy systems with other devices and OR fire
prevention. Following completion of the curriculum, those in the
program may take a FUSE certification exam.
"Medical education has traditionally focused on topics such as
physiology, anatomy and pharmacology — it's only recently that
there's been a shifting focus on medical technology," says
Thomas Robinson, MD, MS, FACS, professor of surgery at the
University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colo., and
co-chair of FUSE. "FUSE was created to address a gap in the
current educational curriculum of the surgical community
regarding energy-based devices because they are tools used by
all surgeons that have the potential to impact patient safety if not
used properly." — Kendal Gapinski
FUSE PROGRAM
Learn the Ins and Outs of Electrosurgery
To learn more about FUSE and
access its free educational les-
sons, visit fuseprogram.org.
SURGICAL
ERRORS
