COVID-19 impact On MercyOne Residency

What can we do to maintain the desired working & learning environment so you become a competent and proficient surgeon? Worldwide impact on society and surgery residencies alike is undoubtedly evident. The extent of this effect will be studied for years to come.

We adjust as we go and learn. We are blessed with, and we rely on our fantastic faculty surgeons and other brilliant clinicians. We assessed how many operations resident physicians are participating in (good news there, see below).

Impact on caseload: operative opportunities preserved

The number of operative cases decreased nationwide. Yet, mainly due to operative volume exceeding the residency needs, the operative numbers for residents increased again.

COVID-19 adjustments:

1. “platooning”: “start the day from home” initiative - avoided crowded shared residency quarters

2. Available contingency schedule accounting for 20, 25 & 30% temporary staff loss (not deployed yet)

3. Distant learning: 
   A. Zoom 
   B. All Thursday & Friday didactics 
   C. Except for SIM (but participant numbers are lowered).

4. Supported team protection by early testing, shaming avoidance & exclusion avoidance

5. Dedicated series of: 
   A. SIM: self-decontamination 
   B. PPE donning & doffing 
   C. COVID impact on community & healthcare

6. Night float started July 2020 to reduce 24-hour calls

Outlook

1. As the nation and world go through the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to care for our patients and trainees
2. The operative and clinical opportunity has not decreased even at the most challenging times here
3. We remain firm in surgical education (and support it by data)