Level 2 certification leads to the Certificate of SERGS Certified surgeon, assessing proper training, adapted learning curve and knowledge of the safe practice of robotic surgery.

Level 2 SERGS certification is aimed at surgeon at the beginning of their robotic practice, to accompany them in their early robotic journey.

SERGS Level 2 is system specific, meaning that you should be certified on the system you will be working on.

How does it works?

Level 2 certification is a 3 step process, over up to a year of practice.

Step 1: The SERGS Intermediate course

Surgeon with completed and certified Level 1 can proceed to SERGS Intermediate course. This course introduces the system, its use and allows the participants to complete exercises in dry lab and wet lab. Trainees learn how to dock the system, the use of the instruments and special attention is paid to emergency undocking.  The exercises include wrist articulation, camera movement, use of energy, clutch button and the use of fourth arm. We focus on suturing and dissection especially in the wet lab. The course is concluded with an exam which contains task of suturing (30min) and dissection (30 min) and emergency undocking (less than 30 sec).

The surgeons who succeed in the exam can begin their mentored practice.

Step 2: 

At the surgeon's facility, the surgeons will perform robotic surgery under the supervision of their local mentor, or with support of proctors provided by the industry if they are in a newly equipped institution.

They will have to go through 20 cases of robotic surgery, which should be carefully selected in order to have a smooth adaptation to the robotic system interface (it can prove to be challenging to overcome the interface and technical aspects of Robotic assistance, they may not want to add surgical challenge to the technical learning curve in order to be quickly proficient)

The surgeons will make a logbook of all their cases.

It is strongly recommended to record every procedure for review and educational purpose.

Step 3

The surgeons should send:

1. a case logbook to info@sergsmail.org
2. an unedited video of a robotically assisted simple hysterectomy performed by them

NB: the video should be from insertion to ablation of ports

The video and logbook will be peer reviewed by SERGS certification committee.

After assessing the safety of the procedure and the completed learning curve, they will be awarded the title of SERGS Certified Robotic Surgeon.

This certification must be credentialed every 3 years by attending at least one robotic conference over the last three years and an audit of your personal robotic practice over the last year.