Credentialing and Privileging for Robotic Surgery in the United States

Abstract

The granting of robotic surgery privileges is the responsibility of the institution at which the surgery is performed. Although general guidelines have been created for credentialing committees to determine robotic surgical competency, no national standard exists, nor do the tools exist by which competency can be ensured prior to clinical operations being done. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Medical Specialties are responsible for residency training and board certification and are working on specific curricula criteria to ensure adequate training.

Credentialing for surgeons in practice who wish to include robotic surgery is particularly problematic since the training has no universally agreed-upon oversight. Improved tools for determining robotic surgical proficiency are in development and will be very useful for the granting of robotic surgery privileges. Simulation-based robotic surgery training will likely play a large role in determining proficiency prior to the granting of privileges, and ongoing review of clinical performance will remain essential for safe surgery.