Surgeon of the Modern Hospital

Abstract

As part of the modern hospital, surgeons will face a changing landscape in their practice and training from cutting-edge new technologies to a diverse set of medical stakeholders. Their skills will be in demand as population growth outpaces workforce expansion. This gap is likely to be exaggerated in rural and underserved areas, which could potentially serve as a venue for additional training positions. Regardless of practice setting, the modern surgeon must be able to lead a high performance and frequently multidisciplinary team to optimize the care and outcomes of many disease states. A knowledgeable surgeon recognizes the different learning styles, technological skills, and interpersonal behaviors across generations and engages each of them effectively. They will find the modern patient better informed about diseases and recent technology. Accordingly, their patients will expect to be involved in shared decision-making and treatment planning. Surgeons will be exposed to technologic advancements and must champion the safe and ethical introduction into everyday practice. Surgical practitioners must be dedicated to lifelong learning and performance improvement – both for their own and for their group, practice, or institution. Changes in technology and care will occur within the span of their career; thus effectively learning, adopting, and evaluating innovations will be an important aspect of their practice. Overall, the surgeon of the modern hospital will practice in an era of innovation, changing interpersonal dynamics and team-based care.