TY - JOUR
T1 - Thoracic surgical resident education
T2 - A costly endeavor
AU - Calhoon, John H.
AU - Baisden, Clint
AU - Holler, Ben
AU - Hicks, George L.
AU - Bove, Ed L.
AU - Wright, Cameron D.
AU - Merrill, Walter H.
AU - Fullerton, Dave A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Background We sought to define an accurate measure of thoracic surgical education costs.Methods Program directors from six distinct and differently sized and geographically located thoracic surgical training programs used a common template to provide estimates of resident educational costs. These data were reviewed, clarifying questions or discrepancies when noted and using best estimates when exact data were unavailable. Subsequently, a composite of previously published cost-estimation products was used to capture accurate cost data. Data were then compiled and averaged to provide an accurate picture of all costs associated with thoracic surgical education.Results Before formal accounting was performed, the estimated average for all programs was approximately $250,000 per year per resident. However, when formal evaluations by the six programs were performed, the annual cost of resident education ranged from $330,000 to $667,000 per year per resident. The average cost of $483,000 per year was almost double the initial estimates. Variability was noted by region and size of program. Faculty teaching costs varied from $208,000 to $346,000 per year. Simulation costs ranged from $0 to $80,000 per year. Resident savings to program ranged from $0 to $135,000 per year and averaged $37,000 per year per resident.Conclusions Thoracic surgical education costs are considerably higher than initial estimates from program directors and probably represent an unappreciated source of financial burden for cardiothoracic surgical educational programs.
AB - Background We sought to define an accurate measure of thoracic surgical education costs.Methods Program directors from six distinct and differently sized and geographically located thoracic surgical training programs used a common template to provide estimates of resident educational costs. These data were reviewed, clarifying questions or discrepancies when noted and using best estimates when exact data were unavailable. Subsequently, a composite of previously published cost-estimation products was used to capture accurate cost data. Data were then compiled and averaged to provide an accurate picture of all costs associated with thoracic surgical education.Results Before formal accounting was performed, the estimated average for all programs was approximately $250,000 per year per resident. However, when formal evaluations by the six programs were performed, the annual cost of resident education ranged from $330,000 to $667,000 per year per resident. The average cost of $483,000 per year was almost double the initial estimates. Variability was noted by region and size of program. Faculty teaching costs varied from $208,000 to $346,000 per year. Simulation costs ranged from $0 to $80,000 per year. Resident savings to program ranged from $0 to $135,000 per year and averaged $37,000 per year per resident.Conclusions Thoracic surgical education costs are considerably higher than initial estimates from program directors and probably represent an unappreciated source of financial burden for cardiothoracic surgical educational programs.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.07.044
DO - 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.07.044
M3 - Article
C2 - 25443008
AN - SCOPUS:84919459296
SN - 0003-4975
VL - 98
SP - 2012
EP - 2015
JO - Annals of Thoracic Surgery
JF - Annals of Thoracic Surgery
IS - 6
ER -