Abstract

RUGELES, Saúl Javier. The practice of surgery in Colombia: a national survey and some reflections on results. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.3, pp.147-152. ISSN 2011-7582.

Introduction: Surgery has been an evolving discipline in Colombia during the last 20 years. Dramatic changes in the health system and the introduction of new surgical technologies and tendencies have had a very strong effect over surgical practice and reimbursement. This paper describes main findings of a comprehensive survey designed and conducted by the Colombian Association of Surgery (CAS). Methods: The semi-structured survey was designed by one special committee at the CAS. One market research company was contacted and implemented the survey to surgeons across the country during 180 days. Data was compiled and statistical analysis performed in anonymous way. Results: 48% of the CAS fellows responded the survey. The surgical practice in Colombia is characterized for weeks plenty of hours of work, high number of general surgery procedures and a tendency toward fellowship graduate studies. Most surgeons work at more than two health care institutions and receive a low reimbursement. Conclusions: Surgical practice in Colombia has been affected by new local and worldwide regulations in medical practice. Most general surgeons seek for fellowship education. Surgical education must be reevaluated to prepare future surgeons to be successful in this new job environmental.

Keywords : surgery; statistics and numerical data; trends; organization and administration; legislation and jurisprudence.

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