Where to find good practical endoscopy CPD?

RE: Where to find good practical endoscopy CPD?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:24:06 GMT

You can do some modules of the Improve course, if you don't want to fork out for it all.

Wynne

RE: Where to find good practical endoscopy CPD?

Aisling McGrath — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 13:43:04 GMT

Thank you very much for your input. The Improve Course looks good, however I think it is more than I am looking for, in terms of both course content, and cost (£7,000)! I just want to improve with respiratory and GI endoscopy, not necessarily learn how to do laparoscopic surgery (well not right now anyway, our practice has no current plans to expand in that direction). I just want to be able use the equipment we already have better. We're currently about to invest in some digital dental radiography equipment, so I think that's all my boss's goodwill (and spare cash!) used up for a while in terms of new expensive equipment! I've emailed the ESAVS people for more information on their course, and of course, the ethical question is ever present (in the course description, they mention they use live dogs and piglets...) It appears to be 5 days of teaching for 2500 euro (£1850)... I wonder where the animals come from...

RE: Where to find good practical endoscopy CPD?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 08:45:05 GMT

Try Improve International. I did a modular endoscopy course with them, and it was excellent, although not cheap. It's a few years ago now.

Wynne

RE: Where to find good practical endoscopy CPD?

Andrew Kent — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 22:48:14 GMT

Hi Aisling,

I have been involved in a few of the courses in the UK and I think the answer is that it depends what you are hoping to get out of a course.

The truth is that none of the courses available are able to teach you everything you need because, ultimately, endoscopy is a lot about practice, feel and experience and that comes with doing lots and lots of cases.

As you have discovered, the main issue with the UK courses is that they involve a combination of lectures, models and cadavers - they are very good for people with minimal experience of endoscopy who want a theoretical overview of the uses and then a basic practical to give you some ideas to take away.

If you want something that gives you more realistic practice then you would have to look abroad to live endoscopy courses (assuming you feel ethically comfortable with them). I have heard some good things about the ESAVS course which has live components. There are similar things in the US but then you would have additional travel costs.

Improve also now offer a GP cert in endoscopy, I don't know much about the specifics of it but I suspect much of it is model based.

If you are able to organise it my view is that the best way to learn endoscopy is one-to-one with somebody who has experience and can guide you with real cases - so perhaps spending time with a local specialist or colleague who does a lot of endoscopy - it will teach you more about endoscopy than any course.

I hope that helps and that you manage to find something that fits your requirements.

Andy