Over time, a gap in the quality of endoscopy skills, across this country and others, has been identified through varied sources and a solution deemed critical to be realized. With the CAG's increased focus on quality markers for all performed procedures, the Skills Enhancement for Endoscopy™ (SEE™) Program is one initiative that will certainly help to accomplish that very goal. In September 2012, a working group met to determine the scope of the gap, the key components that the SEE™ Program would house and the framework of how to develop this program nationally to ensure that standards were uniform, could be monitored and that training would be available to those in need. It was determined that the SEE™ Program would encompass two (2) types of accredited programs, each to run independently.
The first course offered is Colonoscopy Skills Improvement (CSI)* which is designed for all practising endoscopists. The CSI Course provides up-skilling and improvement of colonoscopy skills. This course consists of one (1) day live endoscopy sessions, with two (2) SEE™ Certified Faculty teaching up to three (3) delegates. This course is of particular interest to the provincial colon cancer screening programs (endorsed by the British Columbia, Ontario, and Newfoundland programs) which are underway in Canada.
The second course offered is Train-the-Endoscopy-Trainer (TET)*, which is led by SEE™ Certified Faculty. This course is designed for teachers of endoscopy, with specific aims to improve teaching skills and procedural conscious competence needed to teach endoscopy. The TET courses will run 1.5 days with two (2) SEE™ Certified Faculty teaching up to six (6) delegates. It is recommended that the CSI Course is taken prior to the TET Course.
The CSI and TET courses are offered at 15 SEE™ Certified training centres located across Canada. These courses are offered to CAG Regular Members for a fee of $1,250.00 + tax per course. For Canadian non-CAG members, the course registration fee is $2,800.00 + tax.
The third course offered is Endoscopic Polypectomy Improvement Course (EPIC)*. This one day course consists of a half-day didactic lecture (Approach to Polypectomy: Diagnosis of polyps; Polypectomy techniques; Case-based discussion) and a half-day practical hands-on session using an ex-vivo porcine model. The course will be facilitated by five (5) SEE™ Certified Faculty teaching up to three (3) delegates per station (total of 15 delegates per course).
EPIC is currently offered at two (2) simulation centres; McGill Steinberg Centre for Simulation Interactive Learning and The University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre. The course fee is $1,250.00 + tax for CAG members ($2,800.00 + tax for non-members).
Course registration fees are subject to change without notice.
