About the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery
The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) brings the newest advanced laparoscopic techniques to Boston. The Center provides surgeons and physicians with innovative clinical expertise and training in New England's most comprehensive educational and research facility for advanced laparoscopic surgery.
The Center extends minimally invasive techniques perfected at BIDMC for cardiac, bariatric and endovascular procedures to specialties such as gynecology, urology, orthopedics and gastrointestinal surgery. Patients benefit from a powerhouse of clinical expertise in advanced laparoscopic procedures with easy access to a growing number of minimally invasive surgical alternatives.
In the Center's Technical Skills and Simulation Lab, surgeons, third- and fourth-year medical students and residents from Beth Israel Deaconess and Boston's other teaching hospitals gain proficiency in basic and advanced laparoscopic procedures. Featuring a number of different and sophisticated simulators—like those used in flight aviation—the lab offers benchmark training and research opportunities to prepare the next generation of laparoscopic surgeons.
As New England's premier program for advanced laparoscopic surgery, the Center offers:
- education and formal skills-building curriculum for physicians interested in learning advanced laparoscopic techniques
- evaluation of new technologies and applications to improve patient care
- multispecialty clinical collaboration enabling faculty members from various disciplines to work together to develop and test new tools and techniques
To complement surgeons' training, BIDMC has designed a multimedia, digital video-library, which is the world's largest repertory of filmed operations accessible at a single academic institution. Students and residents can view actual footage of laparoscopic and general surgeries on-demand, and then reproduce the surgery on video trainers. Practicing surgeons can review "experts" for tips.
In support of the Center, BIDMC is opening three state-of-the-art minimally invasive operating rooms called endosuites. Equipped with flat screen technology and ceiling booms, these voice-activated suites feature special cameras, scopes, lighting and digitally-enhanced equipment. Most notably, the rooms are wired for interconnectivity. Operative images are connected to a teleconferencing center in the technical skills and simulation lab so students can easily view the surgical procedure. Surgeons in the OR will be able to speak with students, residents and other physicians interested in the procedure. Eventually the teleconferencing technology will enable BIDMC to telecast real-time operative images, with patient consent, to local educational conferences, and increase the availability of advanced laparoscopic surgery to community hospitals throughout greater Boston.
