About PLSC

Defining performance standards for the next generation of surgeons

Procedural Learning and Safety Collaborative (PLSC) is a non-profit research consortium focused on investigating and developing tools, curriculum, and policy to improve the training of surgical and other procedural physicians.  The collaborative was founded by experts in surgical trainee performance assessment with the initial support of Massachusetts General Hospital, Northwestern University, and Indiana University.  Since initiating the SIMPL trial in July 2015, the consortium has grown substantially and currently includes 40 training programs at 33 institutions across the United States. We are funded by our institutional members and grants.  Our passion is to investigate and combine innovative curricula, best-practice evaluation methodology, and state-of-the-art technology to improve the training of residents in Surgery and other procedural specialties.

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Recent Publications

Readiness of US General Surgery Residents for Independent Practice.

George BC, Bohnen JD, Williams RG, Meyerson SL, Schuller MC, Clark MJ, Meier AH, Torbeck L, Mandell SP, Mullen JT, Smink DS, Scully RE, Chipman JG, Auyang ED, Terhune KP, Wise PE, Choi JN, Foley EF, Dimick JB, Choti MA, Soper NJ, Lillemoe KD, Zwischenberger JB, Dunnington GL, DaRosa DA, Fryer JP on behalf of the Procedural Learning and Safety Collaborative (PLSC). Annals of Surgery. 2017;266(4):582–594.

Practice Guidelines for Operative Performance Assessments

Williams RG, Kim MJ, Dunnington GL. Ann Surg. 2016;264(6):934-48.

The Feasibility of Real-Time Intraoperative Performance Assessment With SIMPL (System for Improving and Measuring Procedural Learning): Early Experience From a Multi-institutional Trial

Bohnen JD, George BC, Williams RG, Schuller MC, DaRosa DA, Torbeck L, Mullen JT, Meyerson SL, Auyang ED, Chipman JG, Choi JN, Choti MA, Endean ED, Foley EF, Mandell SP, Meier AH, Smink DS, Terhune KP, Wise PE, Soper NJ, Zwischenberger JB, Lillemoe KD, Dunnington GL, Fryer JP. J Surg Educ. 2016;73(6):e118-e130.

Using the ACGME Milestones for Resident Self-Evaluation and Faculty Engagement

Meier AH, Gruessner A, Cooney RN. J Surg Educ. 2016;73(6):e150-e157.

Reliability, validity, and feasibility of the Zwisch scale for the assessment of intraoperative performance.

George BC, Teitelbaum EN, Meyerson SL, Schuller MC, DaRosa DA, Petrusa ER, Petito LC, Fryer JP.  J Surg Educ. 2014 Nov-Dec;71(6):90-96.

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