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COVID-19 Update For FLS, FES, and FUSE Test Takers – Updated April 28

April 28, 2020 by SAGES Webmaster

SAGES has made the decision to extend FLS, FES, and FUSE Test Center closures through May 31st, 2020.

All exams scheduled during this time have been cancelled. Some test centers have already chosen to remain closed beyond May 31st. A list of those centers can be found at FLS/FES/FUSE Test Center Closings

Rescheduling

Test takers are able to log in to their test taker account at any time to reschedule their exam appointment. Many test centers will have availability starting June 1st depending on local guidelines.

Additional Testing Opportunities

We understand that once restrictions lift, demand for test appointments will be high. We are committed to providing access to the Fundamentals Exams to all prospective test takers and will be working with our test centers to increase their availability as well as scheduling several Special Onsite Testing Events (FLS) in areas where availability may be limited. Announcements regarding these events will be posted to the FLS website as they are scheduled. www.flsprogram.org

2020 ABS Applicants (FLS, FES)

For those test takers who still need FLS and/or FES certification for their American Board of Surgery (ABS) QE application, ABS will permit those affected by the cancellation of FLS and FES exams to apply for and take the QE without these certifications by the posted deadlines. For more information, please visit http://archive.mailengine1.com/csb/Public/show/fav9-1u74dh–p2vei-98bijss3  or email gsqe@absurgery.org.

2021 ABOG Applicants (FLS)

The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) candidates have until mid-December 2020 to complete FLS certification if they are completing their residency in the 2020-21 academic year and plan to begin the certification process and apply for the 2021 ABOG Specialty Qualifying Examination (QE). Application for certification for the Specialty QE is not tied to FLS status. Candidates can complete the application for the 2021 QE prior to completion of FLS certification.  The 2021 QE application should be available in September 2020. Residents are encouraged to apply as soon as the QE application becomes available. Residents should contact ABOG Exams at exams@abog.org with concerns about completing the FLS program by December 2020.

Voucher Expiration Dates

Test takers in possession of vouchers that are set to expire over the next several months can fill out the form(s) below to request a voucher extension allowing for the voucher to be used through December 31, 2020. All voucher extension requests submitted during this time will be granted.

FLS Voucher Extension Request Form

FES Voucher Extension Request Form

FUSE Voucher Extension Request Form

Fundamentals Division
FLS, FES, and FUSE Programs
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Phone: (310) 437-0544
Fax: (310) 424-3398
11300 W Olympic Blvd, Ste 600
Los Angeles, CA  90064

SAGES is committed to the protection and care of patients, their surgeons and staff, and all who are served by the medical community at large. For more information on the COVID-19 pandemic from the SAGES organization, please visit: https://www.sages.org/category/covid-19/

Filed Under: Blog, COVID-19 Tagged With: fes, FLS, Fundamentals, fuse, testing

The Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy – FUSE

February 13, 2017 by SAGES Webmaster

By Dr. Daniel B. Jones, President-Elect, SAGES

The Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy(TM) initiative was conceived and initiated in 2010 by then SAGES president-elect Steven Schwaitzberg. He recognized that surgeons have a very rudimentary understanding of the physics behind the surgical energy devices they use every day in the operating room. As such, they were, and still are,  placing their patients at risk.  Every year there are approximately 400 OR fires and 40,000 thermal injuries, with many more that were likely go unreported.  We coined the project “FUSE.”

The Task Force, initially led by Daniel Jones, Liane Feldman, and Pascal Fuchshuber, recruited experts in surgical  energy and the associated risks across many disciplines:  anesthesia, gynecology, urology, bariatrics, colorectal surgery, general surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, flexible endoscopy and very importantly – nursing .  The mantra became “energy injuries are team failures.” One of the initial challenges was that there was no textbook to turn to.  So the Task Force authored the “SAGES Manual on the Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE)” by Springer, 2013. This paperback has become the “go- to” reference in our field.

Predictably,  many surgeons were skeptical that FUSE was needed in the surgical community.  They cited that the FUSE program was costly and unnecessary.  It was common to hear, “Surgeons operate every day – of course we are experts,” or “We don’t need another burdensome course.”  So the first thing the Task Force did was identify 20 concepts that all surgeons would need to know to be safe in relation  to energy devices.  This mini-exam was administered to the SAGES Board of Governors.  Nearly 70% failed and did not know basic concepts. [i]   It was no longer OK to ignore the learning gap.

SAGES utilized a professional psychometrician to assist us in creating a blue print for the educational program. Through a rigorous process, we identified critical learning points, which then guided the curriculum.  We envisioned two educational products; the first was an on-line curriculum that would be free to all nurses, anesthesiologists and surgeons to learn about the safe use of energy. The second was a high stakes examination.

Today, learners can log on to FUSEdidactic.org and be taught the principles of energy and safe use of related devices. Punching through a series of slides however, while informative, may not lead to an in-depth understanding of the FUSE principles.  Again, using experts in test-writing and validation, we developed an exam that was relevant and distinguished between those who learned the material and others who had not studied.  All test questions were validated by a cohort of 500 surgeons.  FUSE is catching on.  The last issue of SCOPE highlighted that the country of France leased the FUSE didactic, translated it into French, and is now mandating it for surgeons and nurses, and  Germany is considering moving ahead with a similar model.  The United States military is also considering mandating FUSE for all military surgeons.  An increasing number of hospital credentialing boards are discussing requiring surgeons to review specific modules  to retain operating privileges. Similarly, Kaiser Permanente in Southern California is looking to develop an abbreviated FUSE course for their surgeons and nurses.

We have a learning gap;  FUSE can prevent patient harm with a formal educational curriculum that teaches safety.  Hospitals, residency programs, practicing surgeons all know it’s important and should be done.  Three years ago, Past President Michael Brunt called for all SAGES  Board members to become FUSE certified.  Current President Danny Scott emphasized that all Committee Chairs and Co-chairs should also become FUSE certified.  As President-elect, I hope that all 6000 SAGES members will log on and learn about the FUSE Program and consider learning more about the safe use of energy in their operating room.

Selected readings:

All  FUSE articles listed at https://www.fuseprogram.org/about/fuse-elsewhere/

[i] Feldman LS, Fuchshuber P, Jones DB, Mischna J, Schwaitzberg SD; FUSE (Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy™) Task Force. Surgeons don’t know what they don’t know about the safe use of energy in surgery.

Surg Endosc. 2012 Oct;26(10):2735-9.

Click https://www.sages.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SCOPE-2017-winter.pdf to return to SCOPE Winter 2017.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Blog, fuse

SAGES Fundamentals Testing Information for ACS 2015

October 2, 2015 by SAGES Webmaster

SAGES and ACS will be conducting FLS Testing at the ACS 2015 Clinical Congress. More information is available at:

FLS Testing Information

SAGES will also be conducting FES and FUSE testing during ACS. For more information, please visit:

FES Testing Information

https://www.fuseprogram.org/testing-information/acs-meeting-2015/

See you there!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: ACS, fes, FLS, Fundamentals, fuse

FES, FLS And FUSE Test Appointments Are Now Available For SAGES 2015!

February 18, 2015 by SAGES Webmaster

Testing will take place in the SAGES Annual Meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center at the following times:

Wednesday, April 15  8am – 5pm
Thursday, April 16 8am – 5pm
Friday, April 17 8am – 12pm

For more information or to purchase your test voucher and schedule your appointment please click on the relevant link below:

FES –  https://www.fesprogram.org/testing-information/sages-annual-meeting-2015-2/
FLS –  https://www.flsprogram.org/testing-information/sages-annual-meeting-2015-2/
FUSE –  https://www.fuseprogram.org/testing-information/sages-annual-meeting-2015/

Read about how the FUSE Program is making surgery safer in the Wall Street Journal

For the first time ever, you can now take the FUSE exam at Surgical Education Week.  The FUSE exam will be given at The Westin Seattle on Saturday, April 25 from 8am – 6pm.  For more information please click here: https://www.fuseprogram.org/testing-information/surgical-education-week/

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: education, fes, FLS, Fundamentals, fuse, testing

SAGES Fundamentals – Surgical Training Worldwide

February 17, 2015 by SAGES Webmaster

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: fes, FLS, fuse

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