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Are women good surgeons? Outstanding! Can they handle robots? Of course! On a daily basis, however, they have to deal with stereotypes that have nothing to do with reality and overcome barriers unknown to their colleagues. Women in surgery are our great social capital that can influence the availability and quality of healthcare in our country.
Press material
Increasing women’s access to education and the development of professional skills in surgical specializations with the use of advanced technologies is the main goal of joining the forces of the Women in Surgery Foundation and NEO Hospital. Thanks to their cooperation, on February 18-20, 2022, a pilot edition of the course on the basics of robotic surgery using the da Vinci robot will be held at the Hospital in Klinach in Krakow. The pioneering undertaking is supported by the Polish Federation of Hospitals and the Business Center Club.
There is an acutely shortage of surgeons in Poland, which means that many procedures, even urgent ones, have to be waited for months, if not years. At the same time, the quality of these treatments could be much higher if the latest technologies, including robotic surgery, were more commonly used. By investing in women in surgery, we can at least partially solve the first problem. By investing in women in robotic surgery, we can fundamentally improve the quality and effectiveness of treatments. This is evidenced by the increasing number of studies conducted in developed countries.
Women are the pillar of health protection. Also surgery!
We mobilize women to engage in changes that are necessary for Polish healthcare. The programs we have launched give an opportunity for an equal start and development in surgical specializations, allow gaining useful skills, while providing comprehensive support and substantive, legal and psychological care for doctors, nurses and midwives working in surgical specializations – explains Małgorzata Nowosad, president of the Women Foundation in Surgery.
She really wants surgery in Poland to be conducted by well-coordinated and motivated teams, and the work of each of the people who make it up is equally appreciated and respected. For now, there is much to be done in this field. Last year’s report from the European Commission says that across the EU, women make up more than three-quarters of healthcare workers, and it is they who bear the burden of fighting the pandemic and other diseases. These data coincide with a few years earlier WHO report, according to which women provide 70 percent of the world’s population. broadly understood health protection. Meanwhile, they manage this sector only in 25 percent. and they are definitely less well paid: wage inequalities here reach 26%. – this is more than the average in other areas. There are also more development barriers here. There are several reasons for this, and one of the fundamental are the many years of misconceptions about who can be who in medicine.
Harmful and untrue stereotypes are especially strong in surgical specialties. The image of a male surgeon has been preserved in the social imagination. Yes, the percentage of women who perform the procedures is growing, but the professional development of women is often blocked or limited due to these stereotypes, such as physical strength, motherhood or biology – says Magdalena Wyrzykowska from the Women in Surgery Foundation.
She also reminds that women in surgery are not only those who work as surgeons, but also operating nurses, who are often silent protagonists of the operating room. They certainly deserve to be displayed and to speak out loud about their work and merits. Without them, there would be no surgery, because no surgery is individual work: success depends on the commitment and skill of the entire team.
One of the Foundation’s first undertakings was the “We Count” research. As part of it, it was possible to collect reliable information on working conditions, the level of job satisfaction, expectations and challenges faced by women in surgery on a daily basis. Nearly 500 women participated in the study, including doctors working in surgery specialties, nurses and midwives working in the operating theater. Among the expected forms of support from the Foundation, they most often indicated: vocational education (68%), legal support (48%), training in soft skills (46%) and promoting the idea of work-life balance (46%). Women also postulated the need to counteract discrimination and violence in the workplace (45%), mentoring (43%) and material support (43%).
Education and skills development in cooperation with NEO Hospital
As the participants of the research focused on the support of vocational education at the peak of their needs, the Foundation decided to implement a joint project with NEO Hospital, a hospital established in Krakow by women. As part of the course of performing procedures using the da Vinci surgical support system, participants will learn the principles of the robot’s work, its instruments and camera navigation. They will practice on trainers and will have virtual training on the latest generation simulator.
In health care, we need balance, cooperation and change, thanks to which the talent and ambitions of all people will be fully utilized. At the same time, we should note the great opportunities offered to us by the development of new technologies, including surgical robotics supporting the work of medical staff, believes Joanna Szyman, president of the Neo Hospital Group, which includes the Krakow Hospital in Klinach.
She is very proud of the project that she managed to prepare together with the Women in Surgery Foundation. It provides equal opportunities in access to modern technologies, and at the same time promotes a work culture based on values such as respect, trust and competence development.
The course manager is prof. Tomasz Rogula, an excellent surgeon, experienced in procedures using the da Vinci system, clinical director of NEO Hospital.
Demand for minimally invasive robotic operations is growing in both developed and developing countries. More and more people around the world suffer from chronic diseases, such as obesity, which contributes to the increase in the number of elective surgeries. Many patients choose very precise procedures with the use of robots in order to minimize the risk of postoperative complications, shorten the convalescence period and return to life and work as soon as possible. In the face of this dynamic development, it is impossible to ask the question: how to support building the skills of people working with the use of technology? – explains professor Tomasz Rogula.
About robotic surgery
Despite its short history in surgery, robotic surgical technology has already proven its numerous benefits, including visualization, excellent dexterity and precision in minimally invasive procedures. The da Vinci system by Intuitive Surgical is currently the most widely used robotic system in the world used in surgery. This technology has been developed for over 20 years, we already have 4 generations of these platforms, over 6 installations of da Vinci robots worldwide in 700 countries, 67 operations performed, 10 scientific publications, including 000 only in 000. However, the evolution Robotic surgery is far from over, and many potential competitors are currently preparing their solutions for market launch. We already have 29 authorized da Vinci systems in Poland, the first installations of the Versius (CMR Surgical) system have already appeared, there are also ExcelsiusGPS systems by Globus Medical (for spine treatments), Navio and Cori Smith & Nephew systems and the CorPath GRX system, under development by Siemens for cardiological procedures.
Estimates based on the results of a study conducted specifically for the purposes of the PMR and Upper Finance Group report show that in a country the size of Poland, there should be about 50 robots by the end of 2025, with the help of which nearly 15 jobs will be performed. treatments per year. At the end of 2021, it may be approx. 2,5 thousand. procedures.