FLS News

The Canadian Association of General Surgeons has endorsed the FLS program!

We’re very pleased to announce the Canadian Association of General Surgeons supports and endorses the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Program for both surgeons and surgeons in training.  See below for their full statement in the Winter 2012 CAGS newsletter:

CAGS Endorsement Statement of the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Program

“The Canadian Association of General Surgeons supports and endorses the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Program, which is a comprehensive web-based education module that includes a hands-on skills training component and assessment tool designed to teach the physiology, fundamental knowledge, and technical skills required in basic laparoscopic surgery.

General Surgeons interested in performing laparoscopic surgery are encouraged to pursue FLS training and testing.  Qualified General Surgery Residents in Canada have access to the FLS Program and testing via their respective General Surgery Program at a substantially reduced cost.  General Surgeons already in practice can enroll in the web-based program and gain access to FLS testing through a regional testing centre.

For more information on the FLS Program, visit http://www.flsprogram.org, or call 310-437-0544, ext. 137

Are you a practicing General Surgeon in Canada interested in taking the FLS Program?  If so, send an email to CAGS@cags-accg.ca

Coming Soon – FLS Public Registry

FLS is publishing a registry listing those who have successfully completed the FLS exam.   Each person passing the FLS exam has the choice to be listed on the Registry or to remain unlisted.  The FLS Registry will list the test taker’s name, year of FLS completion, and, National Provider Identification number if available.  The FLS Registry will not list FLS exam scores, if one ore more attempts were needed to successfully complete the exam, any test takers who have purchased the FLS program but have not yet taken the exam, or the names of anyone who has taken the exam but not yet achieved a passing score.

If you want to learn more about the NPI, visit https://www.cms.gov/nationalprovidentstand/01_overview.asp .  If you want to locate your NPI or apply for a NPI, visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/nppes/npiregistryhome.do .   If you do not have an NPI, the FLS Registry will still list your name as having completed the FLS exam if you wish, and show “NPI not applicable”.

If you have questions about the FLS Registry or if you want your name to be listed, please contact Christina Rivers at 310-437-0544, ext. 137, or email fls@sages.org.

CME Information

CME -
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  FLS 2.0 is accredited for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM, which are also designated as self-assessment CME credit, applicable to Part 2 of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements.  CME credit will be awarded to those who successfully complete the FLS exam beginning September 1, 2011.  Click on the CME tab once you are logged into your didactic materials account at http://www.fls-online.org for details.

Need more information?  Call 310-437-0544, ext. 139.

Covidien Grant Extended Through 2013

Through a generous multi-year gift, Covidien is helping prepare laparoscopic surgeons by enabling qualified general surgery residency training programs to access the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Program. Graduating surgical residents in ACGME-accredited surgical residency programs within the U.S. and Canada can prepare for the FLS Exam and ultimately become FLS certified through educational support from this fund. The original grant period was 2008-2010, and a three-year extension is now in place.

Click here to view the Covidien Education Fund FAQs

Upcoming FLS Testing

FLS testing available at upcoming SAGES Meeting and ACS Clinical Congress

In addition to year-round testing at our regional test centers, the FLS exam will be available by appointment at the  SAGES Meeting, March 7 -  March 10, 2012 in San Diego, CA., as well as the ACS Clinical Congress  Meeting, September 30 – October 4, 2012 in Chicago, IL.

Before taking the exam, prepare yourself by reviewing the FLS didactic content, practicing the FLS manual skills, and possessing an FLS test voucher.  To purchase the didactics/voucher, return this order form to the FLS program office with payment.

FLS receives $1.8 million from Covidien!

FLS receives $1.8 million from Covidien to support surgical residency and fellowship training

The FLS program has received a $1.8 million grant from Covidien, a leading manufacturer of medical devices and supplies, to launch The Covidien Educational Fund.  Covidien will be supporting surgical residency and fellowship training by providing an opportunity for surgeons-in-training to utilize the FLS program to study and to certify their basic skills in laparoscopy before going into clinical practice.  The Covidien Educational Fund will allow the FLS program to be provided to over 250 surgical residency programs in the United States and Canada, reaching thousands of surgeons-in-training.

FLS Program in Peru

FLS was presented in Piura, Peru as part of the SAGES Go Global Initiative in March 2008.   The four-day course focused on basic laparoscopic techniques, management, and complications including the FLS training, plus an introduction to flexible endoscopy.  Thirty local surgeons sat in on didactic sessions, observed in the OR, and practiced technical skills using the FLS Trainer Box.  While in Peru, the SAGES Global Affairs faculty and staff also visited five area hospitals and delivered donated equipment and supplies