CMR’s global surgical training programme accredited by RCS England 

CMR Surgical (CMR) – the global surgical robotics business – has today announced it has received the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) accreditation for its surgical training programme for the Versius® Surgical Robotic System. The accreditation has been awarded to CMR’s entire global professional education portfolio.

RCS England is a world leader of surgical education and provides quality assurance for any surgical training run both in the UK and globally. The accreditation process is a review of the entire surgical education provider, its facilities, resources, and educational portfolio, and is only awarded where there is a clear demonstration of excellence in each of these components.

CMR’s global metrics-based training programme has been developed in direct consultation with surgical teams. It focuses on surgeons and the wider surgical team achieving key competencies at each stage of the training pathway to ensure standardisation in surgical skills. The training pathway draws on cutting-edge technology including Versius Trainer and the Versius eLearning platform, as well as peer to peer education through preceptoring and ongoing guidance and support, ensuring smooth transition from training to the operating room. CMR’s training pathway now also includes Versius Virtual Reality and Versius Trainer in VR supporting the training pathway to be more accessible. Skill levels are assessed using data-driven metrics and benchmarking, captured through the training technology tools and standard observational data from supervisors and the CMR Technical Skills team. The data collected throughout the seven-step training pathway enables personalised feedback and will lead to shorter learning curves, reducing the time and costs for teams to become proficient. Access to this data can help to standardise surgeries, aiming to improve outcomes for patients.

Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of CMR Surgical, commented: “The Royal College of Surgeons of England is recognised globally as a world leader in surgical education, and represents the highest standards of good surgical practice. From the outset of Versius, CMR has approached clinical research and training in close collaboration with the surgical community. We know that surgeons want a data-led, personalised approach to training that increases the proficiency of surgeons and supports standardising surgical care for patients. We are immensely proud to have had our work recognised and to receive the accreditation from the RCS England.”

Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, commented: “As robotic surgery becomes more commonplace, it is imperative that the highest standards of training and implementation are adhered to, and good practice guidance is followed to ensure the best clinical outcomes for patients. With this in mind, we are delighted to award RCS England accreditation to CMR Surgical’s world-class training programme.

“Developed in close partnership with the surgical community, CMR’s robust metric-based training programme for the Versius system demonstrates a gold standard in surgical education. Its innovative delivery methods exemplify innovation in training delivery and efficiency in supporting surgeons globally.”

Miss Nuha Yassin, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Council Member and Lead for Future of Surgery, Robotics and Digital Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, commented: “The use of technology has transformed the way we care for our patients. Robotic-assisted and digital surgery have made technically challenging surgical procedures more feasible in a minimally invasive way. We have recently published an RCS England practice guide to the safe adoption and implementation of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS).

“As a surgeon who regularly operates and teaches others how to operate using the robotic platform, I have experienced the benefits that robotic-assisted minimal access surgery can bring to patients. As the use of robotic-assisted surgery becomes more widespread, it is important that equity of access to robotic platforms for surgeons, patients and hospitals are achieved. RCS England’s robotic practice guide combined with the accreditation programme give the surgical community the confidence that new technology is being introduced in a considered and safe manner. The College’s accreditation of CMR Surgical’s training programme provides this assurance and ensures that the great benefits of robotic-assisted surgery can continue to expand their reach, meaning more patients can reap the benefits of this technology.”

CMR Surgical delivers its surgical training in partnership with leading research institutions, and surgical education providers IRCAD and Orsi Academy. The news of RCS accreditation follows the recent introduction of CMR’s world-first VR simulator training, Versius Trainer in VR (VTVR). CMR’s VTVR gives surgeons the option of accessing simulator exercises using a VR headset and hand controllers, allowing surgeons to become familiar with the Versius interface, anywhere at any time.