Overview

With the reduction in resident work hours and continually increasing caseload, acquiring the necessary skills for surgical training and still maintaining patient safety and operating room efficiency is an ongoing challenge in surgical education.  The skills lab provides a forum where surgical technique and decision-making can be taught in a low stress environment to all resident levels using models and simulators.

Mission Statement
The mission of the surgical skills laboratory at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is to provide resident trainees with both technical training in basic operative procedures and cognitive training in simulated critical care encounters as a means to improve patient safety, operating room efficiency, and the overall educational experience.

Intern

Suture and Needle Orientation
Asepsis, Instrument Orientation
Knot Tying
Basic Skin Closure
Surgical Energy
Central Line and Arterial Line Placement
Basic Ultrasound
Chest tube and Thoracentesis
Basic Laparoscopic Skills
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Chronic Wound Management and VAC Placement
Surgical Biopsy
Vascular Anastomosis
FAST exam
Simulation Scenarios
Robotic Surgery Training
Airway and Intubation
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery

R2

Resuscitative Thoracotomy
Advanced Laparoscopic Skills
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Hand-sewn Bowel Anastomosis
Stapled Bowel Anastomosis
Vascular Anastomosis
Simulation Scenarios
Live Porcine Lab – Trauma Management
Robotic Surgery Training
FAST exam
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery

R3

Resuscitative Thoracotomy
Hand-sewn Bowel Anastomosis
Stapled Bowel Anastomosis
Vascular Anastomosis
Simulation Scenarios
Live Porcine Lab – Trauma Management
Robotic Surgery Training
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery

Research Year

Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery
Simulation Scenarios
Cadaver Lab – Advanced Operative Exposures and Hernia
Live Porcine Lab – Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Procedures
Robotic Surgery Training
Mock Oral Board Practice Sessions
Vascular Simulators – AAA, Carotid, Fem-Distal
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery
Residents as Teachers

R4/R5

Simulation Scenarios
Cadaver Lab – Advanced Operative Exposures and Hernia
Live Porcine Lab – Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Procedures
Robotic Surgery Training
Vascular Simulators – AAA, Carotid, Fem-Distal
Mock Oral Board Practice Sessions
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery
Residents as Teachers

R5/R6

Simulation Scenarios
Cadaver Lab – Advanced Operative Exposures and Hernia
Live Porcine Lab – Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Procedures
Robotic Surgery Training
Vascular Anastomosis
Mock Oral Board Practice Sessions
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery