The spine surgeons, both of Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, outline five key areas to achieve peak performance during surgical training:
1. Translating practices from peak performers in other fields
- Refine physical skills by improving mental engagement during a task.
- Create a program for deliberate practice where you can undergo critical assessments to allow for graduated improvement.
- Grow self-awareness through mindfulness activities to promote “flow” states.
2. Goal setting and accountability
- Align goals with values, create a plan and visualize goals.
- Identify an accountability system.
- Anticipate obstacles and possible solutions.
- Ensure work-life balance.
- Reward goal accomplishment.
3. Developing technical skills
- Seek opportunities outside the OR for skill acquisition.
- Encourage the program director to consider new technologies, such as bioskills simulations and virtual reality training.
- Identify activities that can improve areas requiring additional practice.
4. Perseverance and grit
- Believe in constant change and grow.
- Understand that frustrations are part of the process.
- Focus on productivity.
- Look for ways to make work more meaningful.
- Practice deliberately.
5. Mentorship
- Monitor, track and measure results of the mentorship relationship.
- Define the strategic purpose of the mentorship.
- Identify a strong match based on the skills of the mentor and the needs of the mentee.
The full article, “Reaching for Peak Performance During Surgical Training: The Value in Assessment Tools and Critical Performance Measures,” appears in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
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