What we do

The SIMPL Feedback Pilot is a nationwide effort to ensure the readiness of the next generation of surgeons. Using a collaborative quality improvement (CQI) approach, this pilot builds on the substantial work of the Society for Improving Medical Professional Learning (SIMPL, formerly the PLSC) who represent thousands of trainees across multiple surgical specialties. Since 2015, SIMPL members have worked to improve procedural assessment, and through the Pilot, members of SIMPL are using the robust infrastructure of SIMPL to ensure that every surgeon is practice-ready upon graduation.

Our goal

Our goal is to have 100% trainees meet a practice-ready standard for a specific set of specialty-identified procedures.

• We define a practice-ready standard as follows:

  • For junior trainees, an 80% probability of earning a practice-ready rating on the next SIMPL evaluation for a specific procedure.

  • For senior trainees, a 85-90% probability of earning a practice-ready rating on the next SIMPL evaluation for a specific procedure.

Our theory

In order for 100% of trainees to meet our goal, members of the pilot's Steering Committee co-constructed a an improvement theory based on a root-cause analysis of a core problem: Graduating surgeons may not be—and do not perceive themselves to be—ready for independent practice. To address this core problem, members of the pilot identified the importance of (1) trainee and faculty engagement with SIMPL OR, (2) clearly defined teaching and learning strategies, and (3) collaboration across programs.

Our work

The pilot is comprised of four committees charged with (1) setting the aim and refining the pilot's measurement system, (2) increasing faculty's and trainee's engagement with SIMPL OR, (3) developing explicit strategies that faculty and trainees can enact to improve operative performance, and (4) coordinating the development and testing of change ideas across the pilot.