Tackling the training deficit due to COVID-19 disruptions

Aim: Surgical training has been severely affected by stop, start and stop of elective surgicalactivity during theCOVID pandemic. The aimofthis study was to analyze The effectiveness of strategies put in place to tackle them. Methodology: We looked at The four UK Statutory Education Bodies (SEBs) published guidance and trainee led resources to see what measures were put in place to mitigate The severe disruptions in surgical training due to COVID-19 pandemic. Result(s): Across The world, training programmes have been affected and craft specialities have fared The worst. Lesser operative experience and redeployment to non-surgical critical areas being The top 2 causes. A Post Graduate Medical Education (PGME) Recovery Programme was established in April 2021 to reset, recover and reform PGME with one to one trainee recovery discussions. Simulations and virtual CME sessions are being put in place to help mitigate The deficiencies in The current training programmes. These measure may be suitable for Medical specialities, but Surgical specialities need hands on training on human cadavers in lieu to catch up and prevent extension of period of training. Conclusion(s): The COVID 19 pandemic has not only affected The physical and mental well-being of trainees but has also restricted training opportunities, professional development and severely dented trainee confidence. The plans put in place are not good enough for surgical trainees who need hands on experience. Increased didactic teaching around cadaveric training programs is The quickest way of overcoming this deficit. References: 1. https://www.hee.nhs.uk/COVID-19/training-recovery-support;2. https://www.hee.nhs.uk/COVID-19/COVID-19-training-recovery-programme.

Accurate fever screening system with visible camera and thermography

Since the outbreak of SARS (2003) / new influenza (2009) / MARS (2013) and so on, thermography-based Fever Screening has been adopted in quarantine of airports and ports as a measure to prevent from the spread of infection. However, the fever judgement has been achieved with the experienced quarantine officer. Due to recent spread of COVID 19, installation of thermography is expanding not only to quarantine at airports and ports, but also to hospitals, schools, retail stores, various facilities, and sports/event venues. Automated fever screening system with high accuracy are needed. Generally, a thermometer that measures axillary or sublingual temperature is used for body temperature measurement accurately, but this method takes time and contacts the subject to measure. So it is not suitable for the screening. On the other hand, thermography, which can measure the temperature of several persons in real time in a non-contact manner, satisfies screening requirements, but the body surface temperature of the exposed part such as the face that can be measured, is strongly affected by the environmental temperature and fluctuates. Therefore, it has a problem that it is difficult to determine the presence or absence of fever by setting a constant threshold value only. In order to realize the automation of screening with high accuracy and efficiency and make it easy for general users to understand, we will increase the measurement accuracy of the body surface temperature of thermography, identify the face and each landmark position from the image, and measure the temperature (body surface) of that part. The effects of the environment and individual difference are corrected from the temperature of multiple specific parts, and the high-precise body temperature estimation is carried out, and the algorithm is further improved. © 2021 SPIE