Leaning in and moving forward: a call to action and review of diversity initiatives in SAGES.

BACKGROUND: Diversity, equity, and inclusion have been an intentional focus for SAGES well before the COVID-19 pandemic and the coincident societal recognition of social injustices and racism. Longstanding inequities within our society, healthcare, and the surgery profession have come to light in the aftermath of events that rose to attention around the time of Covid. In so doing, they have brought into focus disparities, injustices, and inequalities that have long been present in the field of surgery, selectively affecting the most vulnerable. METHODS: This White paper examines the current state of diversity within the field of surgery and SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons) approach and effort to pave the way forward to meaningful change. We delineate the imperative for diversity, equity, and inclusion for all. By all, we mean to be inclusive of the diversity of gender and sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, geography, sex, and disability in the field of surgery. RESULTS: SAGES is an organization that lives at the intersection of education and innovation. It has a vital role in assisting the surgical profession in addressing these issues and needs and being a force alongside others for sustained and necessary change. SAGES can only realize these goals through a commitment across all aspects of the organization to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into our very fabric. CONCLUSION: True diversity, equity, and inclusion within a surgical organization is vital for its longevity, growth, relevance, and impact. Unfortunately, the absence of DEI limits opportunity, robs the organization of collective intelligence in an environment in which its presence is critical, contributes to health inequities, and impoverishes all within the society and its value to all with whom it interfaces. SAGES is an organization that lives at the intersection of education and innovation. It has a vital role in assisting the surgical profession in addressing these issues and needs and being a force alongside others for sustained and necessary change. SAGES can only realize these goals through a commitment across all aspects of the organization to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into our very fabric. Strategies like those highlighted in this White Paper, may be within our grasp and we can learn yet more if we remain in a place of humility and teachability in the future.

Evaluation of a virtual interprofessional oral-systemic health simulation experience in nursing, dentistry, medicine, and pharmacy education.

PURPOSE: The annual teaching oral-systemic health (TOSH) virtual clinical simulation and case study activity exposes interprofessional teams of nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery, dental, medical, and pharmacy students to a virtual clinical simulation experience that uses oral-systemic health as a clinical exemplar for promoting interprofessional core competencies. The present study examines changes in participating students' self-reported interprofessional competencies following participation in virtual TOSH from 2020 to 2022. These findings are also compared to those from in-person TOSH (2019) to examine the equivalence of student outcomes of both the in-person and virtual programs. METHODS: A pre- and post-test evaluation design was used to examine the effectiveness of exposure to the TOSH program on self-reported attainment of interprofessional competencies for participating students using the interprofessional collaborative competency attainment scale. RESULTS: Analysis of pre- and post-surveys demonstrated statistically significant improvement in students' self-rated interprofessional experience competencies following the virtual TOSH program, which aligns with results from the in-person cohorts. Similar findings between the in-person and virtual cohorts indicated no statistically significant difference between the two formats. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the success of TOSH in promoting attainment of interprofessional competencies among future health professionals. We encourage administrators and faculty who lead health professional programs to take advantage of using virtual simulations as an integral component of interprofessional oral health clinical experiences where students from different health professions learn from and about each other in assessing and treating patients across the lifespan.

The impact of bowel dysfunction on health-related quality of life after rectal cancer surgery: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of bowel dysfunction after sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery have an important impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but that relationship is complex. A better understanding of this relationship allows for better informed shared decision-making about surgery. Our objective was to perform a systematic review to determine which HRQOL domains are most affected by postoperative bowel dysfunction. METHODS: A systematic review of the CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We included studies that evaluated bowel function after sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery and assessed HRQOL using a validated instrument. The quality of HRQOL analysis was assessed using an 11-item checklist. The main outcome was the impact bowel dysfunction had on global and domain specific quality-of-life indices. The impact was evaluated for clinical relevance using the Minimum Clinical Important Difference (MCID) for each specific HRQOL instrument. RESULTS: Out of 952 unique citations, 103 studies were full-text reviews. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria (4 prospective cohorts and 9 cross-sectional studies). Of the 15 studies with long-term follow-up, the time to assessment after surgery ranged from 1.2 to 14.6 years. The low anterior resection syndrome score and European Organization for Research and Treatment core quality-of-life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) were the most commonly used instruments. Medium and large magnitudes in MCID were seen for global health, social functioning, emotional functioning, fatigue, diarrhea, and financial difficulties. Among included studies, the most consistently reported functional domains affected by bowel function were social functioning and emotional functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Following sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery, poor bowel function mainly affects the social and emotional functional domains of HRQOL, which in turn impact global scores. This finding can help inform patients about expected changes in HRQOL after rectal cancer surgery and facilitate individualized treatment decisions.

Trajectory of change of low anterior resection syndrome over time after restorative proctectomy for rectal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Restorative proctectomy for rectal cancer is associated with a high incidence of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), but few studies report longitudinal results for bowel function. The aim of our study was to examine the trajectory of change of LARS over the first 18 months after restorative proctectomy for rectal cancer. METHODS: A prospective database measuring functional outcomes in rectal cancer patients from a single university-affiliated specialist colorectal referral center from 10/2018 to 03/2020 was queried. Patients were included in this study if they underwent restorative proctectomy for rectal cancer and had at least three assessments in the first 18 months after primary surgery or after closure of proximal diversion. Bowel function was assessed using the LARS score, administered at every surveillance follow-up after restoration of bowel continuity. Latent-class growth curve (trajectory) analysis was used to identify different trajectories of LARS changes over the first 18 months and group patients into these trajectory groups. These groups were then compared to identify predictors for each trajectory. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients were included (63 males, mean age. 61.3 ± 12.5 years). Trajectory analysis identified three distinct trajectory groups. Group 1 had stable minimal LARS over time (26%). Group 2 had early LARS scores consistent with the minor LARS category and improved with time (28%). Group 3 had persistently high LARS scores (45%). Neoadjuvant therapy, intersphincteric resection, and proximal diversion were more common in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: We identified three main trajectories of change of LARS in the 18 months after restorative proctectomy. These data may be used to better inform patients of their expected postoperative bowel function.

Gender distribution of speakers on panels at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) annual meeting.

BACKGROUND: Speaking invitations are used by faculty promotion committees as evidence of external recognition. However, women are underrepresented as speakers at specialty society conferences despite the rise in women physicians. The purpose of this study was to estimate to what extent the gender of session conveners is associated with the gender distribution of invited speakers at SAGES meetings. METHODS: A retrospective audit of annual SAGES meeting programs during 2009-2018 was performed. All invited panel speakers, defined as faculty delivering a prepared oral presentation in a session under the organization of one or more chairs, were identified. The gender of speakers and chairs/co-chairs was determined. Hands-on courses, paper sessions, military symposia, mock trials, and jeopardy sessions were excluded. We compared the proportion of all-male panels in sessions with all-male conveners versus sessions with at least one woman convener. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square and t tests. RESULTS: There were 3405 speakers and 459 panels identified. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 2836 invited speakers on 402 panels were analyzed. Women represented 15% of all speakers, increasing from 9 to 19% (2009 to 2018). This reflects the rise in the proportion of women overall members (11% in 2010 to 19% in 2018). The proportion of panels with at least one woman convener increased from 12 to 58%. All-male panels represented 40% of all panels (n = 163) and their proportion significantly decreased over time from 50 to 31% (p trend < 0.000). Sessions with all-male conveners had 52% all-male panels, while sessions with at least one woman convener had 19% all-male panels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The proportion of women invited speakers at the annual SAGES meeting has significantly increased over time. All-male convener sessions were more likely to convene all-male speaker panels. Including a woman chair/co-chair increased the number of women speakers and is a successful strategy to achieve gender balance in conference planning.

The impact of complications after elective colorectal resection within an enhanced recovery pathway.

BACKGROUND: Despite the implementation of enhanced recovery pathways (ERP), morbidity following colorectal surgery remains high. The aim of the present study was to estimate the impact of postoperative complications on excess hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing elective colorectal resection. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery at a single institution from 2003 to 2010 was performed. Patients managed by an ERP were compared to conventional care (CC), matched by propensity score radius matching. Complications were defined a priori. Excess (independent effect on LOS from multivariate analysis) and attributable (absolute number of additional bed days) LOS of common postoperative complications determined the impact of complications on bed utilization. Multivariate analysis was performed using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 810 propensity-score-matched patients were included (ERP = 472, CC = 338). Complications were significantly lower in the ERP group compared to the CC group (20 vs. 31%, p < 0.001). Median LOS decreased from 7 days in the CC group to 5 days in the ERP group [adjusted decrease in mean LOS of 2.8 days (95% CI 0.8, 4.8)]. Anastomotic leak, myocardial infarction and C. difficile infection had the highest excess LOS for both the ERP and CC groups. However, impaired gastrointestinal function had a higher impact on the absolute number of hospital bed days in the ERP group, as high as anastomotic leak (72.7 vs. 73.5 days respectively), while in the CC group the impact of gastrointestinal dysfunction was less of that of anastomotic leak (50.6 vs. 78.9 days respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of an ERP, postoperative complications have significant impact on total bed utilization. Impaired gastrointestinal function, given its high incidence, accounted for almost the same number of additional hospital bed days as anastomotic leak in the ERP group and is a target for quality improvement.

The effects of added whey protein to a pre-operative carbohydrate drink on glucose and insulin response.

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative complex carbohydrate (CHO) drinks are recommended to attenuate post-operative insulin resistance. However, many institutions use simple CHO drinks, which while convenient, may have less metabolic effects. Whey protein may enhance insulin release when added to complex CHO. The aim of this study was to compare the insulin response to simple CHO vs. simple CHO supplemented with whey protein. METHODS: Twelve healthy volunteers participated in this double-blinded, within subject, cross-over design study investigating insulin response to simple CHO drink vs. simple CHO + whey (CHO + W) drink. The primary outcome was the accumulated insulin response during 180 min after ingestion of the drinks (Area under the curve, AUC). Secondary outcomes included plasma glucose and ghrelin levels, and gastric emptying rate estimated by acetaminophen absorption technique. Data presented as mean (SD). RESULTS: There was no differences in accumulated insulin response after the CHO or CHO + W drinks [AUC: 15 (8) vs. 20 (14) nmol/l, P = 0.27]. Insulin and glucose levels peaked between 30 and 60 min and reached 215 (95) pmol/l and 7 (1) mmol/l after the CHO drink and to 264 (232) pmol/l and 6.5 (1) mmol/l after the CHO + W drink. There were no differences in glucose or ghrelin levels or gastric emptying with the addition of whey. CONCLUSION: The addition of whey protein to a simple CHO drink did not change the insulin response in healthy individuals. The peak insulin responses to simple CHO with or without whey protein were lower than that previously reported with complex CHO drinks. The impact of simple carbohydrate drinks with lower insulin response on peri-operative insulin sensitivity requires further study.

The SAGES Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy program (FUSE): history, development, and purpose.

BACKGROUND: Adverse events due to energy device use in surgical operating rooms are a daily occurrence. These occur at a rate of approximately 1-2 per 1000 operations. Hundreds of operating room fires occur each year in the United States, some causing severe injury and even mortality. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) therefore created the first comprehensive educational curriculum on the safe use of surgical energy devices, called Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE). This paper describes the history, development, and purpose of this important training program for all members of the operating room team. METHODS: The databases of SAGES and the FUSE committee as well as personal photographs and documents of members of the FUSE task force were used to establish a brief history of the FUSE program from its inception to its current status. RESULTS: The authors were able to detail all aspects of the history, development, and national as well as global implementation of the third SAGES Fundamentals Program FUSE. CONCLUSIONS: The written documentation of the making of FUSE is an important contribution to the history and mission of SAGES and allows the reader to understand the idea, concept, realization, and implementation of the only free online educational tool for physicians on energy devices available today. FUSE is the culmination of the SAGES efforts to recognize gaps in patient safety and develop state-of-the-art educational programs to address those gaps. It is the goal of the FUSE task force to ensure that general FUSE implementation becomes multinational, involving as many countries as possible.

Study protocol evaluating the use of bowel stimulation before loop ileostomy closure to reduce postoperative ileus: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

AIM: Postoperative ileus is the most commonly observed morbidity following ileostomy closure. Studies have demonstrated that the defunctionalized bowel of a loop ileostomy undergoes a series of functional and structural changes, such as atrophy of the intestinal villi and muscular layers, which may contribute to ileus. A single-centre study in Spain demonstrated that preoperative bowel stimulation via the distal limb of the loop ileostomy decreased postoperative ileus, length of stay and time to gastrointestinal function. METHOD: A multicentre randomized controlled trial involving patients from Canadian institutions was designed to evaluate the effect of preoperative bowel stimulation before ileostomy closure on postoperative ileus. Stimulation will include canalizing the distal limb of the ileostomy loop with an 18Fr Foley catheter and infusing it with a solution of 500 ml of normal saline mixed with 30 g of a thickening agent (Nestle© Thicken-Up© ). This will be performed 10 times over the 3 weeks before ileostomy closure in an outpatient clinic setting by a trained Enterostomal Therapy nurse. Surgeons and the treating surgical team will be blinded to their patient's group allocation. Data regarding patient demographics, and operative and postoperative variables, will be collected prospectively. Primary outcome will be postoperative ileus, defined as an intolerance to oral food in the absence of clinical or radiological signs of obstruction, that either requires nasogastric tube insertion or is associated with two of the following on or after post-operative day 3: nausea/vomiting; abdominal distension; and the absence of flatus. Secondary outcomes will include length of stay, time to tolerating a regular diet, time to first passage of flatus or stool and overall morbidity. A cost analysis will be performed to compare the costs of conventional care with conventional care plus preoperative stimulation. DISCUSSION: This manuscript discusses the potential benefits of preoperative bowel stimulation in improving postoperative outcomes and outlines our protocol for the first multicenter study to evaluate preoperative bowel stimulation before ileostomy closure. The results of this study could have considerable implications for the care of patients undergoing ileostomy closure.

Transforming growth factor-ß1 functional polymorphisms in myeloablative sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with sibling donors (s.d.) is a life-saving intervention for patients with hematological malignancies. Numerous genetic factors have a role in transplant outcome. Several functional polymorphisms have been identified in TGF-ß1 gene, such as single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at +29C>T within exon 1. Two hundred and forty five patient/donor pairs who underwent a s.d. HSCT in our centers were genotyped for this SNP. In the myeloablative cohort, +29CC donors were associated with an increase in severe chronic GvHD (32% vs 16%, hazard ratio (HR) 9.0, P=0.02). Regarding survival outcomes, +29CC patients developed higher non relapse mortality (NRM) (1-5 years CC 28-32% vs TC/TT 7-10%; HR 5.1, P=0.01). Recipients of +29TT donors experienced a higher relapse rate (1-5 years TT 37-51% vs TC 19-25% vs CC 13%-19%; HR 2.4, P=0.01) with a decreased overall survival (OS) (1-5 years TT 69-50% vs TC/CC 77-69%; HR 1.9, P=0.05). Similar to previous myeloablative unrelated donors HSCT results, we confirmed that +29CC patients had higher NRM. In addition we found that +29TT donors might be associated with a higher relapse rate and lower OS. These results should be confirmed in larger series. Identification of these SNPs will allow personalizing transplant conditioning and immunosuppressant regimens, as well as assisting in the choice of the most appropriate donor.

The Latin American experience of allografting patients with severe aplastic anaemia: real-world data on the impact of stem cell source and ATG administration in HLA-identical sibling transplants.

We studied 298 patients with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) allografted in four Latin American countries. The source of cells was bone marrow (BM) in 94 patients and PBSCs in 204 patients. Engraftment failed in 8.1% of recipients with no difference between BM and PBSCs (P=0.08). Incidence of acute GvHD (aGvHD) for BM and PBSCs was 30% vs 32% (P=0.18), and for grades III-IV was 2.6% vs 11.6% (P=0.01). Chronic GvHD (cGvHD) between BM and PBSCs was 37% vs 59% (P=0.002) and extensive 5% vs 23.6% (P=0.01). OS was 74% vs 76% for BM vs PBSCs (P=0.95). Event-free survival was superior in patients conditioned with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG)-based regimens compared with other regimens (79% vs 61%, P=0.001) as excessive secondary graft failure was seen with other regimens (10% vs 26%, P=0.005) respectively. In multivariate analysis, aGvHD II-IV (hazard ratio (HR) 2.50, confidence interval (CI) 1.1-5.6, P=0.02) and aGvHD III-IV (HR 8.3 CI 3.4-20.2, P<0.001) proved to be independent negative predictors of survival. In conclusion, BM as a source of cells and ATG-based regimens should be standard because of higher GvHD incidence with PBSCs, although the latter combining with ATG in the conditioning regimen could be an option in selected high-risk patients.

Evaluation of Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Type 1 Gaucher Disease in Argentina.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of osteoporosis (OP) in patients with Gaucher disease (GD) in Argentina. GD patients from 28 centers were consecutively included from April 2012 to 2014. Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine and the femoral neck or the total proximal femur for patients ≥20 yr of age, and by whole-body scan in the lumbar spine in patients <20 yr of age. In children, mineral density was calculated using the chronological age and Z height. OP diagnosis was determined following adult and pediatric official position of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. A total of 116 patients were included, of which 62 (53.5%) were women. The median age was 25.8 yr. All patients received enzyme replacement therapy, with a median time of 9.4 yr. Normal BMD was found in 89 patients (76.7%), whereas low bone mass (LBM) or osteopenia was found in 15 patients (13%) and OP in 12 patients (10.3%). The analysis of the pediatric population revealed that 4 patients (9.3%) had LBM and 3 (7%) had OP (Z-score ≤ -2 + fractures height-adjusted by Z), whereas in the adult population (n = 73), 11 patients (15%) had LBM or osteopenia and 9 (12.3%) had OP. Bone marrow infiltration and the presence of fractures were significantly correlated with the presence of OP (p = 0.04 and <0.001, respectively). This is the first study in Argentina and in the region describing the frequency of OP or LBM in GD patients treated with imiglucerase using the official position of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for gastrointestinal surgery, part 2: consensus statement for anaesthesia practice.

BACKGROUND: The present interdisciplinary consensus review proposes clinical considerations and recommendations for anaesthetic practice in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery with an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) programme. METHODS: Studies were selected with particular attention being paid to meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials and large prospective cohort studies. For each item of the perioperative treatment pathway, available English-language literature was examined and reviewed. The group reached a consensus recommendation after critical appraisal of the literature. RESULTS: This consensus statement demonstrates that anaesthesiologists control several preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative ERAS elements. Further research is needed to verify the strength of these recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the evidence available for each element of perioperative care pathways, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society presents a comprehensive consensus review, clinical considerations and recommendations for anaesthesia care in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery within an ERAS programme. This unified protocol facilitates involvement of anaesthesiologists in the implementation of the ERAS programmes and allows for comparison between centres and it eventually might facilitate the design of multi-institutional prospective and adequately powered randomized trials.

The outcomes of the elderly in acute care general surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Elderly patients form a growing subset of the acute care surgery (ACS) population. Older age may be associated with poorer outcomes for some elective procedures, but there are few studies focusing on outcomes for the elderly ACS population. Our objective is to characterize differences in mortality and morbidity for acute care surgery patients >80 years old. METHODS: A retrospective review of all ACS admissions at a large teaching hospital over 1 year was conducted. Patients were classified into non-elderly (<80 years old) and elderly (≥80 years old). In addition to demographic differences, outcomes including care efficiency, mortality, postoperative complications, and length of stay were studied. Data analysis was completed with the Student's t test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables using STATA 12 (College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: We identified 467 non-elderly and 60 elderly patients with a mean age-adjusted Charlson score of 3.2 and 7.2, respectively (p < 0.001) and a mortality risk of 1.9 and 11.7 %, respectively (p < 0.001). The elderly were at risk of longer duration (>4 days) hospital stay (p = 0.05), increased postoperative complications (p = 0.002), admission to the ICU (p = 0.002), and were more likely to receive a non-operative procedure (p = 0.003). No difference was found (p = NS) for patient flow factors such as time to consult general surgery, time to see consult by general surgery, and time to operative management and disposition. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to younger patients admitted to an acute care surgery service, patients over 80 years old have a higher risk of complications, are more likely to require ICU admission, and stay longer in the hospital.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for gastrointestinal surgery, part 1: pathophysiological considerations.

BACKGROUND: The present article has been written to convey concepts of anaesthetic care within the context of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programme, thus aligning the practice of anaesthesia with the care delivered by the surgical team before, during and after surgery. METHODS: The physiological principles supporting the implementation of the ERAS programmes in patients undergoing major abdominal procedures are reviewed using an updated literature search and discussed by a multidisciplinary group composed of anaesthesiologists and surgeons with the aim to improve perioperative care. RESULTS: The pathophysiology of some key perioperative elements disturbing the homoeostatic mechanisms such as insulin resistance, ileus and pain is here discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based strategies aimed at controlling the disruption of homoeostasis need to be evaluated in the context of ERAS programmes. Anaesthesiologists could, therefore, play a crucial role in facilitating the recovery process.

Current practices of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a population-based analysis.

PURPOSE: The selection of a laparoscopic approach for inguinal hernias varies among surgeons. It is unclear what is being done in actual practice. The purpose of this study was to report practice patterns for treatment of inguinal hernias among Quebec surgeons, and to identify factors that may be associated with the choice of operative approach. METHODS: We studied a population-based cohort of patients who underwent an inguinal hernia repair between 2007 and 2011 in Quebec, Canada. A generalized linear model was used to identify predictors associated with the selection of a laparoscopic approach. RESULTS: 49,657 inguinal hernias were repaired by 478 surgeons. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) was used in 8 % of all cases. LIHR was used to repair 28 % of bilateral hernias, 10 % of recurrent hernias, 6 % of unilateral hernias, and 4 % of incarcerated hernias. 268 (56 %) surgeons did not perform any laparoscopic repairs, and 11 (2 %) surgeons performed more than 100 repairs. These 11 surgeons performed 61 % of all laparoscopic cases. Patient factors significantly associated with having LIHR included younger age, fewer comorbidities, bilateral hernias, and recurrent hernias. CONCLUSION: An open approach is favored for all clinical scenarios, even for situations where published guidelines recommend a laparoscopic approach. Surgeons remain divided on the best technique for inguinal hernia repair: while more than half never perform LIHR, the small proportion who perform many use the technique for a large proportion of their cases. There appears to be a gap between the best practices put forth in guidelines and what surgeons are doing in actual practice. Identification of barriers to the broader uptake of LIHR may help inform the design of educational programs to train those who have the desire to offer this technique for certain cases, and have the volume to overcome the learning curve.