Specialisation within vascular surgery.
Despite its short existence, vascular surgery has already grown out of the scope of a mono-specialty. Meanwhile emerging interests of other competing specialties push into the field of vascular care. Continuous technological innovation drives the need for sub-specialisation to provide disease-centred expertise; however, treatment success equally depends on balanced patient-centred care. Vascular surgeons are amidst this controversy and are currently challenged by their own demand to offer all aspects of vascular care - as "the vascular specialist". This article discusses the natural driving forces towards sub-specialisation and appraises advantages and limitations with respect to the future of integrated vascular care.
Schmidli
J
J
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Swiss Cardiovascular Centre, Berne University Hospital and University of Berne, Freiburgstrasse, Berne, Switzerland. juerg.schmidli@insel.ch
Dick
F
F
D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000639:trends; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D013038:Specialization / Q000639:trends; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends