title: Thoracic surgical resident education: a costly endeavor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to define an accurate measure of thoracic surgical education costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program directors from six distinct and differently sized and geographically located thoracic surgical training programs used a common template to provide estimates of resident educational costs. These data were reviewed, clarifying questions or discrepancies when noted and using best estimates when exact data were unavailable. Subsequently, a composite of previously published cost-estimation products was used to capture accurate cost data. Data were then compiled and averaged to provide an accurate picture of all costs associated with thoracic surgical education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before formal accounting was performed, the estimated average for all programs was approximately $250,000 per year per resident. However, when formal evaluations by the six programs were performed, the annual cost of resident education ranged from $330,000 to $667,000 per year per resident. The average cost of $483,000 per year was almost double the initial estimates. Variability was noted by region and size of program. Faculty teaching costs varied from $208,000 to $346,000 per year. Simulation costs ranged from $0 to $80,000 per year. Resident savings to program ranged from $0 to $135,000 per year and averaged $37,000 per year per resident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoracic surgical education costs are considerably higher than initial estimates from program directors and probably represent an unappreciated source of financial burden for cardiothoracic surgical educational programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. Electronic address: calhoon@uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Calhoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Clint
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baisden
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holler
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Ed L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Cameron D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi.
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Dave A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fullerton
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000191:economics*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000191:economics*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States