Summer 2024 Newsletter
2024 Summer Meeting Recap
Thank you to everyone who attended the fourth SCW Summer Meeting on August 10, 2024! The event was a success, drawing over 45 surgeons and quality leaders for a day of networking, learning, and engagement.
If you were not able to attend or would like to reference the educational sessions, you can view all of the presentations in the Learning Management System. An active account is needed for viewing.
The SCW team is already planning for the 2025 Summer Meeting! We anticipate announcing the meeting date and location this Fall.
Breast Surgical Case Conference
SCW, in collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin, was recently awarded a two-year grant from Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin for a project titled “Eliminating Unnecessary Axillary Surgery in Wisconsin Women Undergoing Lumpectomy for DCIS”. The goal is to reduce the rate of unnecessary axillary nodal surgery for Wisconsin women with DCIS undergoing lumpectomy by 25% through surgeon engagement via case discussions, education sessions, and benchmarked performance reports to ensure all women with DCIS receive optimal surgical care.
The first statewide case discussion will take place on Monday, October 7, 2024, from 5:30pm-6:30pm. This virtual opportunity will allow surgeons to discuss cases, share treatment approaches, and increase engagement among SCW surgeons performing breast procedures. As a bonus, the case conference is approved for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
If you’re interested in attending and/or presenting a case for discussion, please register today using the below button. For any questions, feel free to reach out to info@scwisconsin.org.
Statewide Opioid Disposal
SCW is launching “Eliminating Excess”, an evidence-based education program to prevent the misuse of opioids through at-home destruction and disposal. We have partnered with Deterra to provide their Drug Deactivation and Disposal Pouch at no cost to patients receiving a post-operative opioid prescription. Each pouch features a custom project label with a QR code that directs users to an SCW webpage with project information, opioid education, and a brief user survey.
Interested SCW surgeons/facilities will receive 200 pouches at no cost, with the possibly to obtain more. SCW will gladly work with you to create an implementation strategy for your clinic.
If you’re interested in becoming a participating site, please fill out the survey below!
Obstetrics Curriculum for the Rural General Surgeon
SCW member, Dr. Katherine Bakke, is currently investigating the thoughts, perceptions, and experiences of rural general surgeons who perform C-sections.
Dr. Bakke is hoping to use this data to inform the design of an operative obstetrics curriculum for the rural general surgeon. If C-sections are part of your practice and you’re interested in speaking with her, please email her at bakke@surgery.wisc.edu. Conversations are typically 30-60 minutes and can occur over Zoom at a convenient time for you. Lastly, if you have chosen not to perform C-sections in your rural practice, she’d be interested in speaking to you too!
WSS 2024 Fall Conference
The WSS 2024 Fall Conference is quickly approaching on November 8-9, 2024, in Kohler, WI. As in previous years, SCW will host a Friday luncheon for interested members. This informal meeting will focus on quality improvement initiatives, funding updates, and the SCW 2025 summer meeting. Invitations for the SCW luncheon will be sent out in October.