Abstract
Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH) and the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS, Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes, www.uems.net) are interacting to recognize hand surgery as a separate surgical (sub)speciality.
UEMS has its office in Brussels and works through an Executive Committee (President Romuald Krajewski from Poland, Secretary-General Edwin Borman from the United Kingdom, Liaison Officer Zlatko Fras from Slovenia and Treasurer Giorgio Berchicci from Italy). It also has a Council that considers 39 speciality sections and their European boards, as well as integrating the national associations of medical specialities from 34 countries. The UEMS widened Council meets twice a year; in addition there are advisory councils for subjects such as continuous medical education (CME).
Independently recognized medical specialities are represented in the 39 UEMS Specialist Sections. Multidisciplinary specialities are represented within Multidisciplinary Joint Committees (MJC). The MJC on hand surgery was established in the UEMS in 1999. It only became active in 2008 with the integration of representatives from all interested sections: surgery; orthopaedics; plastic- reconstructive- aesthetic surgery; and paediatric surgery. The recognition of hand surgery in different European countries varies from a full speciality (Finland, Switzerland) to a special competence or qualification (Germany) and a lack of national recognition (e.g. Belgium). In 2010, the MJC and FESSH participated in the formation of the European Board of Hand Surgery (EBHS).
The key activities of UEMS concern postgraduate training, quality assurance in specialist practice, CME and continuous professional development (CPD). In 1999, UEMS established the European Accreditation Council for CME (EACCME), which developed criteria for live educational events and awards European CME Credits (ECMECs). Credit points are allocated after assessment of the quality requirements by authorized assessors with three points for a half day event and six for a full day event. There is mutual recognition with American and Canadian national associations.
The FESSH Council established a White Book on hand surgery in Europe that was endorsed by the UEMS Council in Prague in 2010. It can be downloaded from the FESSH website (www.fessh.com) and describes the field and scope of hand surgery, training and qualification requirements, the European Diploma examination, FESSH committees, the annual FESSH congress and the UEMS-linked institutions (MJC, EBHS). It also outlines the European curriculum for hand surgery, which highlights the mandatory core competences and training structures. An important chapter deals with the recognition of hand surgery and national diplomas in FESSH member countries. This information base will be updated regularly as Hand Surgery develops in each member country.
FESSH has an Accreditation Committee that is concentrating on developing the European Board of Hand Surgery. In 2012, the second and third EBHS meetings established that the Board should consist of up to two delegates from each interested UEMS section (surgery, orthopaedics, plastic surgery and paediatric surgery with a maximum of six delegates) and an equivalent number of FESSH officers (Secretary General, Past-Secretary General, the Chairmen of the Accreditation Committee, the Training Committee and the Examination Committee and one member at large). At the third EBHS meeting in Antwerp in June 2012, the executive of the EBHS was voted and Massimo Cerruso, Past-Secretary General of FESSH, was established as President, Timo Raatikainen who is president of the UEMS-MJC on hand surgery as Secretary and Zsolt Szabo, current Secretary General of FESSH, as Treasurer.
Forthcoming activities of the Accreditation Committee concern the participation in the UEMS Council, the UEMS Advisory Council on CME and the EBHS meetings. Steps towards further recognition of hand surgery in European institutions like UEMS and within European nations will be developed within the FESSH Council and then brought to the EBHS and UEMS Council. We invite any interested reader to have a look to the very detailed websites of UEMS (about structure and key activities) and of FESSH (Council activities and the White Book).
Any changes concerning the accreditation of hand surgery in European countries and any national activity that would strengthen the position of hand surgery among surgical specialities in European countries should be reported to the FESSH Accreditation Committee Chairman.