Smith & Nephew’s Expert Connect Center Endorsed by Royal College of Surgeons

Smith & Nephew plc said its state-of-the-art Expert Connect Centre (ECC) in Watford, United Kingdom, has become the first commercial surgical training facility in Europe to be accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons.

Widely regarded as the gold standard for accreditation, the Royal College of Surgeons endorsement follows an in-depth assessment of the facilities, resources and portfolio offered at the ECC. The recognition enables delegates to receive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points when attending Smith & Nephew sessions, demonstrating their commitment to developing their surgical skills.
 
“Smith & Nephew’s Expert Connect Centre offers facilities of the highest quality; its education portfolio is extensive and there was a clear demonstration and a broad confidence in each of the components assessed,” said Professor Paul O’Flynn, Quality Assurance and Accreditation, Royal College of Surgeons. “We’re pleased to offer the ECC this accreditation and look forward to continue seeing the centre enable surgeons to achieve the highest standards of care.”
 
“This endorsement from the Royal College of Surgeons is a huge honour and recognition of the quality of our medical training and education. We’re very proud to be regarded as a benchmark professional development facility and look forward to welcoming more healthcare professionals to the Expert Connect Centre as we continue to support them in their vital work improving patients’ lives,” said Massimiliano Colella, president of Europe and Canada, Smith & Nephew.
 
Since its opening in February 2017, almost 2,000 healthcare professionals from the United Kingdom and across the globe, including Canada, Japan and China have received training at the ECC. Designed to encourage interaction, the center offers the same set-up as 14 hospital operating rooms, providing an environment where surgeons and nurses can learn new techniques and refine skills first-hand, to ensure the safe and effective use of Smith & Nephew products. It boasts a large auditorium, seating over 80, for plenary sessions and uses the latest broadcasting and recording technology to capture and share the learning experience.
 
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology developer of technologies in orthopedic reconstruction, advanced wound management, sports medicine, and trauma and extremities. The company has around 15,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Its annual sales in 2017 were almost $4.8 billion.