SAGES Telemedicine

Part of Surgical Education, Telementoring and Devices 18 items

Document · May 2026 · 1 min read

In brief

Dr. Rothenberg examines the implementation challenges of surgical telemedicine mentoring, including technical platform requirements, medicolegal considerations (liability, licensing, privileges), scheduling logistics, and business models. He presents opportunities for real-time expert guidance to shorten learning curves and improve outcomes through integrated OR telemedicine networks.

Telemedicine mentoring requires addressing liability, credentialing, malpractice coverage, and state licensure for remote surgical consultants.
Technical infrastructure must ensure HIPAA-compliant, high-quality audio-video connections with telestration capability integrated into OR workflows.
Scheduling coordination between mentor availability, OR priorities, and unforeseen delays remains a significant operational challenge.
Business models are undefined: unclear whether mentors can bill patients, surgeons, or hospitals for remote consultation services.
Telemedicine mentoring can shorten learning curves, increase referrals, and provide on-demand expert guidance unavailable locally.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the document.

Dr. Steve Rothenberg

Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Telemedicine & Innovation

Full text

Steven Rothenberg MDClinical Professor of SurgeryColumbia University College of Physicians and SurgeonsChief of Pediatric SurgeryRocky Mountain Hospital For Children

Thoracoscopic Thymectomy: Denver - Paris

¨Technical: What platform¨Medical / Legal : Is the mentor liable, is he part of the surgical team, does he need to get consent. How is the patient informed? Does he need hospital privileges? Does he need malpractice insurance? Does he need a state license?¨Time: Scheduling time to mentor¨Business model: who pays? Can the mentor charge the patient?¨Opportunities: Hospitals to be rewarded or penalized on outcomes and patient satisfaction:

¨What platform: Integrated into OR, separate solution. ¨Hospital IT and HIPPA compliance: Fire walls¨Compatibility¨Quality of connection: Ability to effectively communicate by voice and telestration

¨ Is the mentor liable: is he part of the surgical team, does he need to get consent. How is the patient informed?¨Does he need hospital privileges?¨Does he need malpractice coverage?¨Does he need a state license?

¨Availability of Mentor¨Availability of Mentee¨Timing of Case: Is this an OR priority!¨Unforeseen issues: Case delayed, equipment not available, connection fails¨Who coordinates?

¨who pays? ¨Can the mentor charge the patient?¨Can the mentor charge the surgeon?¨Can the mentor charge the hospital?¨Is there value added for the patient/ surgeon/hospital/ industry?

¨Rapid adaptation of new techniques¨Dramatically shortened learning curve¨Increased staff and resident confidence¨Surgeon and patient benefiting from otherwise unavailable surgical expertise¨Increased patient referrals¨Competitive edge

CHONY: NYC

¨Pool of expert mentors¨Network of integrated Ors¨Schedule consultation and mentoring sessions¨Within a single institution or practice have increased surgical expertise in every case On Demand Consultation! Regional/ National/International

Project APOLLO Data Sources Data Sources Data Sources Data Sources Data Sources

Project APOLLO •Local personnel can succeed with lower level of specialized Know-How•Expert support from Mission Control•Extension to System Guidance in later phase (ALPLA Academy) http://global.epson.com/newsroom/2015/news_20150623.html

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