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Background: Establishment of the Acute Care Surgical Service (ACSS) has dramatically changed the management of acute, nontrauma surgical patients in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its formation was partially driven by increasing strain on surgeons and surgical services. We sought to determine surgeon level of burnout and satisfaction with the ACSS., Methods: All Winnipeg ACSS surgeons were mailed surveys. Burnout was established using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey. Satisfaction was ascertained with a series of questions., Results: We attained a response rate of 76%. Most surgeons were married men with children. A burnout level of 61% was determined. Although most surgeons felt the ACSS was a positive change in their careers, they felt that operating room accessibility and teaching opportunities were lacking., Conclusion: Although a high level of burnout exists among ACSS surgeons, most are satisfied with its establishment. Factors such as operating room accessibility and teaching opportunities must be addressed.

Background: Acute care surgery (ACS) services dedicated to care of acute general surgery patients have been established in many tertiary centers across Canada. Little is known about the impact of this trend on postgraduate education. In this study we aimed to evaluate ACS through a cross-sectional survey of general surgery residents in Winnipeg, Manitoba., Methods: General surgery residents at the University of Manitoba were asked to complete an anonymous survey. Basic demographic data were obtained. The educational value of ACS was assessed using 10 statements derived from the CanMEDS framework for training physicians. Resident burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, on emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment., Results: The response rate was 70% (14/20). ACS was evaluated positively based on the CanMEDS roles by the following proportions of responders: surgical skills (79%), clinical knowledge (100%), communicator (100%), collaborator (100%), manager (86%), health advocate (100%), scholar (64%), and professional (93%). Fifty percent of responders had a high score on emotional exhaustion, 43% on depersonalization, and 0% on low sense of personal accomplishment. The overall burnout was 64%., Conclusions: ACS provides a comprehensive clinical experience based on the CanMEDS competencies. Despite an increased sense of personal accomplishment, residents experienced a high incidence of burnout, as demonstrated by high scores on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization of patients., (Copyright © 2011 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)