OP-COUNTERWhy structure matters
Long clinical days make retrospective record keeping difficult. If you wait until the end of the month to reconstruct your cases, details can easily be forgotten. A regular personal record helps you track what you have done and what you still need to experience during training.
What to record after each operation
Capture the operation date, procedure or recognised training category, your role and whether the case was planned, completed or cancelled. Where the training programme expects more specific information, use the official definitions rather than inventing your own counting rules.
Counting cases and operative roles
Your role matters. Assisting and performing a procedure should not automatically count in the same way for a training requirement. Keep a consistent record of roles and check the current requirements of your relevant professional authority before interpreting totals.
Course certificates and other evidence
Surgical training usually includes learning outside the operating room. Keep a traceable record of courses, educational activities and certificates. Organised evidence reduces unnecessary administration when preparing for reviews and applications.
Privacy: avoid patient-identifying details
Do not include patient names, dates of birth, hospital record numbers, or other identifiable patient information in a personal surgical logbook. Rare procedures and dates may themselves be sensitive when combined. Review free-text entries, backups and exported files before sharing.
Where OP-Counter fits
OP-Counter is being developed by a surgical resident in Switzerland. Its planned Basic experience combines procedure logging, operative roles, training progress, a surgical calendar and course evidence across iPhone, iPad and Mac. It supports personal organisation but does not replace official training records or professional accreditation.
Training requirements differ by country, specialty and programme. Always check your current official curriculum before relying on any personal case totals.