EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES EBCOG hospital visit in the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens Medical School, Greece. Proposals for the improvement of training in obstetrics and gynecology Aris Antsaklis & Eleftherios Anastasakis & Petros Drakakis & Dimitris Loutradis Received: 26 December 2006 / Accepted: 22 May 2007 / Published online: 14 June 2007 # European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2007 Abstract The objective of EBCOG hospital visiting is to improve and assess the quality of training in teaching hospitals throughout Europe. We present our experience that originates from the recent hospital visiting in our unit. During our department's presentation several training issues were identified. Dealing with these issues will result in improvement of the training provided and convergence of training and health care standards in Europe. Keywords EBCOG . Hospital visit . Training The EBCOG hospital visit at our unit on December 15, 2006 proved to be of great educational and training value. The objective of hospital visiting is to improve, assure, and assess the quality of specialists training in teaching hospitals throughout Europe [1]. After communication and formal request to the EBCOG Standing Committee for hospital recognition, an official visit was scheduled. During our department’ s presentation, several issues were raised. 1. The increased demands of training in Ob/Gyn. The rhetorical question addressed by the trainees’ represen- tative was: “How can you learn at greater depth and continuity with less work hours per week in the same amount of time?” [2]. 2. The high number of trainees per hospital in Ob/Gyn in Greece. In “Alexandra” Hospital, there are 46 trainees for 160 Ob/Gyn beds. 3. The decreasing number of surgical cases available for teaching as we practice alternative treatment options. 4. The increased variety of procedures and techniques that the trainees ought to learn. 5. The fact that the teaching methodology has demonstrated little change in comparison to the science of Ob/Gyn. 6. The working hours restrains that have been recently implemented by the European Union (EU). 7. The increased curriculum vitae requirements that trainees need to meet to get an Ob/Gyn consultant’ s post. All speakers agreed that the “see one, do one, teach one” motto can prove to be hazardous in the present clinical environment. The head of the department as well as the trainees’ representative expressed some ideas for improve- ment of training during the visiting process. The proposals of the head of the department are summarized below: 1. Incorporation of new technologies in Ob/Gyn training and education. Multimedia and digital video technology aids can improve training in fields as the minimal invasive surgery. 2. Introduction of a new model for teaching and assess- ment that ensures standardization of skills with reliable performance measurements. Testing of skills by the use of virtual reality simulators can improve a competence- based assessment. 3. Decrease in the number of trainees. 4. Establishment of a formal European exchange network for specialists in addition to the trainees (under EBCOG regulation). Eur Clinics Obstet Gynaecol (2007) 3:111–112 DOI 10.1007/s11296-007-0066-9 A. Antsaklis : E. Anastasakis : P. Drakakis : D. Loutradis 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, “Alexandra” Hospital, 80 Vas. Sofias Av., Athens, Greece E. Anastasakis (*) 14 Kountouriotou street, Ano Vrilissia, 152 35 Athens, Greece e-mail: loufty28@yahoo.gr