Welcome

to the

Surgical Magnification Web Site

What is it?

This Web Site was established by the Surgical Telescope Evaluation Program (S.T.E.P.) at the University of British Columbia in order to provide information, service, and forums for discussion and research on all matters related to surgical magnification and surgical telescopes.

For whom is it intended?

All microsurgeons, including:

• dentists
• cardiovascular surgeons
• opththalmological surgeons
• neurological surgeons
• opticians
• optometrists
• general medical practitioners
• dental hygienists and dental assistants
• faculty in dental schools and colleges
• faculty in medical schools and residency programs
• ergonomic researchers
• manufacturers of surgical magnification equipment
• manufacturers of general surgical and dental equipment
• distributors and sales and service personnel who must deal with sales, fitting, and service of surgical magnification equipment

and anyone else with an interest in Surgical Magnification.

What services are available?

• STEP Online --- an e-mail service from anywhere in the Surgical Magnification Web Site which allows you to ask anything you want from the S.T.E.P. Consultants

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) --- a good reference section for surgeons just beginning to use magnification, or for those who have had difficulties with a particular system.

• The Surgical Telescope Evaluation Kit for Surgeons --- you can request that a package of the evaluation grids and test materials discussed in the Buyer's Guide be mailed or couriered to you.

• The Surgical Telescope Primer --- what to look for in surgical magnification. This guide will help you determine what considerations, qualities, and features are important in your selection of a surgical telescope system. How can you be sure that you select a system which was designed to meet your needs? Can you evaluate the optics and other qualities of the unit which you have?

What services are planned?

• School surveys --- reports on surgical telescope usage in dental schools, medical programs, and allied programs (what they are using, how they have tested them, and what their experiences have been)

• Product Catalogues --- where manufacturers can display available and upcoming products

• Product Evaluations --- where the S.T.E.P. Consultants evaluate and compare available surgical magnification systems according to established standards

• Look for the online Journal of Surgical Ergonomics ---a fully refereed publication scheduled for release in early 1998.

If you have comments or suggestions,

lrucker@interchange.ubc.ca

© 1996 Surgical Telescope Evaluation Program (S.T.E.P.)