Operation Logbook
- asperharry
- Jan 9
- 3 min read
Let me just say this: surviving the world of medicine as a junior doctor or medical student is no small feat. One day you’re trying to remember the difference between a scalpel and forceps, and the next, you’re expected to assist in surgery while keeping track of your cases, skills, and reflections. That’s where the Operation Logbook comes in—a digital database I created to simplify things and make life easier for people like us.
So, What Exactly Is the Operation Logbook?
The Operation Logbook is a digital tool (built on Notion, for all you productivity nerds) designed to help junior doctors and medical students track their surgical cases. Think of it as your personal, pocket-friendly database where you can log every operation you assist in, observe, or perform. But it’s not just about ticking boxes—it’s also a space to document reflections, learn from experiences, and track your progress over time.
This isn’t just about "getting the numbers in" for your portfolio (although it helps with that too). It’s about giving you a clear, structured way to organise your surgical experience and grow as a clinician.
Why It’s Helped Me
When I first started assisting in surgeries, I honestly had no clue how to keep track of everything. Between ward rounds, endless to-do lists, and getting quizzed by consultants, I’d forget half of the procedures I’d been involved in by the end of the week. And don’t even get me started on trying to remember specific learning points or skills I needed to improve.
Here’s where the Operation Logbook changed the game for me:
Everything in One Place: No more scrappy bits of paper or random notes in my phone. I can log every surgery in one clean, searchable database.
Reflections Made Easy: Medicine is all about learning from experience. With this logbook, I jot down key reflections—what went well, what didn’t, and what I could do better. It’s helped me grow so much in such a short time.
Track Progress: Seeing my skills improve over time has been huge. It’s not just about the technical stuff, either—it’s about confidence. I can literally see how far I’ve come, and that keeps me motivated.
Portfolio Ready: For junior doctors, keeping a record of your cases is critical for exams, appraisals, and career progression. The logbook makes this ridiculously easy—you’ve got a polished, professional record of all your surgical experience at the click of a button. You can actually show your supervisor what you have been doing at work. Like earlier this year that was literally how my feedback went: show me your logbook, how has your term been and what you you do differently...
How It Works
The Operation Logbook is built around simplicity. Here’s a quick rundown of how it works:
1. Log Your Cases
After each surgery, you can add the key details into the database:
Date
Type of Procedure (e.g., appendectomy, hernia repair)
Your Role (observer, assistant, or lead surgeon)
Consultant/Surgeon Name
Learning Points
This gives you a detailed, organised record of every operation you’ve been involved in.
2. Reflect on Your Experience
There’s a section for reflections, which I’ve found invaluable. You can document:
What went well?
What was challenging?
What’s one thing you’d do differently next time?
It’s quick, easy, and makes you more mindful of your growth.
3. Search and Filter
Need to pull up all the appendicectomies you assisted with? Or review how many major operations you've been in? The database is fully searchable and filterable, so you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for.
Who’s This For?
Honestly, anyone who’s stepping into the surgical world. Whether you’re a first-year med student observing your first procedure or a junior doctor assisting with more complex cases, the operation logbook is tailored to you.
Medical Students: Track your exposure to different surgeries, make notes for exams, and reflect on key learning points.
Junior Doctors: Keep a professional record of your surgical experience for career progression and learn from your cases along the way.
Why a Digital Logbook?
Let’s face it—pen-and-paper logbooks are a pain. They get lost, they’re hard to organize, and they don’t grow with you. A digital logbook, especially one built on a platform like Notion, is:
Portable: Access it anywhere, on your laptop, tablet, or phone.
Customizable: Add or tweak fields to suit your needs.
Durable: No risk of coffee spills ruining your hard work.
The Operation Logbook has genuinely been a lifesaver for me. It’s kept me organised, helped me reflect on my practice, and made tracking my surgical experience effortless. If you’re a medical student or junior doctor looking to bring some structure to the chaos of clinical life, I can’t recommend this enough.
Check it out below
Other products on my gumroad store
Comments