Effect of an Outbound Scheduling Team on the Timeliness of Scheduling Referrals to Pediatric Otolaryngology.

Objective: Families preferring to receive care in a language-other-than-English have disparities in access to care. We studied the effect of implementing an ambulatory outbound scheduling team on the timeliness of scheduling referrals to pediatric otolaryngology. We hypothesized this intervention could increase access to care.

The emergence of a business imperative in surgical services.

In past years, scant attention was paid to the demand and rigors of the business of surgical services, and the primary role of nurse managers was as professional staff managers. Challenges from the past few years demand the development of a more focused approach to the business of surgery. The University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, met this demand by hiring a business manager for the surgical services department.