Advanced Nurse Practioners Physician Assistants Rene Vallejo, MBA Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Department of Surgery Association of Academic Surgical Administrators OCTOBER 23, 2017
Introduction / Problem Wait times are one of many patient satisfaction indicators Patients wait time are NOT at an acceptable level in academic surgical clinic Balancing teaching and non-teaching encounters Who determines this time? Practitioners participating in clinic? Administration? Patients?
Introduction / Problem Strive to provide care that is: High quality Cost effective Comprehensive Timely Academic setting pose an added challenge to keep times at an acceptable level Change can be a difficult process to overcome Culture change “WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE……”
Question How to reduce wait times for Adult surgical patients in an academic surgical clinic? Does implementation of a single decision making practitioner affect the teaching experience of medical students and residents? What is the balance between single decision making practitioner versus traditional academic set-up? Can a single decision making practitioner impact overall patient satisfaction outcomes?
Evidence Based Practice Measures Single point of contact practice setup Decrease interactions that in turn decrease times Efficiency Improve access to care
Outcomes of Project Reduction in wait times from registration to exam by “decision making practitioner” 44%
Added Benefits Reduction in Time to 3rd Appointment (time from referral to appointment with specialist) Initial 48 days 3 months 11 days 6 months within 8 days Reduction in chronic follow-up patients in faculty clinic Increased numbers of new patients referrals Increase teaching opportunities for students Increase access to care Increase in Surgical Yield
Evaluation of Measures Implemented Single point of contact clinic Decreased wait times by 44% Increase access to care Reduced Time to 3rd appointment Absence of negative feedback
Questions?