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Peter J. Koltai, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126:722.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The article by Rosbe et al presents us with a novel and challenging concept: using a telephone interview instead of an office visit for the traditional postoperative follow-up for simple surgical procedures, such as adenotonsillectomy. There is a contemporary logic to this idea, yet I suspect that it will be troubling for many surgeons. The goal of this commentary is to explore the soundness of this proposal and to gain some insight as to why the surgical community may resist its implementation.

In their introduction, the authors state that "In recent years, the changing health-care environment has forced hospitals and third-party payers to cut costs and payments for these procedures." It is these cost-cutting measures that prompted their study. However, in most circumstances, there is no service charge for the initial postoperative visit, since the cost of the follow-up evaluation is included in the operative fee. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Cleveland, Ohio

RELATED ARTICLE

Efficacy of Postoperative Follow-up Telephone Calls for Patients Who Underwent Adenotonsillectomy
Kristina W. Rosbe, Dwight Jones, Scharukh Jalisi, and Mary Ann Bray
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126(6):718-722.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Substituting a Telephone Call for Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Postoperative Visits
Lesperance et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;127:227-228.
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