Quality Reports - Orthopedics

Time to Next Appointment

Why we measure it - The time to next appointment actually is the time to the third next available appointment for new patients, which is a more accurate measure of how long a patient needs to wait before seeing a specialist of his or her choice for the first time. 

One of our service standards is the ability to make appointments within a reasonable length of time. We have set a timeline of two weeks as a goal for subspecialty clinic appointments. Urgent and emergent patients are seen immediately.

What this means - There has been a significant improvement in the time to next appointment that is likely attributed to the opening of Greenway Clinic in September 2007 and Lean improvement work (see below). The Orthopedic Center is meeting or exceeding the TTNA organizational goal of two weeks or less.

About the data - The data reflect a measure that is an industry standard. These data show the number of weeks to schedule a new, non-urgent appointment.

Related dimensions of care:

What we're doing to provide the best care:

• Urgent and emergent patients always are seen immediately. Referring physicians can quickly access our specialists for consultation or transport 24 hours a day by calling our physician referral line at (800) 266-0366.
• We offer a second clinic location in Greenfield (Greenway Clinic), to reduce the number of trips many families need to make to our busy hospital location. Patients see the same orthopedic specialists at this location as they would at the hospital.
• The Orthopedic Center uses Lean methodology to improve clinic process and improve the overall patient and family experience within the clinic. Our Greenway Clinic location was designed with this method in mind. Lean is an internationally recognized tool to enhance efficiencies and allow health care providers to focus on quality interactions with their patients.
• The orthopedic team of physicians, physician's assistants and nurse practitioners collaborates to take care of patients, which allows us to be as efficient as possible.
• We have expanded our pediatric and adolescent Sports Medicine Program through the addition of a Concussion Clinic and a program director.
• We perform many outpatient procedures at our Surgicenter location approximately 10 minutes from Children's Hospital. Here, patients may be scheduled sooner and enjoy the convenience of a smaller facility, while being cared for by the same pediatric orthopedic surgeons and pediatric anesthesiologists they would see at the hospital.

Patients/Families:

• If you cannot keep a scheduled appointment, please call Central Scheduling, at (877) 607-5280, or (414) 607-5280 as soon as possible to reschedule so another child can be seen.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment so we can gather needed information from you before you see the doctor.

If you have questions about this data or information, e-mail us or call (414) 266-6556.