Abstract
Background: Pediatric surgery fellowship applicants and programs coordinate over 20 interviews per cycle. We hypothesized that replacing e-mail and phone communication with a computerized-scheduling program (CSP) could benefit both parties. Methods: We used a CSP to schedule 2016 interviews. Time to schedule and e-mail communication per applicant was compared to 2015, when traditional scheduling was used. Additionally, 2016 interviewees were surveyed about their experience with the CSP vs. traditional means. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and a Student's T-test. Results: We found a significant decrease in mean scheduling time from 14.4 to 1.7. h (p. <. 0.001) and in e-mails exchanged from 3.4 to 1.0 (p. <. 0.0001). Survey respondents reported 92% satisfaction with the CSP, and 87% found it easier to schedule interviews. Applicants also reported quicker finalization of interview dates (96%), improved access to interview slots (71%), and easier coordination of additional services and time off (63%). Notably, the mean longest time reported to schedule interviews using traditional methods was 7. days (range 1-30). Overall, 84% supported widespread adoption of CSPs. Conclusions: Using CSPs improved the scheduling process for the significant majority of interviewees, and our program. If widely adopted, this could greatly improve the efficiency of pediatric surgery interview scheduling. Level of evidence: N/A.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Pediatric Surgery |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Mar 7 2017 |
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Keywords
- Cost
- Fellowship
- Interview
- Match
- Pediatric surgery
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Surgery
Cite this
Use of computerized interview scheduling program for pediatric surgery match applicants. / Stephens, Caroline Q.; Hamilton, Nicholas; Thompson, Ann E.; Krishnaswami, Sanjay.
In: Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 07.03.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of computerized interview scheduling program for pediatric surgery match applicants
AU - Stephens, Caroline Q.
AU - Hamilton, Nicholas
AU - Thompson, Ann E.
AU - Krishnaswami, Sanjay
PY - 2017/3/7
Y1 - 2017/3/7
N2 - Background: Pediatric surgery fellowship applicants and programs coordinate over 20 interviews per cycle. We hypothesized that replacing e-mail and phone communication with a computerized-scheduling program (CSP) could benefit both parties. Methods: We used a CSP to schedule 2016 interviews. Time to schedule and e-mail communication per applicant was compared to 2015, when traditional scheduling was used. Additionally, 2016 interviewees were surveyed about their experience with the CSP vs. traditional means. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and a Student's T-test. Results: We found a significant decrease in mean scheduling time from 14.4 to 1.7. h (p. <. 0.001) and in e-mails exchanged from 3.4 to 1.0 (p. <. 0.0001). Survey respondents reported 92% satisfaction with the CSP, and 87% found it easier to schedule interviews. Applicants also reported quicker finalization of interview dates (96%), improved access to interview slots (71%), and easier coordination of additional services and time off (63%). Notably, the mean longest time reported to schedule interviews using traditional methods was 7. days (range 1-30). Overall, 84% supported widespread adoption of CSPs. Conclusions: Using CSPs improved the scheduling process for the significant majority of interviewees, and our program. If widely adopted, this could greatly improve the efficiency of pediatric surgery interview scheduling. Level of evidence: N/A.
AB - Background: Pediatric surgery fellowship applicants and programs coordinate over 20 interviews per cycle. We hypothesized that replacing e-mail and phone communication with a computerized-scheduling program (CSP) could benefit both parties. Methods: We used a CSP to schedule 2016 interviews. Time to schedule and e-mail communication per applicant was compared to 2015, when traditional scheduling was used. Additionally, 2016 interviewees were surveyed about their experience with the CSP vs. traditional means. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and a Student's T-test. Results: We found a significant decrease in mean scheduling time from 14.4 to 1.7. h (p. <. 0.001) and in e-mails exchanged from 3.4 to 1.0 (p. <. 0.0001). Survey respondents reported 92% satisfaction with the CSP, and 87% found it easier to schedule interviews. Applicants also reported quicker finalization of interview dates (96%), improved access to interview slots (71%), and easier coordination of additional services and time off (63%). Notably, the mean longest time reported to schedule interviews using traditional methods was 7. days (range 1-30). Overall, 84% supported widespread adoption of CSPs. Conclusions: Using CSPs improved the scheduling process for the significant majority of interviewees, and our program. If widely adopted, this could greatly improve the efficiency of pediatric surgery interview scheduling. Level of evidence: N/A.
KW - Cost
KW - Fellowship
KW - Interview
KW - Match
KW - Pediatric surgery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016011636&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85016011636&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2017.03.033
DO - 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2017.03.033
M3 - Article
C2 - 28351518
AN - SCOPUS:85016011636
JO - Journal of Pediatric Surgery
JF - Journal of Pediatric Surgery
SN - 0022-3468
ER -