Easy access for ENT Specialists

There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for an opening in a doctor’s schedule, especially if you just have a common problem and need something simple, like a tonsillectomy. You want the very best care, so you’re willing to wait. But it is frustrating.

People with otolaryngology problems, also known as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders, come to UW Medical Center most often for very specialized care.

“That doesn’t mean we don’t want to see people with more straightforward concerns,” says Dr. Mark Whipple, UW assistant professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery.

“But because we do see so many patients with ailments that are tough to treat, it can become more difficult to get a timely appointment.”

That’s where LaRayne Anderson, advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP), comes in. “We have a unique relationship with our ARNPs,” says Whipple.

Surgeons have schedules that are often tight and demanding. Anderson is an ARNP with special training in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. Patients consult first with her, whose schedule was created to alleviate the wait times for surgical consult appointments. She performs the initial patient evaluation, then consults with Whipple. Together they determine whether surgery is necessary for the patient. Anderson then schedules the pre-op appointment with Whipple. This initial step improves the efficiency of the clinic and reduces patients’ wait times for surgical consultations from possibly weeks to days.

“I don’t make the final decision for surgery, but I provide an initial evaluation that gets patients in to see the surgeon much faster than if they were to try to personally schedule an appointment with him,” Anderson says.

“This method of flowing patients from consultation to pre-op opens up our surgical expertise to people who would otherwise have to wait a long time because of the demands tertiary care places on our service,” Whipple says. “This is our way of providing faster access for patients.”

For more information about the Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Center, call 206.598.4022