Staffing and scheduling in the endoscopy center.

As the growth of ambulatory endoscopy continues, the effort to deliver good clinical outcomes remains the primary goal. Achieving this goal is greatly impacted by the decisions made regarding staffing and scheduling. In addition to proven management techniques, creative thinking should also be used to allow for innovative and flexible ideas to be tried in the endoscopy unit. As more procedures are moved to the outpatient setting, greater scrutiny of patient care can be expected from outside agencies. Initial attention to details in addressing staffing and scheduling issues reaps significant benefits in developing and maintaining an efficient operation, and providing the quality of patient care desired by all interested parties.