ABSTRACT
Contemporary otolaryngology surgery has evolved over time to include the practice of pediatric otolaryngology and rhinology in an office setting, incorporating in-office diagnostic as well as therapeutic interventions including surgery. Other options that have become increasingly popular during the past decade include freestanding surgical centers as a mechanism for increasing patient access to health care, as well as enhancing practice viability through an alternative revenue stream in the form of physician participation in facility-fee reimbursement. These settings can either be incorporated into one’s immediate office environment or represent a separate freestanding surgical location depending on the nature of one’s practice. The concept of a sinus center alludes to a facility where an otolaryngologist is able to comprehensively evaluate and manage the pediatric sinus patient, both medically and surgically. The development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, together with enhanced anesthesia options, makes the potential
for office-based surgery, distinct from hospital-based surgery, a much more attractive alternative for both the practicing otolaryngologist and the patient.
