Introduction of an all-electronic administrative process for a major international pediatric surgical meeting.
OBJECTIVE
The administrative process for annual meetings is time consuming and increasingly costly when accomplished by traditional postal, fax, and telephone methods. The Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons introduced an all-electronic communication format for its 2002 annual meeting. Attendee acceptance and administrative and financial impact were evaluated.


METHODS
Interested physicians were directed to a Website containing detailed information and electronic forms. E-mail was used for the abstract selection and manuscript submission processes. Attendees were surveyed to evaluate the new format. Administrative costs for the new format were compared with estimated costs for a comparable traditionally managed meeting.


RESULTS
Attendance was similar to that at previous US meetings. Eighty-two percent of respondents approved of the all-electronic format, although 48% believed a choice should remain. None suggested a complete return to the traditional format. Abstract and manuscript processing time was reduced substantially as were administrative costs (79.43 dollars savings per physician registrant).


CONCLUSIONS
Adoption of an all-electronic annual meeting administrative process was associated with substantial cost reduction, increased efficiency, and excellent attendee satisfaction. This technology can help avoid increased registration fees while easing the burden on physician volunteers.
Applebaum
Harry
H
Department of Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Boles
Kay
K
Atkinson
James B
JB
D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013502:General Surgery; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics; D010372:Pediatrics