Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Advancing Rural Otolaryngology Through Professionalism and Innovation with Dr. Kenneth Altman
Mar 8, 2026
Dr. Kenneth Altman, Chair of Otolaryngology at Geisinger and rural head and neck cancer specialist. He discusses expanding access across a rural network, building interoperable systems and pooled tumor boards. He talks about empowering frontline clinicians, prioritizing professionalism and service, and cutting delays in cancer care to improve timeliness.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Interconnected Rural Otolaryngology Network
- Geisinger built a truly interconnected otolaryngology department rather than a hub-and-spoke model to create multiple patient access points.
- Kenneth Altman described pooling tumor boards and M&M conferences via teleconferencing across the system to make everyone feel valued and included.
Professionalism Drives Sustainable Innovation
- Professionalism and service are central drivers of departmental identity and sustainable innovation, not just productivity metrics like RVUs.
- Altman links research, service, and professionalism as the foundation that enables meaningful innovations at Geisinger.
Cutting Weeks From Cancer Care Pathways
- Small operational delays matter: Geisinger found a three-week average from patient call to tumor board presentation and targeted unnecessary steps to shorten it.
- By identifying when PET-CTs were unnecessary they cut that part of the journey from ~20 days to ~10 days for some patients.