Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

AAO-HNSF’s List of Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question: 1. Don’t order computed tomography (CT) scan of the head/brain for sudden hearing loss. 2. Don’t prescribe oral antibiotics for uncomplicated acute tympanostomy tube otorrhea. 3. Don’t prescribe oral antibiotics for uncomplicated acute external otitis. 4. Don’t routinely obtain radiographic imaging for patients who meet diagnostic criteria for uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis. 5. Don’t obtain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a primary complaint of hoarseness prior to examining the larynx. The Academy continued to participate in the Choosing Wisely ® campaign with five added recommendations provided in March 2015 supported by the Key Action Statements from the AAO-HNSF published clinical practice guidelines. The newest recommendations included: 6. Don’t place ear tubes in otherwise healthy children who have had a single episode of ear fluid lasting less than three months. 7. Don’t order imaging studies in patients with non-pulsatile bilateral tinnitus, symmetric hearing loss and an otherwise normal history and physical examination. 8. Don’t order more than one computerized tomography (CT) scan of the paranasal sinuses within 90 days to evaluate uncomplicated chronic rhinosinusitis patients when the paranasal sinus CT obtained is of adequate quality and resolution to be interpreted by the clinician and used for clinical decision-making and/or surgical planning. 9. Don’t routinely use perioperative antibiotics for elective tonsillectomy in children. 10. Don’t routinely perform sinonasal imaging in patients with symptoms limited to a primary diagnosis of allergic rhinitis alone. A Step Toward Quality Measures: Enhancing the Clinical Practice Guidelines As part of the AAO-HNSF commitment to quality in practice, the Academy engaged in the development

2013: BOG created a regional infrastructure based on the 10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regional areas to enhance its effectiveness and responses to legislative and advocacy needs, creating increased opportunities for involvement at the state and local level.

for the medical care being given, and the resources being used, is shared.” Under the leadership of the PSQI Committee, the Academy embarked on the methodology for determining the five clinical practice parameters to address as a specialty to improve quality and reduce waste and unnecessary care. They extended a call to all otolaryngology specialty societies through the SSAC to make recommendations. “Keeping patients engaged in healthcare decisions is part of what we must do now more than ever when costs are so high and options for care more confusing,” shared Dr. Netterville in the April 2013 Bulletin , when talking about the benefit of the AAO-HNSF partaking in Choosing Wisely ® . On February 21, 2013, the Academy released its list of five topics physicians and patients should question as part of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation’s Choosing Wisely ® campaign. The AAO-HNSF and 16 other societies released their lists at a press conference on February 21, 2013. The

2012: Introduced PQRSWizard, a web-based tool to assist physicians with reporting measures to CMS.

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