Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

practice settings and specialty areas of otolaryngologists’ practice. PART TWO released on May 15 Focused on specific recommendations encompassing prioritization and special circumstances related to surgical procedures for all specialty areas.

PUBLIC OUTREACH achieved through substantial media coverage

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PATIENT INFORMATION included on ENThealth.org

A Global Pandemic: COVID-19

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PUBLICATION of initial reporting tool findings in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery on April 10

LEADING VOICE ON ANOSMIA AS A SYMPTOM: Domestic and international media quoted the Academy extensively about anosmia and the data collected through the AAO-HNS COVID-19 Anosmia Reporting Tool. Starting in March and continuing throughout the summer and fall, media coverage included an initial surge with USA Today, The New York Times, Fox News, Associated Press , and NPR and then continued with the Sinclair Broadcast Group television report “Spotlight on America” that ran on 191 stations in 89 markets across the country with a reach of 5-7 million viewers, WFAA in Texas, The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, Prevention, HealthDay, Medscape , and more.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2020

THE GLOBAL LEADER IN OPTIMIZING QUALITY EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT PATIENT CARE

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Due to this, the Academy responded with Academy Cares, a token of financial relief to practicing physician members by providing a $100 voucher to be applied toward membership dues, education offerings, the Virtual Annual Meeting, or other programs. For resident members, free access was made available to the Home Study Course (HSC), in which 800 residents took part. The Academy also lowered the price for FLEX—the flagship education product launched in 2020 replacing the HSC. Additionally, all COVID-19 related manuscripts published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery were available open access. To further extend members’ dollars, the AAO HNSF provided a free 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting registration for those who signed up for FLEX. This provided the potential to earn up to 600+ continuing medical education (CME)/maintenance of certification (MOC) credits—100+ through FLEX, 200+ through AcademyU, and 300+ for the Virtual Annual Meeting. The above is in addition to multiple advocacy efforts such as supporting the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which included the Provider Relief Fund and Paycheck Protection Program, Medicare telehealth flexibilities for reimbursement, a temporary Medicare payment update, and liability protections for physicians and healthcare professionals who volunteer to provide healthcare services. Trends Impacting The Future of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated trends that were already emerging. Dr. Setzen noted in the June 2020 Bulletin , “With disruption of this magnitude, comes tremendous potential opportunity. Continuously reassess your environment and remain flexible and ready to pivot.”

This sentiment was also reiterated just seven months later by Dr. Bradford in the February 2021 Bulletin , “Curiously, the world around us is changing rapidly. There are many key drivers of change in the external environment. To name a few, the pandemic has transformed the use of telehealth. The pandemic has shone a light on health disparities. Virtual platforms for education, interaction, and infrastructure are now commonplace. Practices are consolidating and the business of the practice of medicine has never been more important. We have likely seen more transformation in the past 12 months than the prior five to ten years. All these external factors are important to consider… We, as an organization, must be nimble and adapt to a rapidly changing environment.” Telemedicine is one such area that the COVID-19 pandemic created a set of conditions that served as an accelerator for implementation in clinical practice. Lockdown restrictions often made virtual visits the only means of patient care. Telemedicine platforms embraced improvements to the user experience. Insurance policies adapted to accommodate reimbursements for this new form of care. The AAO HNS Telemedicine and Telehealth Working Group was initiated in 2021 to reflect on telemedicine experiences among otolaryngologists and assess the future ongoing implementation into practice and patient care in a post COVID-19 reality. Education, Training, and Recruitment The transition from in-person meetings to those done virtually happened quickly in 2020 to accommodate the limitations caused by social distancing and travel bans. This move to virtual meetings impacted every demographic, from the practicing physician seeking CME and MOC to the aspiring otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon entrenched in resident education and training. The pandemic expanded the horizon to include virtual platforms and innovative remote learning to meet the education and recruitment needs of the otolaryngology community.

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