Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

I submit to you that the answer lies in research. The community of otolaryngologists must work together to provide the evidence, substantiating the value of otolaryngologic care. We must document the efficacy of our recommendations. We must demonstrate the value of our discipline. In short, we must collect and present the supporting documentation, which justifies the claims we make: namely, otolaryngologic services are efficient, effective, and of good value.” - Jonas T. Johnson, MD, 2002-2003 President, July 2003 Bulletin

necessary data for an evidence-based specialty and preparing a new generation of clinicians to practice in a world shaped by information technology, molecular genetics, and new ethical issues were top priorities. National Center for the Promotion of Research in Otolaryngology The establishment of a National Center for the Promotion of Research in Otolaryngology (NCPRO), formerly Research Department, was a significant step in elevating and enhancing the Academy’s contributions to research, quality, education, advocacy, practice management, and patient care. This multifunctional center, designed to foster clinical research in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, provided research education, mentoring, and small grants to members. It advocated for increased funding for clinical research at the national level and disseminated information

dedicated otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to discover new approaches for diagnosing and treating ear, nose, and throat disorders. In 2003 a new program was launched, Building Evidence of Successful Treatment in ENT (BEST ENT) to expand and improve the evidence base for the most effective treatment options in otolaryngology. The program had a dual mission—to conduct clinical research in community-based practices and to promote evidence based otolaryngology. Network participants accessed a valuable educational experience by participating in the planning, implantation, oversight, and analysis of this project. The Evidence Machine for Otolaryngology Evidence-based medicine (EBM) was a movement initiated by a broad coalition of clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and others. Recognizing that once information was widely accessible, it became possible to gather evidence from a variety of sources to support decisions, rather than relying solely on personal opinion, experience, or tradition. An imperative for EBM that included a time-consuming literature review process resulted in the creation of the AAO-HNSF Evidence Machine—a logical processing system—to gather, evaluate, and improve the “best available evidence” about otolaryngology-related clinical interventions in a uniform, valid, and timely fashion. The Evidence Machine, a term coined by Dr. Johnson, used the existing Clinical Indicators Compendium as a basis for establishing a clinical research agenda for the AAO-HNSF. Six focus groups were formed and met to develop focused clinical questions related to each of the clinical indicators falling within the group’s clinical focus area. This was a fundamental step of conducing a critical

about the accomplishments and value of clinical research in otolaryngology. NCPRO provided services and products to members including the CORE grant program, the annual Research Forum, an office-based research network, the Daiichi Clinical Scholars Program, information on sources of funding for research, and advocacy for funding of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery research issues with the National Institutes of Health and other agencies. Research, which broadened the scope of the specialty, resulted from the effort of

2003: Members voted on the addition of the “Statement on Qualifications and Guidelines for the Physician Expert Witness” to the Code of Ethics that would allow for disciplinary action against members offering false or misleading testimony as medical expert witnesses in professional liability trials.

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