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Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 129(2)

Figure 1. Number of eConsults placed by month.

Table 2. Complaints within each ENT subcategory.

Table 2. (continued)

Number of Patients (%)

Number of Patients (%)

Complaint

Complaint

Ear Tinnitus

Parotid cyst

1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%) 2 (2.9%)

12 (17.4%) 8 (11.6%)

Submandibular sialadenitis

Hearing loss

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Middle ear dysfunction (acute or chronic otitis media, Eustachian tube dysfunction, tympanic membrane perforation)

6 (8.7%)

Total

69 (100%)

Note . The total reflected in this table (69) is greater than the total number of patients in the study (64) because some patients presented with multiple complaints.

Cerumen removal

2 (2.9%)

Nose Sinusitis

4 (5.8%) 2 (2.9%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%)

Rhinitis/rhinorrhea

Table 3 categorizes the initial interventions offered to patients via initial eConsultation as (1) education only (no intervention), (2) suggestion of medical management to be provided by the PCP, or (3) surgical management. A sugges tion for providing medical management (67.2%) or surgical management (20.3%) comprised the majority of interven tions offered. In-person consultation was recommended in 17.2% of all cases. Table 3. Interventions offered in response to initial eConsult referrals. In-Person Follow-Up Required? Yes No Total P -value Education only 1 (12.5%) 7 (87.5%) 22 Suggest medical therapy 5 (11.6%) 38 (88.4%) 43 Suggest surgical therapy 5 (38.5%) 8 (61.5%) 13 Total 11 (17.2%) 53 (82.8%) 64 .075

Epistaxis

Nasal obstruction

Incidental finding on imaging Benign nasopalatine cyst Throat Lip/oral lesion, tongue laceration Chronic cough/gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

7 (10.1%) 1 (1.4%)

Hoarseness Sore throat Dysphagia Dysgeusia

5 (7.2%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%) 1 (1.4%)

Fibroma

Incidental finding on imaging

Other (canceled)

Neck Thyroid mass or thyroid nodules

3 (4.3%) 5 (7.2%)

Neck mass

(continued)