Six years after balloon sinuplasty was introduced to the otolaryngology community, it remains an evolving technology. “In my opinion, balloon dilatation has great potential, but it’s still trying to find its proper place in the ENT arena,” said Ralph Metson, MD, clinical professor of otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston.
Otolaryngologists with a desire to broaden their careers beyond traditional medical practice have several options. Programs exist that can open doors into medical leadership, health policy work, clinical and outcomes research and public office. Opportunities are available at all stages of a physician’s career. Here’s a look at a handful of programs that aim to provide physicians with the tools they need to take their careers in a new direction.
In my January 2011 column (“A Seller’s Market: How to prepare your practice for sale to a hospital”), I described the growing trend of physicians selling their practices to hospitals and large health systems and then working for the hospital or health system. This trend is expected to continue in full force through 2012. As I noted in my January article, the physician’s post-sale arrangement is the driver for the growth of the physician’s practice within the hospital or health system.
What can be done to help patients with narrow nasal passages and/or nasal discomfort during office-based laser laryngeal surgery? Background: Although channeled flexible laryngoscopes have permitted a transnasal approach for biopsies, […]
For patients with advanced-stage oropharyngeal cancer, how does transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) + adjuvant therapy impact swallowing function? Background: For survival reasons, patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer have elected adjuvant therapy, […]
Are physician extenders a valuable asset to an outpatient otolaryngology practice? Background: Use of physician extenders, nurse practitioners and physician assistants is increasing in specialty and subspecialty medicine. The field of […]
Do the costs and benefits of cochlear implantation differ between infants and older children? Background: While many studies show more rapid auditory and cognitive development in early cochlear implantation, other studies […]
In patients who have failed medical management for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), are there greater quality of life (QOL) outcome improvements with further medical therapy or endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS)? Background: Although […]
Are anatomic variations of the middle turbinate (MT), such as concha bullosa and paradoxical MT, associated with nasal septal deviation or chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)? Background: CRS has multiple underlying causes. Although […]
Close on the heels of the evidence-based medicine movement comes increasing pressure for physicians and health care institutions to develop and implement quality improvement measures that will not only improve quality of care, but also reduce medical costs and provide a way to measure performance by physicians and institutions. Integral to this process is the development of appropriate metrics by which to measure outcomes and physician performance that accurately reflect otolaryngology and its subspecialties. Two sessions at the recent 2011 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting held here Sept. 13 highlighted issues that are important for otolaryngologists striving to meet the growing demand for quality improvement.