Lancaster Ear, Nose and Throat LLC
What is the greatest challenge our specialty is currently facing and how would you advocate for action through member engagement?
Our specialty’s greatest challenge is being able to continue to practice high quality patient care in an environment that challenges the importance of the physician patient interaction. The impact of the electronic health record and its time constraints along with declining reimbursements and increased overhead costs make the delivery of high quality care increasingly difficult to provide. The added burden of COVID-19 only adds to the challenge. Utilizing the American Academy of Otolaryngology to advocate on otolaryngologist’s behalf to educate legislators, insurers, third party payors, and our patients on issues that impact patient care in a timely fashion is of vital importance.
Effective communication between the Board of Governors and state, local, specialty societies, and grassroot members to promote understanding and support for legislative, socioeconomic, and clinical optimum outcomes is critical in enhancing chances for successful change. Using the BOG as a conduit for the exchange of information will impact greater awareness and action. Promoting the BOG website as an effective venue for information, assistance, and coordination of effort and inclusivity will optimize chances for successful outcomes. Utilizing state and specialty societies own ENT Connect platforms to more effectively communicate with grassroot members and the AAO can be promoted to enhance engagement.
What initiatives would you recommend strengthening the relationship and engagement opportunities between AAO-HNS state, local, and specialty BOG societies?
Initiatives that would strengthen the relationship and engagement opportunities between the AAO and state, local, and specialty BOG societies must center around effective and accurate communication, education, and inclusivity. The BOG website now offers links to tool kits that highlight efforts of its 3 committees that work to promote legislative and socioeconomic concerns and support mentoring of young physicians. The Regional Rep Program strives to foster unity and coordination of issues that impact various parts of the country looking for ways to solidify and organize action and response. Promoting the AAO staff’s efforts to continuously update and ensure that accurate contact information is accessible to state and local societies for the timely handling of concerns is very important.
Many advances have been created to assist our members in understanding options when faced with challenging legislative, socioeconomic, and clinical concerns but there still seems to be a lack of understanding on how to access that help from our members. The establishment of an ENT Hotline that requires a response from the AAO within 24 hours is an option to consider. Promoting an OTO Roundtable discussion twice per year instead of once to promote the timely discussion of important matters impacting state and local societies should be considered. This would include time at the Spring BOG Leadership meeting and in the Fall at the Annual meeting. Assisting state and specialty societies in developing their own ENT Connect platforms to facilitate the sharing of information and concerns between their grassroot members, state specialty societies, and the AAO should be considered. The importance of effective and inclusive communication cannot be overstated.
