Published: May 28, 2020

Society Spotlight: AAOA

Building off of Simon Sinek’s Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2011) at our recent strategic retreat, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) leadership focused on how to engage members, what drives members, and what the AAOA can do to meet member needs.

Providing Clinical Pearls in Allergy and Immunology

Alpen A. Patel, MD, AAOA President

Alpen A. Patel, MDAlpen A. Patel, MD

AaoaBuilding off of Simon Sinek’s Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2011) at our recent strategic retreat, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) leadership focused on how to engage members, what drives members, and what the AAOA can do to meet member needs. The AAOA has had a strong education curriculum at its forefront for years. In addition to our free annual meeting (October 23–25, Scottsdale, Arizona), our education resources support the basic (July 9–11, Orlando, Florida) and advanced (December 9–12, Vail, Colorado) courses in allergy and immunology. We aim to offer members some clinical pearls or takeaways that can be implemented in their practices. The AAOA has rebuilt the annual meeting to integrate clinical medicine with the business of medicine. A better understanding of coding, service lines, optimal workflows, staffing, and contracting is valuable as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve and physicians need to work more efficiently.

As the AAOA looks forward in 2020, we have had some advances in our field, which we are incorporating in our programming. We are also developing resources for these topics.

 

USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations

The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has issued new guidance for in-office physician compounding. Guidelines specific to allergy immunotherapy preparation are under Section 21 (https://www.usp.org/compounding/general-chapter-797). Currently, implementation is on hold due to the appeal process. The new guidelines have some key stipulations related to personnel, hygiene and garbing, labeling, documentation, etc. The AAOA has developed an online compliance tool, along with several other resources in its Practice Resource Tool Kit, to help practices understand and comply with these guidelines. Information is available on the AAOA website at http://www.aaoallergy.org/.

 

Biologics in Otolaryngology

Biologics and their role in nasal polyposis, AERD, asthma, and atopic dermatitis have been a focus for the AAOA. The AAOA has a workgroup crafting a review of biologics, clinical trials, and how this research translates to everyday patient care and management. The 2020 AAOA Annual Meeting this fall will feature many sessions on the practical application of biologics in an otolaryngology practice.

 

Peanut Allergy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new treatment option for patients with peanut allergy. The new drug, Palforzia, is not a cure but may reduce risk for children and their families who live with the fear of accidental exposure to peanuts. Approved for children ages 4–17, it is dosed in increasing amounts of peanut protein to reach the maximum dose (usually around six months). Palforzia is designed to provide a “safety net” in the event of an accidental exposure.

Like many of my colleagues, I am excited to see how these new therapeutic options will improve outcomes in our patients. I recognize that this is a challenging time to practice otolaryngology and allergy, especially with the recent pandemic. Nonetheless, I am optimistic and confident that the house of medicine will prevail, and the practice of medicine will be just as rewarding as ever.

More from June 2020 – Vol. 39, No. 5
Aao Hnsf Awards
Congratulations Residents and Fellows
Congratulations Residents and Fellows
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Humanitarian Travel Grant: Otolaryngology and Plastic Surgery in Rural Belize
Thanks to the generous support from the AAO-HNSF Humanitarian Travel Grant, I had the opportunity to serve the people of Corozal, Belize, in February. I traveled with Partners for Belize, a group that has been helping the people of Corozal for over 10 years. Corozal has an underserved and predominately rural population of 90,000 in northern Belize.
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Incorporating Advanced Practice Providers into Your Practice
Congratulations! Now that you have recruited an advanced practice provider (APP), we will review the final crucial steps for successful integration into your practice—onboarding tips and optimizing financial relationships. In the prior three APP Bulletin articles in this series, we reviewed APP training and scope of practice, the benefits of working with APPs, and recruitment and contracting.
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Transition to In-office Treatments: Allergy
During this unprecedented season of social distancing and significant restrictions in patient care as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it is easy to feel helpless in finding ways to help our patients and our communities. Without question, our systems for delivery of otolaryngic and allergy care to our patients will change as a result of this pandemic.
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AAO-HNSF Partners with OM1 to Empower More Measured and Precise Care and Treatments for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Collaboration enables otolaryngologists and researchers to leverage data for real-world evidence, outcomes, and personalized medicine programs.
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Tech Talk: Demystifying the Cloud
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June is National Dysphagia Month
Patients with throat discomfort are frequently seen in otolaryngology clinics, with population-based studies from the United States reporting 12.5% of otherwise healthy people reporting globus, reaching as high as 46% in some series. Distinguishing globus—first described by Hippocrates 2,500 years ago—from bona fide swallowing impairment can be challenging.
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From the Education Committees: Skin Prick Testing for Environmental Allergens
Allergic rhinitis is a common problem and is estimated to impact approximately 35% of the general population. With such a high prevalence and multiple manifestations of the disease in the head and neck, it is not a surprise that allergic rhinitis is encountered frequently by otolaryngologists.
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How to Identify and Protect Yourself Against Predatory Journals
Members are always encouraged to collaborate and share your research, findings, and thought leadership with the otolaryngology specialty at large. You may even receive unsolicited invitations to submit your research to a new, open access journal or to join a new editorial board. Unfortunately, not all of these “opportunities” are legitimate and do not ultimately promote the science and practice of medicine.
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Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the Forefront of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The arrival of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in winter 2020 marked a watershed moment in international healthcare. As information began to circulate about the rapidly expanding pandemic, it became clear early in its expansion that this respiratory virus would have a significant impact on otolaryngologists and their patients.
Gears 02 01
Federal Relief for Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeons Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
As the novel coronavirus has spread in communities across the United States, the AAO-HNS has fiercely advocated for relief for otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons on the federal level. With the steadfast support of AAO-HNS members through grassroots advocacy, the Academy has worked to negotiate on behalf of the specialty to ensure that our members and the patients they serve are protected during this unprecedented time.
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The Power of Project 535
There are few tools more powerful than direct advocacy between a constituent and a member of Congress. Project 535 was established in 2015 by the Board of Governors in order to create an avenue for AAO-HNS members to get involved in direct advocacy on issues which significantly impact our specialty.
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Advocacy in Action: A Win for Children in Virginia
Working over a holiday weekend in January, the AAO-HNS, the Virginia Society of Otolaryngology, and the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics coalesced to inform Commonwealth of Virginia legislators of their significant concerns surrounding SB 423, a bill to require health insurance coverage of hearing aids for minors.
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Private Payer Advocacy Spotlight: Wins and Challenges
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2020 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience “Hot Topic” Education Programming
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a
Trauma Symposium: Wartime and Peacetime Advances in Head and Neck Reconstruction
The AAO-HNS Trauma Committee and the Society of Military Otolaryngologists (SMO) Annual Symposium will present continuing medical education (CME) sessions starting at 5:00 pm, Saturday, September 12, at the AAO-HNSF 2020 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience in Boston. The education sessions include a panel discussion on rehabilitation of facial paralysis and a lecture on facial transplantation.
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#OTOMTG20 to Feature Keynote from Physician and Renowned Thought Leader, Joel Selanikio, MD
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Featured Lectures
Anand K. Devaiah, MD, is director of the Biomedical & Health Technology Development & Transfer Domain at the Institute for Health System Innovation & Policy (IHSIP). He is an associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, with joint appointments in Neurological Surgery and Ophthalmology at the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center. His clinical interests center around skull base surgery, including endoscopic approaches to the cranial base.
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The Executive Committees (ECs) of the Boards of Directors (BODs) were presented with the Finance and Investment Subcommittee (FISC) proposed budget for the next fiscal year, July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021 (FY21), and endorsed it for approval by the BODs. During their May meeting, the BODs reviewed and conditionally approved the FY21 budget that is presented here to the membership.
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New Flagship Education Product: Focused Lifelong Education Xperience
This past year, the AAO-HNSF Education Committees and Foundation staff have been working to develop an ambitious new program set forth by the Future of Education Task Force to propel our Foundation education agenda forward for the next five to 10 years. This program, the Academy’s new flagship education product, is FLEX—Focused Lifelong Education Xperience. It will replace the Home Study Course, which is sunsetting this year after more than three decades.
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Sitting sequestered in my home after a shortened day of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mixed feelings persist. Sadness looms given the amount of sickness and mortality that has stricken the world, but the amount of self-reflection, quality time with my wife and kids, and even exercise (yes, it does exist) that has occurred over the past three weeks has been a refreshing change.
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Individual and System Well-being: How Do We Resume Caring for Others during and Post Pandemic?
The insightful article “Peer Support: Taking Care of Ourselves and Each Other,” by Jo A. Shapiro, MD, in the May issue inspired us to focus on four core principles during and after the COVID pandemic:
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I have spent considerably more time during the last three months reading about, researching, and commenting on viral disease than in the previous 40+ years of my medical career. The current COVID-19 pandemic lately has focused my interest on several aspects related to the consequences of this widespread, easily transmissible virus that happens to be highly concentrated in areas of our primary expertise, the nose, nasopharynx, and pharynx.
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Over the course of just three months, the COVID-19 pandemic has fractured several assumptions commonly held by the medical establishment—including hospitals, health systems, health plan executives, physicians, and patients alike—about traditional provision of medical care and also patient attitudes and behaviors toward healthcare.
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Clinging to clichés that include “silver linings” or “lemons to lemonade” seems challenging at best these days; however, daily we are becoming more equipped to find our way sustained by optimism, positivity, and hope that we will get through this.