Alexandria, VA —The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) has released updated Clinical Indicators for the public and physicians. Clinical indicators for otolaryngology serve as a checklist for practitioners and a quality care review tool for clinical departments. The Clinical Indicators are created by the AAO-HNS and its clinical committees.
"Clinical Indicators define a basis of medical necessity for a range of procedures…their intent is to help practitioners engage in the best practices, reduce errors and improve value of care received as much as humanly possible," said Richard Waguespack, MD, Coordinator for Socioeconomic Affairs and Co-Chair of the Physician Payment Policy (3P) Workgroup that led the revision effort.
"They also include procedure-specific post-operative observations, outcome issues suggested for use by institutions and surgeons, and a patient information section that physicians can use during surgical counseling."
The newly updated indicators include: Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Nasal Endoscopy, Canalith Repositioning, Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy, and Adentonsillectomy, Septoplasty, Adenoidectomy, Laryngoscope/ Nasopharyngoscopy, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Pediatric, and Neck Dissection. These indicators are intended as suggestions, not rules, and should be modified by users when deemed medically necessary based on clinical judgment and expertise.
The following physicians serve as chairs of respective AAO-HNS clinical committees that assisted in the review of the updated indicators: Richard Waguespack, MD, Michael Setzen, MD, the Physician Payment Policy (3P) Workgroup; David Tunkel, MD, the Pediatric Otolaryngology Committee; Pell Wardrop, MD, the Sleep Disorders Committee; Scott Stringer, MD, the Rhinology & Paranasal Sinus Committee; Daniel Deschler, MD, the Head and Neck Surgery & Oncology Committee; Robert Jackler, MD, the Hearing Committee; Donna Millay, MD, the Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Committee; and Milan Amin, MD, the Airway & Swallowing Committee.
The Clinical Indicators were originally developed in 1988 by the Academy's Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (PSQI) Committee.
The newly updated Clinical Indicators can be found on the AAO-HNS website at: http://www.entnet.org/Practice/clinicalIndicators.cfm.
About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (www.entnet.org), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents nearly 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's vision: "Empowering otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care."