Skilled Observation During the Office Visit Is Key

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
PAUL ENGSTROM
Keyword(s):  
Office Visit

scholarly journals Reliability and Accuracy of Remote Fiberoptic Nasopharyngolaryngoscopy in the Pediatric Population

2020 ◽  
pp. 014556132091910
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Miller ◽  
Adva Buzi ◽  
Ashley Williams ◽  
Rachel S. Rogers ◽  
Angel G. Ortiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Office Visit ◽  
Rater Agreement ◽  
Vocal Cords ◽  
Coupling Device ◽  
Overall Evaluation ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Device Use ◽  
False Vocal

Introduction: Telemedicine is an increasingly prevalent component of medical practice. In otolaryngology, there is the potential for telemedicine services to be performed in conjunction with device use, such as with a nasolaryngoscope. This study evaluates the reliability of remote examinations of the upper airway through an iPhone recording using a coupling device attached to a nasopharyngolaryngoscope (NPL). Methods: A prospective, blinded study was performed for pediatric patients requiring an NPL during an office visit. The NPL was performed using a coupling device attached to a smartphone to record the examination. A second, remote otolaryngologist then evaluated the recorded examination. Both otolaryngologists evaluated findings of anatomic sites including nasopharynx, oropharynx, base of tongue, larynx including subsites of epiglottis, arytenoids, aryepiglottic folds, false vocal cords, true vocal cords, patency of airway, and diagnostic impression, all of which were documented through a survey. Results of the survey were evaluated through inter-rater agreement using the κ statistic. Results: Forty-five patients underwent an NPL, all of which were included in the study. The average age was 4.9 years. The most common complaint requiring NPL was noisy breathing (n = 16). The inter-rater agreement for overall diagnosis was 0.74 with 80% percent agreement, rated as “good.” Other anatomic subsites with “good” or better inter-rater agreement were nasopharynx (0.75), oropharynx (0.75), and true vocal cords (0.71), with strong percentage agreement of 89%, 91%, and 87%, respectively. Both users of the adaptor found the recording setup to run smoothly. Conclusion: A telemedicine device for NPL use demonstrates strong diagnostic accuracy across providers and good overall evaluation. It holds potential for use in remote settings.

scholarly journals Remote heart failure management using a multiparameter implantable cardioverter-defibrillator alert: the multicentric RE-HEART registry

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J De Juan Baguda ◽  
J.J Gavira Gomez ◽  
M Pachon Iglesias ◽  
L Pena Conde ◽  
J.M Rubin Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator ◽  
Median Duration ◽  
Office Visit ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Cardiac Resynchronization ◽  
Office Visits ◽  
Icd Implantation ◽  
Cardioverter Defibrillator ◽  
Clinical Events

Abstract Background The HeartLogic algorithm combines multiple implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)-based sensors into an index for prediction of impending heart failure (HF) decompensation. In patients with ICD and cardiac resynchronization therapy ICD remotely monitored at 13 Spanish centers, we analyzed the association between clinical events and HeartLogic alerts and we described the use of the algorithm for the remote management of HF. Methods The association between clinical events and HeartLogic alerts was studied in the blinded phase (from ICD implantation to alert activation – no clinical actions taken in response to alerts) and in the following active phase (after alert activation – clinicians automatically notified in case of alert). Results We enrolled a total of 215 patients (67±13 years old, 77% male, 53% with ischemic cardiomyopathy) with ICD (19%) or CRT-D (81%). The median duration of the blinded phase was 8 [3–12] months. In this phase, the HeartLogic index crossed the threshold value (set by default to 16) 34 times in 20 patients. HeartLogic alerts were associated with 6 HF hospitalizations and 5 unplanned in-office visits for HF. Five additional HeartLogic threshold crossings were not associated with overt HF events, but occurred at the time of changes in drug therapy or of other clinical events. The rate of unexplained alerts was 0.25 alert-patient/year. The median time spent in alert was longer in the case of HF hospitalizations than of in-office visits (75 [min-max: 30–155] days versus 39 [min-max: 5–105] days). The maximum HeartLogic index value was 38±15 in the case of hospitalizations and 24±7 in that of minor HF events. The median duration of the following active phase was 5 [2–10] months. After HeartLogic activation, 40 alerts were reported in 26 patients. Twenty-seven (68%) alerts were associated with multiple HF- or non-HF related conditions or changes in prescribed HF therapy. Multiple actions were triggered by these alerts: HF hospitalization (4), unscheduled in-office visits (8), diuretics increase (8), change in other cardiovascular drugs (5), device reprogramming (2), atrial fibrillation ablation (1), patient education on therapy adherence (2). The rate of unexplained alerts not followed by any clinical action was 0.13 alert-patient/year. These alerts were managed remotely (device data review and phone contact), except for one alert that generated an unscheduled in-office visit. Conclusions HeartLogic index was frequently associated with HF-related clinical events. The activation of the associated alert allowed to remotely detect relevant clinical conditions and to implement clinical actions. The rate of unexplained alerts was low, and the work required in order to exclude any impending decompensation did not constitute a significant burden for the centers. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Development and Evaluation of a Prediabetes Decision Aid in Primary Care: Examining Patient-Reported Outcomes by Language Preference and Educational Attainment

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-227
Author(s):  
Keerthi Bandi ◽  
Maria C. Vargas ◽  
Azucena Lopez ◽  
Kenzie A. Cameron ◽  
Ronald T. Ackermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Decision Aid ◽  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
Office Visit ◽  
Decisional Conflict ◽  
Language Preference ◽  
Intention To Adopt ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
Almost All

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the development and preliminary effectiveness of a novel Prediabetes Decision Aid on adoption of intensive lifestyle interventions (ILIs) and metformin. Little research has focused on increasing uptake of these evidence-based treatments, especially among non-English speakers and those with low educational attainment. Methods Investigators developed an English and Spanish decision aid displaying information about type 2 diabetes (T2DM) risk and treatments to prevent T2DM and prompting patients to identify next steps for management. This pilot study was a single-arm, pretest-posttest trial of 40 adult patients with prediabetes, obesity, and ≥1 office visit within the prior 12 months. Participants reviewed this tool briefly with a study team member, and data were collected on 3 coprimary outcomes: knowledge about T2DM risk, decisional conflict, and intention to adopt treatment. Exploratory outcomes included subsequent documentation of prediabetes in chart notes and adoption of ILIs or metformin. Results Almost all participants were women, with nearly half expressing Spanish language preference and low educational attainment. A nonsignificant increase in knowledge was observed across all subgroups. Decisional conflict was significantly reduced from pretest to posttest and was similar between subgroups defined by language preference and educational attainment. While intention to adopt ILIs increased across all subgroups, this change was only significant among Spanish speakers and participants with low educational attainment. At 6 months, 17 participants had subsequent provider documentation of prediabetes, and 12 adopted ILIs or metformin. Conclusions The decision aid improved patient-reported outcomes and promoted treatment adoption in a diverse patient sample.

scholarly journals Delivering Personalized Care at a Distance: How Telemedicine Can Foster Getting to Know the Patient as a Person

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Janet Record ◽  
Roy Ziegelstein ◽  
Colleen Christmas ◽  
Cynthia Rand ◽  
Laura Hanyok
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Office Visit ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Office Visits ◽  
Patient Centeredness ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Personalized Care ◽  
High Satisfaction

The promise of precision medicine is based on the use of new technologies to better characterize patients by defining individuals in the areas of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and other aspects of biologic variability. Wise application of modern technology can similarly transform health visits with patients, allowing for better characterization of the patient’s individual life circumstances than possible in a traditional office visit. The use of, and experience with, telemedicine have increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and clinicians report high satisfaction with telemedicine, and the quality of communication and patient-centeredness experienced in this setting are both rated highly. In this article, we explore the benefits offered by telemedicine in facilitating personalized care with particular focus on telemedicine delivered by video platforms. We propose strategies and skills specific to the effective implementation of personalized telemedicine, drawing on literature in patient-centered communication and home visits. While traditional in-person office visits continue to offer important opportunities such as thorough physical examination and the potential for enhanced non-verbal communication, telemedicine offers many important advantages that can facilitate the process of getting to know the patient as a person.

scholarly journals Implementing Telemedicine Visits in an Underserved Ophthalmology Clinic in the COVID-19 Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272199627
Author(s):  
Mona Adeli ◽  
William R. Bloom
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Office Visit ◽  
Medically Underserved ◽  
Uninsured Patients ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Ocular Morbidity

Introduction: Many of the potential barriers to providing telehealth services already disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. The purpose of this study was to assess the incorporation of synchronous ophthalmology telemedicine visits in a tertiary university-based ophthalmology clinic for low-income and uninsured patients in the COVID-19 era. Methods: The records of 18 patients who were due for an in-person visit in the medically underserved patient clinic at our institute were reviewed. Patients considered high risk of ocular morbidity progression were approved to proceed with an in-person visit. Patients with non-urgent visit indications were attempted to be contacted by telephone to be offered a telemedicine telephone visit as an alternative to a postponed in-person office visit. Results: Clinical triage by an attending ophthalmologist determined that 17 patients (94.4%, n = 18) had visit indications appropriate for evaluation by telemedicine. Six patients (35.3%, n = 17) were successfully contacted and offered a telemedicine visit as an alternative to a postponed in-person office visit. All 6 patients accepted, scheduled, and completed a telemedicine visit. Eleven patients (64.7%, n = 17) were not able to be successfully contacted to offer and schedule either a telemedicine visit or a postponed in-person office visit. Patients who were not able to be successfully contacted were on average younger in age and more likely to be female, Hispanic/Latino, from Latin America, with a preferred language of Spanish. Conclusions: Synchronous ophthalmology telemedicine visits can be successfully incorporated in a tertiary university-based setting for low-income and uninsured patients. The primary barrier to providing telemedicine visits in this population was the ability to successfully contact patients to offer and schedule these visits.

Relationship of Depression Screening and Physician Office Visit Duration in a National Sample

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 1126-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Schmitt ◽  
Michael J. Miller ◽  
Donald L. Harrison ◽  
Bryan K. Touchet
Keyword(s):  
Office Visit ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Depression Screening ◽  
Physician Office Visit ◽  
Physician Office ◽  
Visit Duration ◽  
Relationship Of

Height of aneurysm neck and estimated extent of brain retraction: powerful predictors of olfactory dysfunction after surgery for unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms

2016 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 720-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaechan Park ◽  
Wonsoo Son ◽  
Duck-Ho Goh ◽  
Dong-Hun Kang ◽  
Joomi Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Office Visit ◽  
Olfactory Nerve ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Maximum Diameter ◽  
Anterior Communicating Artery ◽  
Aneurysm Surgery ◽  
Aneurysm Neck ◽  
Brain Retraction

OBJECT The highest incidence of olfactory dysfunction following a pterional approach and its modifications for an intracranial aneurysm has been reported in cases of anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms. The radiological characteristics of unruptured ACoA aneurysms affecting the extent of retraction of the frontal lobe and olfactory nerve were investigated as risk factors for postoperative olfactory dysfunction. METHODS A total of 102 patients who underwent a pterional or superciliary keyhole approach to clip an unruptured ACoA aneurysm from 2006 to 2013 were included in this study. Those patients who complained of permanent olfactory dysfunction after their aneurysm surgery, during a postoperative office visit or a telephone interview, were invited to undergo an olfactory test, the Korean version of the Sniffin’ Sticks test. In addition, the angiographic characteristics of ACoA aneurysms, including the maximum diameter, the projecting direction of the aneurysm, and the height of the neck of the aneurysm, were all recorded based on digital subtraction angiography and sagittal brain images reconstructed using CT angiography. Furthermore, the extent of the brain retraction was estimated based on the height of the ACoA aneurysm neck. RESULTS Eleven patients (10.8%) exhibited objective olfactory dysfunction in the Sniffin’ Sticks test, among whom 9 were anosmic and 2 were hyposmic. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the direction of the ACoA aneurysm, ACoA aneurysm neck height, and estimated extent of brain retraction were statistically significant risk factors for postoperative olfactory dysfunction. Based on a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, an ACoA aneurysm neck height > 9 mm and estimated brain retraction > 12 mm were chosen as the optimal cutoff values for differentiating anosmic/hyposmic from normosmic patients. The values for the area under the ROC curves were 0.939 and 0.961, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In cases of unruptured ACoA aneurysm surgery, the height of the aneurysm neck and the estimated extent of brain retraction were both found to be powerful predictors of the occurrence of postoperative olfactory dysfunction.

scholarly journals 19 A guide to understanding your anatomy: A pre-office visit patient video

2021 ◽  
Vol 224 (6) ◽  
pp. S819
Author(s):  
E. Franks ◽  
P. Khalighi ◽  
T.M. Muffly
Keyword(s):  
Office Visit

Abstract 388: Quality Improvement in the Outpatient Setting: Observations from the PINNACLE Registry® 2009 Q4-2013 Q1

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Kehoe ◽  
Sherry Shultz ◽  
Fran Fiocchi ◽  
Qiong Li ◽  
Thomas Shields ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Office Visit ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
The South ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Heart Center ◽  
Over Time

Title: Quality Improvement in the Outpatient Setting: Observations from the PINNACLE Registry® 2009 Q4-2013 Q1 Authors: Katie Kehoe BSN, MS 1 ; Sherry Shultz RN, BSN, CIO 2 ; Fran Fiocchi MPH 1 ; Qiong Li PhD 1 ; Thomas Shields 1 ; Charlie Devlin MD FACC, FACP, FASNC 2 ; Nathan T Glusenkamp, MA 1 ; J. Brendan Mullen 1 ; Angelo Ponirakis, PhD 1 ; 1 American College of Cardiology, Washington, DC 2 South Carolina Heart Center, Columbia SC Background: The PINNACLE Registry® at the American College of Cardiology is the first outpatient practice-based quality improvement program in the United States. Begun as a pilot program in 2007, the registry systematically collects and reports on adherence to clinical guidelines in the care of patients with coronary artery disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Over time, these reports offer a unique opportunity for Quality Improvement (QI) in the outpatient setting. The current study aimed to assess the effect of QI in the outpatient setting using PINNACLE Registry data. Methods: The South Carolina Heart Center is a cardiovascular practice in Columbia, South Carolina. There are 19 providers, 5 office locations and NextGen EMR. The practice’s Quality Committee and Board meet monthly to review PINNACLE reports and identify areas for QI. This Clinical Quality Improvement Initiative began 10 years ago and consists of physicians, nurses, administrators, medical assistants, a medical record analyst and information systems staff. During this review, providers’ data was not blinded to others. QI Interventions implemented included physician and staff education, improving documentation during the office visit, addition of necessary fields to capture missing data and routine planned internal audits. Between October 1, 2009 and March 31, 2013 a total of 161,873 patient encounters were submitted to the registry. A two-tailed z test was performed to assess the significance in percentage changes between 2009 to 2013. Results: The following table showed significant percentage changes in six performance measures indicating interventions implemented by the practice demonstrate significant quality improvement over time from 2009-2013. Conclusions: Utilizing their PINNACLE Registry reports, the South Carolina Heart Center identified several areas for QI. Implementing multiple interventions, this practice was able to significantly improve their PINNACLE Reports and the quality of care provided.

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