 |
|
 |
 |
| |
News -> February, 1999 News
The Coalition was initiated early last year as a joint effort by the American
Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the American
Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) and the American Rhinologic Society (ARS).
The charter was "to promote public and physician education and to further
quality medical care of sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and related disorders
on which otolaryngologists have unique expertise". Group members included
Drs. Jim Denneny, Jack Anon, Ivor Emanuel, Jim Hadley, Michael Benninger,
Vijay Anand and I. Plans were to increase the general visibility of
otolaryngologists among the public and primary care physicians, and to,
point-for-point, blunt the "Sinusitis Initiative" of the American Academy
of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology that has been funded with over $2 million
in pharmaceutical grants. I have, in prior columns, detailed the
Allergy/Immunology campaign, which recently has shifted from a public
information website, #800 number and the like approach to a primary care
physician lecture series ("Outcomes in Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis")
and literature releases, such as "Parameters for the Diagnosis and
Management of Sinusitis" (J All Clin Immunol 102:5106-144, 1998). In the
latter, it is interesting that rhinolaryngoscopy, nasal biopsies, sinus
radiography interpretation and the like were discussed, without indicating
the differences in training between those of allergy/immunology and of
otolaryngology backgrounds.
The Coalition is making remarkable progress, and the 3 constituent
organizations have exhibited close cooperation at the highest levels.
For instance, last month the AAO-HNS President, Dr. Rick Pillsbury,
sent a detailed protest letter to the allergy/immunology "Task Force
on Allergic Disorders: Promoting Best Practice" regarding a proposed
publication which places the otolaryngologist in a secondary position
to the allergist with regards to the managements of allergic rhinitis
and of rhinosinusitis. The Coalition has raised about $1 million in
pharmaceutical grants for its 1999 efforts, and hired a full-time
employee plus the public relations firm of Widmeyer Baker to staff
an #800 number and fax-on-demand services, to coordinate an "Allergy
and Sinus Month", to design a local advocacy campaign and to train the
otolaryngologist participants in such. Schering/Key has funded an
"Otolaryngology Outreach" effort and much of the Widmeyer Baker effort.
GlaxoWellcome has funded a "Distinguished Lecture Series" on rhinosinusitis
and/or allergic rhinitis to be offered gratis for the national meetings of
all major primary care organizations as well as the state medical
societies. Bristol Meyers Squibb has funded a demonstration program to
promulgate our views on rhinosinusitis to primary care physicians in the
New York area. Bayer, through their public relations arm MCI Vision,
has distributed over 2,200 slide sets on allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis
to otolaryngologists to use as a "canned lecture" for local medical
associations. Ortho McNeil is reassembling the Rhinosinusitis Task Force,
and is adding allergic rhinitis guidelines to that project. SmithKline
Beecham has underwritten the costs of a multi-specialty panel (internists,
pediatricians, family practitioners, otolaryngologists) to assemble
consensus guidelines on rhinosinusitis. Negotiations continue with
other pharmaceutical companies for support of various aspects of the
Coalition's goals.
A "Sinus Pain Awareness Month" of the AAO-HNS is scheduled for February.
Otolaryngologists with rhinosinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis interests
are encouraged to contact the AAO-HNS Governor who represents their
state/region for more information. Information on "Coalition" activities
in general can be obtained by contacting the Executive Director, Jami
Lucas, or her Coalition employee at the AAOA (#301-588-1800 or fax #301-588-2454).
In the not-too-distant future, we hope to have a web site for you to access
such information, leave e-mails and the like.
J. David Osguthorpe, M.D.
AAO-HNS Representative to the Coalition
|
|
|
|
|
