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News -> February, 1999 News
More than two years ago, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head
and Neck Surgery joined pharmaceutical giant Ortho-McNeil to launch a
public education campaign regarding sinusitis and the need for appropriate
treatment for this disorder. The results of this alliance were impressive.
A new leaflet, "Is it more than just a cold or allergy?" became one of our
most popular patient information tools; a toll-free patient hotline sponsored
by Ortho-McNeil garnered thousands of calls requesting information on
sinusitis; and a New York Times health column on sinusitis and otolaryngology
eventually reached 35 million readers in more than 100 newspapers.
When this public education campaign ended, the Academy continued to "beat
the drum" to alert the public that specialized care is often required to
diagnose and treat sinusitis and related disorders. This effort included
making numerous CME materials available to our members: two CETVs and a
SIPac on endoscopic sinus surgery, a slide lecture on allergic rhinitis,
two new patient education videos on sinus and sinus surgery, and patient
outcomes software on rhinosinusitis. We also publicized our members'
research efforts presented at the AAO-HNSF annual meeting as well as
continuing to present otolaryngologist - head and neck surgeons to the
public and media as authoritative in this field.
Another step was taken in late 1997, when the Academy elected to sponsor
the first "Sinus Pain Awareness Month" which will be recognized for the
first time in February, 1999. This recognition has been posted in the
American Hospital Association's Health Observances & Recognition Calendar.
The response has been encouraging, revealing that the public is eager
for information on a medical disorder that causes pain and discomfort
to more than 35 million Americans. So far, Academy staff members have
fielded requests for information from health care facilities, the media,
and public. A public education package is, at this time, being prepared.
The success of the Academy's efforts provides compelling evidence that
the Coalition for Sinus and Allergy is the appropriate next step for
otolaryngologists to retain primacy in the diagnosis and treatment of
sinus disorders. I view the cooperative effort now underway between
the AAOA, ARS and the AAO-HNS as a pooling of talent and experience
that will superbly meet the public demand for accurate and definitive
information about the diagnosis and treatment for sinus disorders.
I look forward to next year when the Coalition will present its agenda
enabling that body to be a major voice in our specialty's effort to
inform and educate the public.
Harold C. "Rick" Pillsbury, M.D., President
American Academy of Otolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery
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