Ten otolaryngologist--head and neck surgeons and members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery from northern and southern California have joined together for "Community ENT 2003," a one-day event sponsored by the California Medical Association to provide treatment for ear, nose, and throat disorders for children without access to specialty medical care.
This is the third year that ear, nose, and throat specialists will journey to Redding, the seat of Shasta County, to team with the local specialists to perform tonsillectomies, myringotomies, (placement of pressure equalization ("PE") tubes for chronic middle ear infection), and other outpatient procedures. The program is linked to the limited number of otolaryngologist--head and neck surgeons in the region, caused in part by inadequate reimbursement provided by California's Medi-Cal system to aid lower income families. Consequently, children reliant on Medi-Cal often must wait up to two years to receive specialty care.
The pediatric ear, nose, and throat procedures will occur at Redding Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center on February 8, 2003. Both facilities are offering the free use of operating rooms as well as the assistance of hospital anesthesiologists and other hospital staff. Since the launch of this initiative, more than 200 children have received treatment for a wide range of ear, nose, and throat disorders.
Academy members participating in Community ENT 2003 are: Robert del Junco MD, Navin Amin MD, Simon Madorsky MD, Edward Lee, MD, and Paul Krivitsky MD, all from Orange County California. Members from the Redding area include Jory Kaplan MD, Tim Frantz MD, R. Vanneman Spake MD, George Domb MD, and Garry Buxa MD.
Children and ear, nose, and throat disorders
Chronic middle ear infection, tonsillitis, and enlarged tonsils are among the most prevalent medical disorders affecting young children requiring a visit to a physician's office. For more than a century, otolaryngologist--head and neck surgeons have pioneered the development of new surgical procedures and other treatments that offer relief to the one in four children that suffer from middle ear infections and five percent of all teenagers with recurrent tonsillitis.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery is the medical society representing the nation's 8,500 ear, nose, and throat specialists. The Academy is currently sponsoring "Kids E.N.T. Health," a public education campaign online at http://www.entnet.org/KidsENT.
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