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Comprehensive Otolaryngology

Resource Depletion in Otolaryngology: Managing Patients When Barriers Exist

Monday, October 2, 2023
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Ballroom C1

    Panelist(s)

  • BW

    Brooke Webster, PLMHP, PCMSW

    Medical Social Worker
    Nebraska Methodist Health System
    Papillion, NE, USA

  • Neerav Goyal, MD MPH FACS

    Associate Professor; Division Chief Head and Neck Surgery; Vice Chair Patient Safety and Quality
    Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
    Hershey, PA, United States

    • Moderator(s)

  • Heather A. Edwards, MD

    Chief, Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
    Boston University
    Boston, MA, United States

    • Panelist(s)

  • Nikolaus E. Wolter, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS

    Otolaryngologist
    Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
    Toronto, ON, Canada

Disclosure(s):
Neerav Goyal, MD MPH FACS: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Heather A. Edwards, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Nikolaus E. Wolter, MD, MSc: No relevant relationships to disclose.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Managing complex otolaryngology patients can be demanding; even more so when social determinants of health exist. This panel is designed to shed light on common issues that arise while caring for patients in these challenging situations. Resource depletion represents one of the most significant issues for our patients, manifesting in a variety of ways. In this panel, we will focus on issues related to Geographic, Emotional, Financial, and Caregiver resource depletion. These limitations play a major role in clinical care and ethical decision making which will be highlighted in our panel discussions. Specific ethical issues to be discussed include patient autonomy vs paternalism, surgical vs non-surgical therapy, the decision to modify standards of care, and managing support networks that may or may not be present. We hope that this panel will provide insight as to how to provide optimal care when faced with these ethical quandaries.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Describe common barriers to care for patients with complex otolaryngology conditions when social determinants of health exist.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Identify programs and resources available to patients, through social work avenues, to maximize likelihood of treatment success.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Explore ethical considerations to decision making when resource deplete situations exist.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: To explore resource deplete settings in otolaryngology and to develop strategies to help patients navigate these challenges. The goal is to provide practitioners with resources and skills to manage these patients in a systematic, equitable and ethical manner.