Clear up confusion about frustrating and persistent symptoms
March is Sinus Pain Awareness Month — the perfect time to reach out to current and prospective patients suffering from sinusitis, an often misunderstood and underdiagnosed condition. Now more than ever, patients need trusted medical experts to help them address symptoms like a stuffy or runny nose or sinus pain. Is it a cold? COVID-19? Something else?
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we believe it is critical for patients to be able to recognize and understand the different types of nasal and sinus symptoms when it comes to COVID-19, the common cold or upper respiratory infection, allergies or allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, and chronic or acute rhinosinusitis, commonly known as sinusitis,” said James C. Denneny III, M.D., executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).
Rendia can help at every step, from raising awareness around common sinusitis symptoms, to letting patients know what to expect from more extensive treatment options. Read on for strategies and videos to use with your ENT patients now.
Getting patients in the door
A recent Harris Poll of more than 2,000 U.S. adults found that chronic nasal congestion is a common problem. In fact, nearly one in four people who experienced nasal congestion experienced it almost every day, with the majority (85%) reporting that congestion negatively impacted their daily activities. Yet despite confusion about what might be causing their symptoms, fewer than half of people who suffer from chronic nasal congestion end up seeking help from a specialist.
There are many reasons patients don’t seek out ENTs for sinusitis. Patient education can help.
Why don’t more people seek out ENTs? There are a few reasons. Many patients may not know what an ENT is, what’s the difference between a cold or a sinus infection, or whether their symptoms are caused by a viral infection or a bacterial infection. They may not know if their symptoms will go away on their own, or if it will require a formal treatment plan such as balloon sinuplasty. They also may not realize that sinus infections are sometimes called sinusitis.
Raising awareness about balloon sinuplasty
One common treatment for sinusitis, balloon sinuplasty, is often a misunderstood and underappreciated treatment, even though it has been approved by the FDA since 2005. Here’s a video that can help you discuss this procedure with your patients.
Sinusitis is one of the top reasons antibiotics are prescribed in the U.S., yet many patients may be unaware that there are other treatment options available.
Sinusitis is one of the most common reasons for physician visits in the United States and also one of the top reasons that antibiotics are prescribed. However, it’s important to let patients know that there are many other treatment options available.
The message to patients should be that if they are not getting relief from home remedies for their symptoms (e.g., humidifier, warm compresses, allergy pills, cold medicine, etc.), there may be something else going on that warrants treatment by an ENT.
Educating patients about sinusitis
Some of our customers use this video to explain the different causes of sinusitis such as physical blockages or inflammation on their social media pages, website, or in emails to patients.
Here’s another video that can help patients distinguish between a cold and sinusitis and clarify when to seek treatment. Consider sharing this video with a call to action such as “If your cold-like symptoms have lasted more than 10 days, you may have sinusitis. Schedule an appointment today.”
Use Exam Mode to show patients how sinusitis can progress over time and illustrate various treatments such as balloon sinuplasty.
Once patients come in, you can use Rendia’s Exam Mode to educate them on the varying levels of treatment needed to address sinusitis depending on whether it’s mild or severe, acute or chronic. You can show patients visually how the condition can progress over time without treatment to help give them a better perspective on the long-term effects of their sinusitis. Check out our top 10 ENT Exam Mode clips for your ENT practice.
Sometimes, a patient does need more than just medications to address their sinusitis. Video can help better explain to patients how the procedure is minimally invasive, as well as illustrate how effective it can be for patients suffering from sinusitis.
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