Explain complex anatomy and show condition progression to patients
Conditions that affect the ear, nose and throat can be especially challenging for patients. Inner ear conditions, snoring and laryngitis, for example, are often chronic, uncomfortable and frustrating. By the time patients get to a healthcare provider, they may have already been suffering from their symptoms for a while.
Rendia’s Exam Mode is a great tool for ENT providers to help explain complex topics to patients. With the click of a button, ENTs can teach patients about anatomy, explain their findings visually and counsel patients on treatment options in just a few seconds. Here are 10 of the top ways our customers are using Rendia Exam Mode in their ENT practices.
Top 10 clips to show your patients
1. Nasal Sinus Anterior, Overlay: Enlarged Turbinates – show how parts inside the nasal passages swell and cause discomfort and difficulty with breathing through the nose, and how different factors like seasonal allergies, chronic sinusitis and other irritants can cause swelling of the nasal passages.
2. Nasal Sinus Anterior, Overlay: Deviated Septum – show that when the septum deviates to one side more than the other, causing one nasal canal to be smaller than the other, this can cause issues with breathing.
ENT Exam Mode can help patients visualize the eustachian tube — oriented differently in children vs. adults — which can cause ear infections when fluid builds up.
3. Eustachian, Overlay: Eustachian Tube Dysfunction – show patients how the eustachian tube that connects your throat to your middle ear is nearly horizontal in children, which can cause frequent ear infections from fluid build-up; in adults, the tube is oriented diagonally. If the tube is inflamed or blocked, patients can experience dizziness, ear pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear or ringing/popping ears.
4. Nasal Sinus Left Lateral, Overlay: Enlarged Adenoids – show patients what might be causing their chronic snoring: adenoids that swell in size as a result of an infection, blocking the throat; can also cause mouth breathing, persistent congestion, nasal drainage, ear problems and sinusitis.
5. Vocal Cord Endoscopic, Overlay: Laryngeal Reflux – show what happens when stomach acid travels up the esophagus and gets into the throat while explaining the difference between it and acid reflux (GERD).
6. Nasal Sinus Anterior, Overlay: Sinusitis (Chronic) – demonstrate swelling of the sinuses; explain differences between chronic and acute sinusitis and why there is no one-size-fits-all treatment recommendation, e.g., balloon sinuplasty, sinus surgery, OTC sprays, etc.
7. Skull Left Lateral View, Overlay: TMJ – show patients the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull that may be the cause of jaw pain and why this may be happening, e.g. trauma, improper bite, arthritis, or simple wear and tear.
8. Vocal Cord Endoscopic, Overlay: Vocal Cords – a view of the vocal cords to show where they are and how they function; can be used to show different conditions that affect the vocal cords, such as laryngitis, inflammation or irritation of the vocal cords due to overuse, irritation or infection.
9. Cochlea Anterior, Overlay: BPPV Canalithiasis – patients can be confused and frustrated trying to understand the cause of their vertigo; show them how particles found inside the semicircular ear canals can cause symptoms of BPPV when they dislodge and move freely inside the canal.
Doctors say that ENT Exam Mode is helpful for educating newly diagnosed BPPV patients on inner ear anatomy. Explainer videos sent home via email can loop in family members and caregivers.
10. Nasal Sinus Anterior, Overlay: Nasal Polyps – show the growth and progression of polyps inside the nasal passages over time to explain what can happen if nasal polyps go untreated.
How doctors use Exam Mode
Doctors who are using ENT Exam Mode in their practices have noted the tool is helpful for two main reasons. Not only does it help providers counsel patients on procedures that may be involved in treatment, but it also increases awareness of a variety of conditions and treatment plans for prospective patients.
Sign up for a free two-week trial of Exam Mode to see these clips and others for yourself!