Video Otoscopy as a Novel Teaching and Remote Otolaryngology Consultation Tool at an Academic Medical Center.

Objective: Assess the use of video otoscopy (VO) as a tool for teaching Emergency Department (ED) residents and remote Otolaryngology consultation. Study Design: Survey and retrospective chart review. Setting: Tertiary care center. Methods: Emergency Medicine resident physicians completed an otologic skill self‐assessment and pathology followed by an interactive training on VO and postintervention assessment after 9 months of use. Outcomes compared change in pre‐ to posttraining scores. ED consultations using VO during this time period were reviewed to detect differences between the presumed diagnosis/treatment based only on phone consultation and VO image compared to the final diagnosis/treatment after in‐person Otolaryngology consultation. Results: Forty‐six (63.1%) ED residents participated. Diagnostic accuracy improved by 20.7% overall. The most improved diagnoses were of a normal ear canal (+75%), tympanosclerosis (+58.4%), and ear canal foreign body (+57.1%); most challenging were external auditory canal cyst (−13.6%), hemotympanum (−11.3%), and cerumen (−1.9%). Cholesteatoma did not improve because all responses were incorrect; neither did tympanic membrane perforation because all were correct. Confidence in the otologic exam and anatomy also increased (P <.01). Thirteen consults used VO and 3 (23.1%) had a change in diagnosis/treatment after in‐person Otolaryngology evaluation. Conclusion: Training on the use of VO significantly improves the confidence and diagnostic skills of ED providers for many pathologies. This application suggests the efficacy of an otologic e‐consultation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]