Resources

AAOA Annual Meeting Video Content (AAOA Members Watch for FREE)

Note: The videos below feature individual presenters and their perspectives.  The information is provided for educational purposes only. Viewers are reminded each practice is responsible for confirming coverage, coding, and payment parameters for those payers that affect their practice.   Nothing presented should be construed as AAOA policy or recommendations.  They do not attempt to define a quality of care for legal malpractice proceedings.  They should not be taken as recommending for or against a particular company or its products.  They are not meant for patients to use in treating themselves or making decisions about their care.  Advances constantly occur in medicine, and some advances will doubtless occur faster than these materials can be updated.  

2019 AAOA ANNUAL MEETING - NEW ORLEANS

3rd Annual BJ Ferguson Memorial Keynote Lecture: Is the Proof in the Pudding? Update on Novel Food Allergy Therapies presented by Andrew Bird, MD, UT Southwestern at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Focus: As a leader in the field, Dr. Bird will share his insights on current approaches to food allergy diagnosis and management; where the new food guidelines, including LEAP and LEAP ON, fit into the practice regimen; and consideration of new research on the horizon that will impact how food allergy is both diagnosed and managed.
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Clinical Keynote: AAOA Biologics and Precision Medicine Roundtable presented at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Moderator: Matthew Ryan, MD, FAAOA. Panel: Cecelia Damask, DO, FAAOA; Christine Franzese, MD, FAAOA; Anju T. Peters, MD, MSCI; Michael Platt, MD, FAAOA.
Focus: The AAOA convened a roundtable of thought leaders to discuss the mechanism of action of various biologic agents and how these agents are currently being used for asthma, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and EGPA. The roundtable also focused on completed and ongoing trials of biologics in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. This morning's panel will be highlighting of the discussions of the AAOA's roundtable. Join this panel for a better understanding of the latest research on biologics, what is on the horizon in terms of use of biologics in your rhinologic patients, and more insights into these novel pharmaceutical therapies.
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Expanding Scope of Practice: The Why & How of Expanding/Changing Services Lines in Your Practice at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Moderator: Dole Baker, MD, FAAOA. Panel: Doug Dawson, MD; Paul Fass, MD; Michael Parker, MD; Glen Porter, MD. Focus: Otolaryngology is unique in the ability to offer new and different service lines as your and your practice change. This panel will explore opportunities and challenges around typical service lines such as allergy, facial plastic surgery, balance PT rehab, audiology and hearing aids, clinical research, in-office CT scans, sleep, asthma, biologics, and balance therapy. The panel will discuss and highlight a variety of Otolaryngologists who have successfully changed and /or expanded their practice over their careers and some of the challenges they encountered. Allergy can be both a patient and revenue generator with the right patient mix and immunotherapy options. Other ENT service lines offer similar opportunities to help build your practice. This session will provide you with tips and pearls concerning the opportunities and barriers of expanding or changing the service lines in your practice.
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Building the Right Office Culture, presented by Amy Boyer, MBA, KarenZupko Associates at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Focus:Selecting the right staff and building a strong culture is key to a successful practice. This session provides practical proven strategies for interviewing and hiring, dealing with conflict, and nurturing top performers.
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Food Allergies: Are They Driving You Nuts?, presented by Andrew Bird, MD at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Focus: We know what the guidelines say, but how does this translate? Dr. Bird will review the latest trends in food allergy diagnosis and offer tips and practical approaches to how you deal with the food allergy patient.
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Business Management - How to Stay In Private Practice — If You Want To, presented by Amy Boyer, MBA, KarenZupko Associates at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Focus: If your goal is to maintain a healthy, viable private practice (and avoid the open arms of a hospital administrator), this course is for you. From business system improvements to referral building this course provides a practical “to do” list to bolster your practice for long term success.
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You Cannot Manage What You Do Not Measure: Using Reports and Data to Manage Your Allergy Service Line and Entire Practice, presented by Cheyenne Brinson, CPA (inactive), MBA, KarenZupko Associates at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Focus: Is your allergy service line (or other ENT service lines) profitable? Are you generating monthly reports to evaluate service line revenue and expense? This session explores the steps to determine the financial health of your allergy service line and entire practice.
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The Future of Food Allergy presented by Glen Porter, MD, at the 2019 AAOA Annual Meeting in New Orleans. 
Focus: Food allergy is a rapidly increasing problem. This workshop will address evidence-based workup and management of food allergy. We will also review the latest research in food desensitization and 3 classes which address the following: 1. The basics of food allergy: fact vs. fiction. 2. Pediatric food allergy 3. What's new in food allergy: desensitization strategies. 
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2018 AAOA ANNUAL MEETING - PHILLY

Expanding Scope of Practice: How to Expand Services Lines to Drive Patient Satisfaction presented at the 2018 AAOA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Moderator: Chuck Syms, MD, MBA. Panelists: Nick Hernandez, MBA, FACHE; Matthew Patterson, MD and Gavin Setzen, MD.
Focus: Otolaryngology practices offer some unique areas for expanding scope of practice/service lines. This panel will explore opportunities and challenges around typical service lines such as allergy, balance PT rehab, hearing aids (vs diagnostic audiology), Clinical research, in-office CT scans, sleep, asthma, biologics, balance therapy, and telehealth.
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BJ Ferguson Memorial Keynote Lecture: Asthma, Airway Disease and the Intersection of Biology and Biologics, presented at the 2018 AAOA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia by Sally E. Wenzel, MD, Director, University of Pittsburgh Asthma Institute at UPMC/UPSOM. Introduction: Cecelia Damask, DO.
Focus: Asthma and the intersection of pathobiology and targeted biologic therapies.
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Demonstrating the Value of the Otolaryngic Allergist, presented by Nick Hernandez, MBA, FACHE, CEO/Founder of ABISA, LLC. Introduction: Cecelia Damask, DO.
Focus: The healthcare and regulatory environment that physicians operate in is evolving rapidly. Reimbursement for physician services is changing, and compensation for employed physicians is increasingly based on outcomes prioritized by the healthcare organization. Ways the Otolaryngic allergist can begin meeting these challenges are explored.
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Federal Updates: What's New in Biologics and at NIH–NIAID, presented by NIH Representative Alkis Togias, MD. Moderator: John H. Krouse, MD, PhD, MBA. 
Focus: Discussion highlighting current NIH-NIAID efforts/research focus; What is new with biologics and their role in clinical management of inflammatory disease; Review of new asthma guidelines and what clinicians need to know.
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Evaluating Service Lines & Practice Flow for Practice Sustainability, presented by Cheyenne Brinson, CPA, MBA. Introduction: Elizabeth Mahoney Davis, MD.
Focus: This session explores the steps to evaluate your allergy service line from finances to operations including
ways to boost the bottom line, ensure an efficient workflow, and determine practice sustainability.
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SoME and Me Where Does Social Media Fit in Modern Clinical Practice?, presented by a panel of experts: John Craddock, MD; Sandra Lin, MD; Shena Matsos and Tristin Bates. Moderated by Jennifer Villwock, MD. 
Focus: Your patients want to connect with you online. Are you leveraging the right online tools to maximize patient engagement and satisfaction? Presenters will show you how your website, Facebook page, patient portal, text messaging and other tools can help you more fully connect with your current and future patients. Dives into what Otolaryngic allergists need to know to succeed on social media.
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How to Improve Patient Compliance (IT & Beyond), presented by a panel of experts: Thomas Murphy, MD; Michael Platt, MD and Sarah Wise, MD. Moderated by Erik Swanson, MD. 
Focus: Immunotherapy is only as effective as the patient is compliant. Do you know what your rate of conversion from a positive allergy test to immunotherapy is? Where is your typical immunotherapy drop off? What proactive tools do you and your staff employ to help circumvent drop off and assure compliance. Come join the engaging panel to review what the literature says about immunotherapy and compliance and to learn new ways to improve patient compliance and patient outcomes.
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Coding 101: Beyond Correct Coding—Getting Paid for What You Do and Avoiding Billing Blunders, presented by Kristin Vaughn, CPC, CGCS, CMSCS, CPMA, ICDCT-CM. Introduction: David Palmer, MD. 
Focus: Covering the basic principles of medical coding, this session is designed for those who need to better understand coding and its nuances associated with allergy billing and compliance. Insightful overview of current hot topics in coding that includes extra time for questions.
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Coding Hot Topics: Coding Strategies for 2018 & Beyond, presented by Kristin Vaughn, CPC, CGCS, CMSCS, CPMA, ICDCT-CM. Introduction: Maria Veling, MD.
Focus: This session will review proven strategies for combating these time wasters with insightful overview of current hot topics for coding and open Q&A discussion with participants.
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Coding and Billing Conundrums in Otolaryngic Allergy, presented by Kim Pollock, RN, MBA, CPC, CMDP, KARENZUPKO & ASSOCIATES, INC.
FOCUS: learn the difference between CPT 95004 vs 95024 vs 95027; when is it appropriate to “unbundle” the injection and vial codes; what is the code for SLIT; what is right date of service to bill for the vial; what services can be done when physician is not in the office; can an office visit and testing be billed at the same day.
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Analyzing Your Practice Culture: Improve Structure and Performance, presented by Kenneth Hertz, FACMPE, MGMA.
FOCUS: how office culture can impact efficiency, efficacy and the resulting patient care; strategies to assess and improve office culture.
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Surviving and Thriving in Challenging Times: What’s Next for the Practice of Allergy & Otolaryngology, presented by Kenneth Hertz, FACMPE, MGMA.
FOCUS: overview of alternative payment models and their impact on allergy practices; how otolaryngologists are going to be paid for quality.
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Managing and Developing Your Most Valuable Practice Asset – Your Employees: A Problem Based Approach to Identify Best Practices, presented by Cheyenne Brinson, CPA, MBA, KARENZUPKO & ASSOCIATES, INC.
FOCUS: from hiring the “right” individual to staff retention and motivation. Also problem-based learning case studies and discussion of challenging staff scenarios.
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Relationship Marketing: How to Put It in Action, presented by Cheyenne Brinson, CPA, MBA, KARENZUPKO & ASSOCIATES, INC.
FOCUS: measuring your Net Promoter Score, improving your practice’s ability to make patient relationships “sticky”, and tune up your practice’s first impressions on the phone, via email and in-person.
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Optimizing the Revenue Cycle in Your Otolaryngic (ENT) Allergy Practice, presented by Kim Pollock, RN, MBA, CPC, CMDP, KARENZUPKO & ASSOCIATES, INC.
FOCUS: what it takes to optimize revenue, streamline processes and improve efficiency in your practice; unpaid claims; revenue cycle.
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Patient Centered Care – Providing Great Service in Addition to Great Care, presented by Ron Howrigon, Fulcrum Strategies.
FOCUS: market drivers pushing patient centered care; current state of care delivery; future state of patient centered care; how to attract the “right” patient; examples of patient centered care; strategies fro transforming your practice; physician profiling methods; problems and concerns with conclusions; payer uses of profiling information; strategies for combating payer profiling.
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How to Make SLIT Work in Your Practice: AAOA Panel Discussion. Moderator: Sandra Lin, MD, FAAOA; panelists: Cecelia Damask, DO,FAAOA, Jack Fornadley, MD, FAAOA, William Reisacher, MD, FAAOA, Steven Houser, MD, FAAOA.
FOCUS: how you can make Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) a valuable part of your allergy practice; marketing SLIT, supplies, SLIT dosing, cost, safety.
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How to Stay Out of Trouble with the Law: Lessons from 30 Years Defending Physicians, presented by Kevin Glenn, Attorney, Foran Glennon.
FOCUS: medical practice defense, physician representation before governmental agencies, and personal representation of physicians.
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