{"id":12963,"date":"2021-05-11T18:00:18","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T23:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=12963"},"modified":"2021-08-18T09:14:29","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T14:14:29","slug":"improving-ear-infection-diagnoses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/improving-ear-infection-diagnoses\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving ear infection diagnoses"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are a parent, there\u2019s a decent chance you\u2019ve had to comfort a screaming child with an ear infection. And you are not alone. Studies show middle ear infections are among the most frequent diseases diagnosed among children and one of the most common reasons for prescribing antibiotics worldwide.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s also known that overuse of antibiotics can lead to drug resistance later in life. Understanding the need to reduce antibiotic use, OSF Ventures<\/a> invested in PhotoniCare, Inc<\/a>., a company that\u2019s developed a more precise way to detect ear infections for both children and adults.<\/p>\n

The device, known as the OtoSight Middle Ear Scope, works much like a traditional otoscope that is used to look inside the ear. But this tool uses a novel application of light wave technology to see behind the eardrum for evaluation of middle ear fluid. Since the beginning of March, two OSF OnCall Urgent Care<\/a> locations have been using the digitally enhanced otoscope and are already noticing a difference.<\/p>\n

Enhancing clinical decision making<\/h2>\n

\u201cA provider can look in a patient\u2019s mouth or at their skin and have a clinical understanding of whether you see an infection or not,\u201d said Susan Wolf, nurse practitioner and clinical director for OSF OnCall Urgent Care. \u201cBut there really isn\u2019t a great way to look deep inside the ear where an infection can be hidden.\u201d<\/p>\n

Otoscopes have been used to diagnose ear infections for more than 150 years, but there is only a 50% accuracy rate when using the tool. The OtoSight Middle Ear Scope improves that to more than 90% accuracy.<\/p>\n

At two OSF OnCall Urgent Care sites, the device has been integrated into the workflow any time a pediatric or adult patient comes in with ear fullness, ear pain or ear drainage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cool thing about the OtoSight is that the patient can watch what\u2019s taking place inside the ear canal in real time on a video screen,\u201d Susan said. \u201cAlong the way, we can explain what we\u2019re seeing and why we believe the ear is or is not infected.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guides the provider\u2019s confidence a little bit more because they have evidence right in front of them. It can also guide a patient or parent\u2019s satisfaction as you walk them through the examination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Susan said they have many stories of when the OtoSight has been useful. This includes a time when a surgeon brought their child to an OSF OnCall Urgent Care for a better look inside the ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe actually examined his child\u2019s ear at home with a traditional otoscope and couldn\u2019t determine whether there was an infection. We used the OtoSight and showed him there was indeed an infection,\u201d Susan said. \u201cHe was appreciative knowing it was appropriate to prescribe an antibiotic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven providers are using the device at OSF OnCall Urgent Care sites. At the same time, leaders are collecting data measuring the confidence level of clinicians using the OtoSight and whether the tool is helping guide diagnosis decisions.<\/p>\n

The goal is to spread the use of the device throughout different urgent care, pediatric and family practice facilities.<\/p>\n

Improving outcomes and reducing costs<\/h2>\n

Diagnosing ear infections is difficult, and the wrong choice can lead to unnecessary use of antibiotics and even surgery. Improving the accuracy of middle ear infection diagnoses could save millions of dollars in the U.S. alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re going to your pediatrician or urgent care quite often for frequent ear infections or what you believe are ear infections, your child is at risk of building a resistance to antibiotics over time and likely experiencing unnecessary side effects,\u201d Susan said. \u201cWe want to stop that from happening. By using the OtoSight, we have the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment in patients and reduce future costs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Diagnosing ear infections is difficult, and the wrong choice can lead to unnecessary use of antibiotics and even surgery. Understanding the need to reduce antibiotic use, OSF Ventures invested in PhotoniCare, Inc., a company that\u2019s developed a more precise way to detect ear infections for both children and adults.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":12974,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[355],"tags":[390,447,371],"coauthors":[1022],"class_list":["post-12963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innovation","tag-ear-infection","tag-osf-ventures","tag-pediatrics"],"yoast_head":"\nImproving ear infection diagnoses<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"OSF HealthCare is using a new tool that can improve the accuracy of diagnosing ear infections in children and adults.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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