Otolaryngologist - Wisconsin

Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist ENT)

The Otolaryngologist is a physician responsible for the evaluation, diagnosis, medical management, and surgical treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck. The physician provides outpatient and inpatient care, performs office-based and operative procedures, and collaborates with primary care providers and other specialists to deliver comprehensive patient care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients presenting with ear, nasal, sinus, throat, airway, voice, and swallowing disorders
• Obtain histories, perform head and neck examinations, and develop differential diagnoses
• Order and interpret audiology studies, imaging, endoscopy findings, and pathology reports
• Provide medical management of ENT conditions including infections, allergies, and chronic inflammatory disorders
• Perform office-based diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
• Perform surgical interventions within scope of privileges
• Manage airway and urgent ENT conditions including epistaxis and foreign bodies
• Coordinate care with audiologists, speech therapists, oncologists, and primary care providers
• Educate patients and families regarding treatment plans and preventive care
• Document clinical encounters and procedures in the electronic medical record
• Participate in quality improvement and peer review activities

Procedural Scope (Typical)

Office-Based

• Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy
• Cerumen removal and ear debridement
• Epistaxis control
• Foreign body removal
• Incision and drainage of abscesses
• Biopsies of head and neck lesions

Operative (based on privileges)

• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
• Tympanostomy tube placement
• Septoplasty and turbinate reduction
• Endoscopic sinus surgery
• Excision of head and neck masses
• Salivary gland procedures
• Airway procedures (e.g., tracheostomy)

Conditions Commonly Managed

• Otitis media and externa
• Hearing loss and tinnitus
• Chronic sinusitis and nasal obstruction
• Allergic rhinitis
• Tonsillitis and pharyngitis
• Hoarseness and voice disorders
• Dysphagia
• Sleep apnea
• Head and neck tumors
• Salivary gland disorders

Practice Settings

• Outpatient clinic
• Ambulatory surgery center or operating room
• Hospital inpatient consult service
• Call coverage depending on staffing model

Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• Completion of accredited residency in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
• Board Certified or Board Eligible in Otolaryngology
• Eligible for unrestricted state medical license
• DEA certification (if prescribing controlled medications)

Core Competencies

• Head and neck diagnostic expertise
• Surgical and procedural proficiency
• Airway management
• Patient counseling and communication
• Multidisciplinary care coordination

Work Environment

• Combination of clinic and operative care
• Scheduled procedures with on-call responsibilities
• Team-based care with nursing, audiology, and ancillary staff support