Why I Like ENT Physicians...
Let's face it: there are basically two types of physicians managing allergy patients--allergists and ENT physicians. And I like ENT physicians as a group. Always have. Always will. They generally have a practical, "can-do" attitude towards managing the allergy patient, and often are less hesitant to utilize immunotherapy for allergic illness than the allergist. As a group, they are less "up-tight" about new advances in the allergy field, and welcome innovative thinking. Not surprisingly, they have been, as a group, the most enthusiastic about embracing SLIT (sublingual immunotherapy).
Our group at Allergy Associates of La Crosse hosts a yearly workshop on SLIT, and the vast majority of attendees have been ENT physicians...Given what I said in the last paragraph, this observation shouldn't come as a surprise. And the traditional allergist is in danger of "being left in the dust" if he/she doesn't incorporate more innovative approaches to their care. In the near future, I predict that patients living in larger communities will have a CHOICE in allergy care--ENT physicians (and a few progressive allergists) offering SLIT treatment, and traditional allergists offering SCIT. SLIT will win, hands-down. How do I know? Because in OUR region, patients have a CHOICE between SCIT and SLIT--our clinic offers SLIT, and two other clinics offer SCIT. And for the last 25 years, I have had a growing patient population base, despite HMO restrictions and competition from SCIT-allergists. And I predict that the ENT community will embrace SLIT more aggressively, and more completely, than the allergy community during the next several critical years. And that's why I like ENT physicians. Honest.
George F Kroker MD FACAAI
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