• Pete S Batra, Phillip S LoSavio, Elias Michaelides, Peter C Revenaugh, Bobby A Tajudeen, Samer Al-Khudari, Inna Husain, Peter Papagiannopoulos, Ryan Smith, Kerstin M Stenson, and R Mark Wiet.
• Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jul 1; 163 (1): 162-169.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the strategic changes implemented in the departmental mission to continue safe delivery of otolaryngology care and to support the broader institutional mission during the COVID-19 pandemic response.Study DesignRetrospective assessment was performed to the response and management strategy developed to transform the clinical and academic enterprise.SettingLarge urban tertiary care referral center.ResultsThe departmental structure was reorganized along new clinical teams to effectively meet the system directives for provision of otolaryngology care and support for inpatient cases of COVID-19. A surge deployment schedule was developed to assist frontline colleagues with clinical support as needed. Outpatient otolaryngology was consolidated across the system with conversion of the majority of visits to telehealth. Operative procedures were prioritized to ensure throughput for emergent and time-critical urgent procedures. A tracheostomy protocol was developed to guide management of emergent and elective airways. Educational and research efforts were redirected to focus on otolaryngology care in the clinical context of the COVID-19 crisis.ConclusionEmergence of the COVID-19 global health crisis has challenged delivery of otolaryngology care in an unparalleled manner. The concerns for preserving health of the workforce while ethically addressing patient career needs in a timely manner has created significant dilemmas. A proactive, thoughtful approach that reorganizes the overall departmental effort through provider and staff engagement can facilitate the ability to meet the needs of otolaryngology patients and to support the greater institutional mission to combat the pandemic.

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