DISCUSSION
The Otolaryngology residency program is facing many challenges due to
the suspension of the elective clinical procedures and surgeries in
light of the high risk of infection, affecting the residents
participation in the OR. In this descriptive study we present the report
of an Otolaryngology residency program adapting to the ongoing pandemia.
This topic is also addressed by Crosbyet al. where the impact of
SARS-CoV2 on American Otolaryngology residency programs is analyzed in
terms of the expected decline in overall experience and accomplishment
of the minimum key indicators established by the Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical Education. This especially affects residents
coursing the last two years of their program. Other subjects are also
discussed, particularly the implementation of online consortia didactic
sessions, changes in the American Board of otolaryngology requirements,
and the flexibility requested from supervision
organizations9. Moreover, Comeret al. discusses
how COVID-19 induced limitations have affected Otolaryngology training,
and as a result three consortia have been developed in Otolaryngology
residency education, including the
“Collaborative
Multi-Institutional Otolaryngology Residency Education Program”. They
also mention the possible need of at-home simulation models depending on
the quarantine’s duration10.
The COVID-19 pandemic is now affecting most residency programs, but
specifically the Otolaryngology program due to the risks involved in
upper-airway manipulation. There is no knowledge on how long the
pandemic will last and how deeply it will affect the current resident
cohort. We believe that adapting the program and keeping a close
follow-up on indicators regarding residents participation in outpatient
practice, procedures, and surgeries should be addressed in the future so
we can design a further personalized reinforcement resident to resident.
At the moment our program is considering as future options: rural
surgical operatives to increase the number of surgeries performed by
residents, case by case extension of the formative period, among others.