title: Adult outpatient tracheostomy care: practices and perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the attitudes, opinions, and current practice of adult outpatient tracheostomy care from the surgeon and primary care physician's perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multidisciplinary physician survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Found 53.4% (667 of 1250) and 28.9% (404 of 1400) of otolaryngologists and internists responded, respectively; 47% of otolaryngologists lack standardized tracheostomy discharge protocols. General ward nurses most commonly (33%) provide discharge education. A total of 64% of otolaryngologists felt primarily responsible for tracheostomy care and follow-up; 48% expect the primary physician to provide some or all tracheostomy care. Ninety-seven percent of internists received little or no residency training in tracheostomy care, which was significantly associated with decreased comfort (P<0.0001) and willingness (P<0.0001) to care for these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tracheostomy care is a concerted effort between the patient, surgeon, primary physician, and interdisciplinary team. Otolaryngologists should strive to standardize tracheostomy discharge, education, and follow-up practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disparities are highlighted between disciplines in their comfort, willingness, and knowledge of outpatient tracheostomy care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. jmgarner@ent.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Justin M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoemaker-Moyle
authors.forename: Christine B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Franzese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010819:Physician's Role; D014139:Tracheostomy