Division of Otolaryngology experiences tremendous growth under Arjmand

October 6, 2015

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10715Otoinside640In just a little more than a year, Dr. Ellis Arjmand has turned Texas Children’s Division of Otolaryngology into the largest pediatric ear, nose and throat program in the country.

Prior to him coming aboard as Chief of Otolaryngology in August of 2014, the program had eight otolaryngologists providing services to the entire city of Houston and its surrounding area. Now, Texas Children’s Otolaryngology has 21 physicians stationed throughout the greater Houston community, including The Woodlands, Cy-Fair, Sugar Land, Clear Lake and West Campus.

“The idea is to be there in the community and to really be available,” Arjmand said. “We can’t expect all families to travel to the Main Campus.”

Having a more robust staff strategically positioned throughout the Houston already has paid off. Otolaryngology’s patient volume has increased more than 40 percent this year and that growth is expected to continue with the addition of even more faculty members.

All things to all people

Arjmand, who came to Texas Children’s from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where he was director of their Ear and Hearing Center as well as their Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, said he wants people to come to Texas Children’s Otolaryngology with both low and high complexity problems. That’s why he said he was very strategic when he was building his team of physicians.

“In the course of providing better access to our program, I wanted to develop our sub-specialty expertise as well,” he said. “I wanted our group of physicians practicing pediatric otolaryngology and to be involved in programs in designated areas.”

Four areas Arjmand said have great potential for growth are: airway reconstruction surgery, sleep medicine, vascular malformations and the treatment of hearing impairment, including cochlear implant surgery.

Arjmand himself is internationally known for his research on pediatric hearing loss. His clinical interests include pediatric ear disease, congenital and acquired hearing loss, airway disorders and health care quality improvement.

Of the division’s new hires, Dr. Deepak Mehta, recruited as the director of the Texas Children’s Aerodigestive Center, is nationally recognized for his expertise in complex airway surgery. Dr. Tara Rosenberg adds expertise in the treatment of vascular anomalies and the treatment of children with cleft lip and palate, and Dr. Danny Chelius, Jr. and Dr. Elton Lambert contribute to the program’s strength in the treatment of head and neck diseases. Dr. Carol Liu extends services at West Campus for children with ear disease and hearing loss, Dr. Tony Hughes will lead the otolaryngology program at The Woodlands and Dr. Shraddha Mukerji will focus on program expansion at West Campus.

Arjmand said his team also works with other areas of the hospital – such as cardiovascular, plastic and fetal surgeries – and that these supportive relationships have room to grow as well.

Improving patient care

To further improve the patient care process and expand the clinical scope of his department, Arjmand has expanded his group of mid-level providers, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners and advanced practice providers. Members of the group provide inpatient care at Main and West campuses as well as respond to requests for inpatient and emergency consults.

“It’s been a huge change but has been very well received and has really improved our response time to consultations,” Arjmand said. “I think it’s working out really well.”

Another focus of Arjmand’s is the standardization of care and the measuring of outcomes. In addition to his role as chief, Arjmand is the surgical director of practice standards and faculty development for the Department of Surgery. In this role, he works with Dr. Charles Macias in the Evidence Based Outcomes Center and Kathy Carberry in the Department of Surgery’s Outcomes and Impact Center to ensure patients receive the same level of care no matter who they see and that their care is the best based on sound medical data.

“Variation in treatment should be based on the patient, not the doctor’s preferences,” Arjmand said. “This allows for better measurement of outcomes, which makes it possible for us to improve how we care for patients.”

Making Texas Children’s Otolaryngology the best in the county is Arjmand’s primary goal, and based on what he’s accomplished since joining Texas Children’s in August 2014, he’s well on his way to achieving success.

For more information about the Texas Children’s Otolaryngology’s new medical staff click on the names below. To learn more about the program as a whole, go to: http://www.texaschildrens.org/ENT/.

Dr. Daniel Chelius, Jr.

Dr. Charles Hughes

Dr. Elton Lambert

Dr. Carol Liu

Dr. Deepak Mehta

Dr. Shraddha Mukerji

Dr. Tara Rosenberg

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