The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Letter to the Editor

Smartphone-Enabled Otoscopy to Bridge Rural ENT Disparities

Authors: James R. Burmeister, BS

Abstract

To the Editor: Rural Americans face persistent barriers in otolaryngologic care due to shortages of otolaryngologists, geographic isolation, and limited transportation. These challenges contribute to significant delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Posted in: Otolaryngology and Dental Medicine4

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References

1. Urban MJ, Shimomura A, Shah S, et al. Rural otolaryngology care disparities: a scoping review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022;166:1219–1227.
 
2. Dubois C, Eigen D, Simon F, et al. Development and validation of a smartphone-based deep-learning-enabled system to detect middle-ear conditions in otoscopic images. npj Digit Med 2024;7:162.
 
3. Robler SK, Bettger JP, Turner E, et al. School-based enhanced hearing screening and specialty telehealth followup for hearing loss among children in rural Alaska: study protocol for the North STAR trial. Trials 2025;26:175.