Primary care practitioners are often the first healthcare professionals we seek when we feel dizzy, disoriented, or not quite right. Their role is to take a medical history and assess whether the person can be treated immediately with medication or therapy, or whether they need to be referred to a specialist for further testing. One challenge, however, is that by definition, primary care practitioners are generalists and may not know enough about the signs and symptoms of vestibular impairment to triage patients appropriately. The good news is that there are Advanced Practice Providers such as Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants who specialize in otolaryngology that can serve as a first point of contact to help dizzy patients get on the road to recovery more quickly.

In this episode of the ICU - "I See You" podcast we discuss how specialized NPs, APPs, and PAs can help in vestibular healthcare.

This podcast is a co-production of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) and Unfixed Media. https://unfixedmedia.com/

About the Guests:

Maria Machala is a certified nurse practitioner and the director of the Dizziness and Balance Clinic at the University of Colorado, where she specializes in otology and neurotology. She has a special interest in vestibular migraine and in the overlap between migraine and Meniere’s disease and other vestibular conditions. She serves as a guest lecturer at the Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner schools within the University of Colorado and is a clinical mentor to students in these programs. She teaches advanced practice providers who work in otolaryngology how to perform otologic procedures and comprehensive vestibular evaluations.

Lindsey Mwesigwa is from Dayton, Ohio where she lives with her husband, son, and 2 dogs. One dog is Jazzy, a German Shepherd who is her service dog.  She has been a nurse since 2008 and is currently an associate nurse manager on an advanced cardiac floor.  Her vestibular journey began in 2016 with minor episodes of vertigo and dizziness. She had periods of brain fog, and then the true nightmare began in September of 2022 when her episodes became severe and debilitating. She was diagnosed with Vestibular Migraines in October 2022 and then PPPD in November of 2023. Having a vestibular disorder has affected her professional and personal life. She is trying to spread awareness and education to help other vestibular warriors who are suffering get relief with quicker diagnosis and treatment. 

Hosts:

Cynthia Ryan, Executive Director of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) https://vestibular.org/

Kimberly Warner, Founder and Director of Unfixed Media https://unfixedmedia.com/

VeDA relies on your support to help vestibular patients on their journey to find a life rebalanced. You can make a real difference by making a donation at https://vestibular.org/donate/

If you are experiencing vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness, imbalance, brain fog, or other balance-related symptoms, VeDA may be able to help. To learn more about vestibular conditions and get help finding a diagnosis, treatment, coping tools, and support visit https://vestibular.org/

For help finding a vestibular healthcare provider visit https://vestibular.org/healthcare-directory/

If you are a vestibular healthcare professional and want to reach more patients, join VeDA's Healthcare Provider Directory by becoming a member at https://vestibular.org/article/resources-for-professionals/professional-membership/. Additional benefits include patient education articles you can brand with your logo.

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