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10/27/2019  |   8:00 AM - 10:00 AM   |  Ventana Ballroom B

The Rotary Hearing Center of San Felipe: A Telehealth Model for Sustainability

The Rotary Hearing Center of San Felipe Mexico, established in 2017 with funding from International Hearing Foundation and The Rotary Foundation, uses a teleaudiology approach to ensure long-term sustainability and best practice. Two technicians were trained to perform diagnostic evaluations, with mostly automated technologies as well as cerumen management, ear impressions, earmold fabrication/modification, and the fitting of hearing aids. Twice weekly the technicians provide audiology services. Audiologists at Arizona State University connect through video conferencing and remote desktop applications to supervise the appointments, review the results online in real time, and provide comments and recommendations. This regular contact with ASU audiologists also ensures ongoing advancement of technicians’ skills, promoting a sustainable model of care provision. The Cancer Clinic physician provides medical support when needed. The clinic follows a comprehensive hearing aid fitting and follow-up protocol that ensures effective long-term care. The financial viability of the program is sustained by a revenue stream from American and Canadian part-year and full time residents, who receive services and hearing aids at a lower cost than they would pay in the U.S. The revenue provides the needed funds to serve the local population at no cost to the patients. This poster discusses the use of tele-audiology to establish a model for delivery of hearing services that can be replicated in other underserved areas. This project differs from short-term mission outreach projects where professionals provide services and hearing aids over a period of days or weeks but then return to their home country. The mission model may provide short-term benefits but does not lend itself to sustainable services beyond the period of the service outreach. This poster will discuss tele-audiology set-up, technician training, legal and ethical considerations, as well as outcome data illustrating the impact of the program.

• Describe a tele-audiology-based approach
• Describe the difference between synchronous real time and store and forward tele-audiology
• Discuss how best practices and ethical standards in the identification and treatment of hearing loss can be achieved in a developing country

Presentation:
18369_12357IngridMcBride_x.pdf

Handouts:
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Ingrid McBride (POC,Primary Presenter), Arizona State University, ingrid.mcbride@outlook.com;
Dr. McBride is a Clinical Professor of Audiology at Arizona State University. She specializes in amplification technology, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and hearing assistive technology. Dr. McBride is dedicated to improving the access to audiologic services to underserved populations. Dr. McBride has extensive experience in providing humanitarian services on the ground in Malawi Africa and on site as well as via tele-audiology San Felipe Mexico.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Robert Margolis (Co-Presenter), Audiology Incorporated, rhmargo001@gmail.com;
Robert Margolis is Emeritus Professor at the University of Minnesota, Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University, and President of Audiology Incorporated. His research career has focused on diagnostic audiology, most recently on development and validation of automated hearing tests. He has participated in audiology service projects in Chile, India, and Mexico.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Receives Intellectual property rights,Royalty options or other ownership interest,Hold patent on equipment for Consulting from Grason Stadler Inc..   Receives Intellectual property rights,Royalty options or other ownership interest for Consulting from Grason Stadler Inc..   Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Receives support from Grason Stadler, Inc..