Behind the scenes of an REM Audiology open house
Community awareness and education of hearing health care and hearing wellness is a vital aspect of REM Audiology’s mission statement. Such awareness and education does not happen without establishing and implementing an outreach program. One such outreach is the open house, offering free screenings and an opportunity to learn about one’s personal hearing wellness situation. Knowledge is power, and REM Audiology’s mission statement includes empowerment.
These open houses do not happen by themselves. They are the result of an orchestrated effort among the audiologists/dispensers, front office professionals, patient coordinators/telemarketers, and our marketing/website professionals. REM audiology’s director/owner works a year in advance to determine which open houses will be held throughout the year and which type of outreach will be used (direct mailer, newspaper inserts, newspapers ads, and website ads).
Dates for the open house are determined and the availability of REM professionals are insured. Extra patient time is reserved during these open house dates. The events often include a financial promotion as a means of thanking the community for coming in and finding out about REM Audiology and hearing wellness. There are events where lunch in a noisy environment are included in order to give the community member an opportunity to try first hand what a hearing device can do to make listening more enjoyable and fun in a noisy situation. When communication is more relaxed, the community member becomes more engaged in the social situation, promoting physical and mental wellness.
When the open house date arrives, REM Audiology insures that each office is equipped with devices for demonstration. The patient is invited to take the device out for a no risk one week trial. In cases of Lyric hearing aids, the no risk trial is 30 days. Followup appointments are then arranged, at which time a diagnostic hearing test is performed if necessary. Real ear measurements are also taken at one of the subsequent follow up appointments.
For real ear measurements, a small microphone that looks like angel hair pasta is placed comfortably on the floor of the ear canal. A computer records how much sound is delivered through the hearing aid to the ear drum and the results are compared to a target based upon the individual’s hearing loss in the computer.
On subsequent visits we ask our patient for feedback on the benefits the device offers in specific areas of his or her life. REM professionals call this list our report card, and we all want to get an A+ in addressing the individual’s hearing needs.
For our community members who cannot make the specific open house event, we do extend the time of the event when necessary. The important issue at hand is community awareness and education. We at REM Audiology would be so honored to have you take advantage of these opportunities. REM Audiology has at least one event per month, so keep your eyes open towards the newspapers, the mail, and our office events section on our website.