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How Can I Get the Most out of My Equipment Budget?

Jackie Phillips, AuD, Angela Flores, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA, Jeanette Fitzke, AuD, Lance Brown, Keeley Moore, MA, CCC-A, FAAA

August 21, 2017

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Question

Any tips for audiology practice owners who are looking for ways to maximize their equipment budget?

Answer

Jackie Phillips, AuD: There are a couple ways to maximize equipment purchases while minimizing the financial impact, such as joining a Hearing Instrument Manufacturer (HIM) or Buying Group. In addition to that, be sure to take advantage of complimentary consultations offered by your equipment vendor, your Otometrics/Audiology Systems representative. They will work with you to evaluate your professional and patient care needs.  They can also help coordinate with your HIMs/Buying Group representative to find ways to maximize your purchasing power (i.e. applying equipment discounts that are included in your membership package).  They can also walk you through available education, training, service and support programs to ensure you are getting the most out of your purchase. 

Angela Flores, AuD: Make sure to explore all the bells and whistles that come with your equipment. If you are looking to expand your practice or add more offerings, call your equipment manufacturer to understand how to optimize integrated tools you may already have (i.e. tinnitus questionnaires, verification tools, etc.). Otosuite® is the shared interface for all Otometrics hearing assessment and fitting solutions. We discussed the practical benefits of an integrated clinic in detail here in our latest interview here.

Jeanette Fitzke, AuD: That’s right—Otosuite software upgrades are available throughout the lifetime of your hardware, like the MADSEN Astera² or Aurical, for example.  These software and firmware upgrades ensure that your equipment stays current and can keep up with the changing pace of your audiology clinic for years to come.

Lance Brown:  If you are looking to connect your audiology patient data to an existing EMR program, Otobase® is a database module that supplements Otosuite and integrates your clinic quickly, simply and securely. Connecting equipment to an EMR can be costly—you need to have the right connectors. If you just individually connect each piece of equipment, then you could imagine that could easily increase cost up to many thousands of dollars. With Otosuite-compatible equipment and Otobase, one connector connects your entire office to your EMR. Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, your dedicated SIG representative is available to assist and will be with you every step of the transition.

Keeley Moore: Here is a tip that may be a bit out-of-the box: Done right, you can use your test reports to brand your clinic. Otosuite® Reports ties all your test together and helps you create customized professional reports—in both digital and print media format. These reports are great visuals to have when counseling the patient and the patient’s family. Patients can also take this to their ENT or family practice physician. So, you have the added value of a marketing tool for your practice, to present you clinic’s brand in a very professional way. You can read more about Otosuite and the tools that come with the software at www.audiologysystems.com/otosuite.


jackie phillips

Jackie Phillips, AuD

National Business Development Manager, Audiology Systems

Jackie Allen Phillips, AuD, serves as the National Business Development Manager for Otometrics/Audiology Systems Inc. In this capacity, Dr. Phillips is responsible for developing corporate and key account relationships. This responsibility also includes establishing structure, governance and guidance as well as driving and leading selected corporate and key strategic accounts. Prior to joining Otometrics/Audiology Systems Inc., Dr. Phillips worked with Siemens Hearing Instruments in various roles, including Senior Manager of Government & Contract Services, and Senior Account Representative. Before working on the manufacturing side of audiology, Dr. Phillips worked 7 years in a clinical capacity for Houston Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic. In addition to her undergraduate degree in communication disorders from Stephen F. Austin University, Dr. Phillips holds a master’s degree in audiology from Lamar University, and a doctorate of audiology from A. T. Still University’s Arizona school of Health Sciences.


angela flores

Angela Flores, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA

Independent Audiology Consultant

 

Angela Flores, AuD, is an independent consultant for Audiology Services at GN Otometrics. Prior to serving as a consultant to Otometrics, Angela worked clinically with Mayo Clinic and the University of Florida Pediatric Program for over 8 years. More recently, she has worked with Siemens Hearing Instruments in varying roles including director of education and training, senior manager of education and training, and educational specialist positions. During her tenure at Siemens Hearing Instruments, Angela was responsible for the planning and implementation of customer and employee product educational sessions. Her responsibilities also included creating and editing sales and marketing pieces. She has lectured all over the United States, as well as, internationally on varying topics in the hearing healthcare industry.  Angela Flores received her master’s degree in audiology from the University of South Alabama and completed her Clinical Fellow Year at Mayo Clinic. She received her doctor of audiology degree from Salus University in 2009.


jeanette fitzke

Jeanette Fitzke, AuD

Field Development Audiologist

Jeanette Fitzke, Au.D., is the field development audiologist for the Southwest region and is based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Jeanette has 17 years of clinical experience prior to joining Otometrics / Audiology Systems. Prior to joining the team, she was most recently working as a Clinical Audiologist at Cigna Medical Group, a multi-specialty clinic. Her work at this location allowed her to work with a variety of age populations and focused on diagnostics, hearing aid services, and vestibular care. Prior to her time with Cigna Medical Group, she worked in hospital and ENT settings where she provided extensive services for pediatrics to geriatrics in vestibular evaluation, pediatrics, eletrophysiological testing, general diagnostics, and hearing aid selection, fitting, and verification. She graduated with her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Arizona State University in 1998 and completed her Doctorate of Audiology from A.T. Still University in March 2005. She is currently a member of the American Speech Hearing Association and holds her Clinical Certificate of Competency in Audiology.


lance brown

Lance Brown

Director, Software Integration at Otometrics/Audiology Systems

Lance Brown, Director of Software Integration Group (SIG) Services, is part of the Key Accounts and Business Development team at Audiology Systems. With his twenty-five 25 years of experience in the field, he identified the need for an advanced level of support when equipment began to migrate into the computer age.  Identifying this need, he developed SIG to support customers’ computer needs and bridge that gap between clinician and I.T. support.  Prior to this assignment, Brown helped develop the Audiology Tele-Health platform, served as President of NASED, and was the regional manager in the mid-south of an equipment distributor.  


keeley moore

Keeley Moore, MA, CCC-A, FAAA

Clinical Support Audiologist

Keeley Moore, M.A., CCC/A, is a clinical support audiologist at Audiology Systems, where she acts as client liaison for product support as well as offer clinical education and training. Moore has more than 15 years of experience as a practicing audiologist. She joined Otometrics from the Illinois Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, where she was an audiological consultant. While there, she played a key role in training and supporting lay hearing screeners, which included teaching OAE hearing screening courses and leading practicum for lay screeners. Prior to that position, Moore was a clinical and educational audiologist with a non-profit speech and hearing clinic. In that position, she served a diverse patient population and performed pediatric through geriatric behavioral audiometric assessment and implemented habilitation and rehabilitation services. She also performed hearing aid and FM selection, fitting, verification and management. Additionally, Moore counseled and taught advocacy skills to parents, students and professionals, among many other responsibilities. Moore has also worked in ENT clinics and hospital environments and is skilled in a broad spectrum of audiology and vestibular practices.  Moore served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 1985 through 1990, as a non-commissioned officer. She holds a B.A. in speech and hearing sciences from Indiana University, earning her Masters in Audiology from The Ohio State University. She holds a certificate of clinical competence and is certified by the American Board of Audiology.


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