Interview with John Olive Executive Director, Better Hearing Institute
Share:
AO/Beck: Good Evening Mr. Olive. Thanks for agreeing to spend a little time with me today. I'd like to start by learning a little about you and your history?
Olive: Thanks Doug. I've been the Executive Director of BHI since June 2000. I have a graduate degree in Health Care Administration from Duke University. I spent 11 years in senior management roles in med-surg, behavioral health and healthcare consulting companies and most recently was president of a family business. So most of my experience has been in health care, and in particular, in turnaround situations where rapid and dynamic change was the order of the day. As you may know, our board was looking for someone to step in and get things moving at BHI. It was great timing for me. The Board decided I was the right guy and our mutual needs and abilities were a perfect fit. So, here I am.
AO/Beck: How long has BHI existed and what is their primary function?
Olive: The BHI has existed for some 30 years. Our main function is to educate those with hearing loss and those who identify and treat hearing loss about hearing health and to motivate them to act. We have traditionally relied on PSAs (public service announcements) to get out our message, but in this new era, you will see us focus much more on grassroots efforts to reach consumers, their families and their physicians in a more personal way. We hope to be the principal source of education and information sharing on hearing loss, between the professionals and the public.
AO/Beck: Without going into too much detail, what can you tell me about the recent two year period when BHI was somewhat 'dormant?'
Olive: Doug, As you recall, Joe Rizzo had left BHI to enjoy his well earned retirement. For the short-term, BHI brought in an interim director. At about that time, it was decided that BHI should operate as a 'sister' entity to HIA (Hearing Industries Association). That decision allowed us to share knowledge and data systems between the two groups, with less duplication and more access. HIA of course is more focused on the interests and needs of the manufacturers, whereas BHI is focused on the customers of the industry: the general public, consumers with hearing loss, the medical community, the media, and the advocacy groups nationwide who champion causes for Seniors and those with hearing loss. Certainly the two groups have a different focus but since we're both in Washington DC, we can share resources and reduce costs at the same time. It really seemed like a good mix. Anyway, to make a long story short, the interim director of BHI left to pursue other interests and the future of BHI was in doubt for a while. However, after some reflection, the Boards of HIA and BHI decided to reignite the mission of BHI and that's when the search for an executive director began.
AO/Beck: What venues does BHI use to help spread 'the word' about hearing loss and hearing healthcare?
Olive: I am a newcomer to hearing healthcare and we all expected it would take me some time to get up to speed on the issues. I have spent a major portion of my first months on the job meeting manufacturers and hearing professionals and learning about the state of the industry. Now, you will see BHI moving forward on several specific fronts. Our principal focus is on referral development from Primary Care Physicians, but we will also be redesigning our web page, producing new materials that highlight recent study findings (the NCOA study on the importance of treating hearing loss and the joint VA/NIDCD clinical trial which proved the effectiveness of hearing aids), and trying to build alliances among hearing advocacy groups and organizations like AARP. In the very near future, I think we can help bridge the gap between hearing professionals and primary care physicians.
AO/Beck: That would be a significant contribution. The primary care docs, whether they are internal medicine, pediatricians or gerontologists, often refer to ENT only. The primary care docs have traditionally had no idea what an audiologist is, where we are, or what we do. Thankfully, that seems to be changing quickly.
Olive: Obviously audiologists have maintained a great and solid relationship with ENTs, and that is something we hope to nurture. The ENTs have developed a new respect for hearing professionals as their educational and clinical background have dramatically increased with the advent of the Au.D and other educational and board certification programs. We hope to help foster recognition of those skills and those degrees in the ENT community and throughout all medical disciplines. Obviously, we're all better off with mutual recognition and respect,
AO/Beck: That is a vast task and I wish you a speedy and successful journey!
Olive: It's very important to realize that for each hearing impaired patient the ENT is seeing, there are hundreds of hearing impaired people going to the primary care docs. If we really want to make a fundamental difference for the 26 to 28 million patients with hearing loss in the USA, we need to better educate the primary care docs on hearing loss, hearing aids and the hearing profession and motivate those doctors to identify hearing loss and refer to a hearing professional for appropriate care. Physicians treat vision as critical to the overall quality of life. However, they do not traditionally treat hearing loss with the same level of importance, and that is something we can help address, rather quickly, I hope. We need to get the message out and BHI can be instrumental, and somewhat transparent in the process. It does no good for BHI to have a strong relationship with Primary Care. Our objective is to build the bridge between the Primary Care Physician and the local hearing professional who is ready, willing and able to meet the needs of that doctor's patients.
AO/Beck: Very good. However, we certainly do not want to eliminate the ENT from the resource and talent pool. Clearly they play a critical role in ear disease and medical and surgical management of ear disease. So, how do we nurture the primary care relationship without isolating the ENT relationship?
Olive: It's based on knowledge and mutual respect. You as a doctor of audiology, would not interrupt the relationship between the primary care doctor and the ENT doctor. Rather, you or any hearing professional can help the primary care doctor decide when and who to refer to ENT and you can help the ENT doc determine the diagnosis and treatment based on your findings and recommendation. Basically, it's a 'win-win' situation, when it is based on education, knowledge and the patient's best interest. Many areas of medicine use allied health professionals as adjuncts to their professional practice. For instance, physical therapists, OT and optometrists all work successfully with primary care docs to best manage their patients. I think we can do the same in hearing health care.
AO/Beck: I agree. We, as audiologists, are ready, willing and able to refer to ENT as needed, but let's face it, the vast majority of patients we see with hearing loss do not have ear disease, they have hearing loss. That is probably true for some 90 percent of all hearing impaired patients.
Olive: Absolutely., the key is knowledge. We have all of this information and talent available and we need to get the appropriate information both to the Primary Care Physician and the public, Additionally, we need to better educate the medical community about the capabilities of hearing professionals to serve the patients efficiently. We know that the great majority of the people with hearing loss can be best served with hearing aids. But we also know that primary care docs are more comfortable referring to other MD specialists. So one of our goals is to educate the primary care doc as to who is who and what the scope of practice and role of hearing professionals is with respect to diagnostic tests and hearing health care in general. I can envision the BHI serving as a catalyst to improve not only the relationship between the audiologist hearing professional and the patient, but also as a catalyst between the audiologist hearing professional and the medical community.
AO/Beck: I have to tell you that your organization has a wonderful webpage and I give almost every patient the sheet you guys have on the web regarding multiple reasons to try binaural amplification. It really carries a lot of weight when I hand my patient a sheet downloaded from a not-for-profit site which helps underline my hearing aid dispensing philosophy.
Olive: I'm glad that's useful for you. It's always nice to hear about people using our website. We are in the process of completely redesigning our site, so hopefully it will become much more user friendly, up to date and helpful in the coming weeks.
AO/Beck: John, where does the funding come form for BHI?
Olive: There is a percentage of monies which the HIA sends to us, based on a portion of their income, which in turn, is based on a formula that is based on the manufacturers sales over the requisite time period. So, we are funded indirectly by the manufacturers. The corporations who manufacture components and finished products in the hearing industry support both BHI and HIA. They contribute on a quarterly basis according to a formula that is tied to sales volume.
AO/Beck: If I may ask, how large is the BHI budget?
Olive: For this first year that BHI has been reactivated, it runs just over a million dollars.
AO/Beck: John, it's been a pleasure getting to you know a bit and getting to know more about the mission and the goal of the BHI. For the readers, how can they get more information about BHI?
Olive: Audiologists are welcome to call me personally at 703-684-3391 or email me at jolive@clarionmr.com. Our website may be accessed at www.betterhearing.org. I now attend all the major professional meetings and will be at AAA in the spring of 2001.
AO/Beck: John, thanks again for your time. It has been a pleasure.
Olive: Thank you Doug, I appreciate the opportunity to tell your readers about BHI.
Olive: Thanks Doug. I've been the Executive Director of BHI since June 2000. I have a graduate degree in Health Care Administration from Duke University. I spent 11 years in senior management roles in med-surg, behavioral health and healthcare consulting companies and most recently was president of a family business. So most of my experience has been in health care, and in particular, in turnaround situations where rapid and dynamic change was the order of the day. As you may know, our board was looking for someone to step in and get things moving at BHI. It was great timing for me. The Board decided I was the right guy and our mutual needs and abilities were a perfect fit. So, here I am.
AO/Beck: How long has BHI existed and what is their primary function?
Olive: The BHI has existed for some 30 years. Our main function is to educate those with hearing loss and those who identify and treat hearing loss about hearing health and to motivate them to act. We have traditionally relied on PSAs (public service announcements) to get out our message, but in this new era, you will see us focus much more on grassroots efforts to reach consumers, their families and their physicians in a more personal way. We hope to be the principal source of education and information sharing on hearing loss, between the professionals and the public.
AO/Beck: Without going into too much detail, what can you tell me about the recent two year period when BHI was somewhat 'dormant?'
Olive: Doug, As you recall, Joe Rizzo had left BHI to enjoy his well earned retirement. For the short-term, BHI brought in an interim director. At about that time, it was decided that BHI should operate as a 'sister' entity to HIA (Hearing Industries Association). That decision allowed us to share knowledge and data systems between the two groups, with less duplication and more access. HIA of course is more focused on the interests and needs of the manufacturers, whereas BHI is focused on the customers of the industry: the general public, consumers with hearing loss, the medical community, the media, and the advocacy groups nationwide who champion causes for Seniors and those with hearing loss. Certainly the two groups have a different focus but since we're both in Washington DC, we can share resources and reduce costs at the same time. It really seemed like a good mix. Anyway, to make a long story short, the interim director of BHI left to pursue other interests and the future of BHI was in doubt for a while. However, after some reflection, the Boards of HIA and BHI decided to reignite the mission of BHI and that's when the search for an executive director began.
AO/Beck: What venues does BHI use to help spread 'the word' about hearing loss and hearing healthcare?
Olive: I am a newcomer to hearing healthcare and we all expected it would take me some time to get up to speed on the issues. I have spent a major portion of my first months on the job meeting manufacturers and hearing professionals and learning about the state of the industry. Now, you will see BHI moving forward on several specific fronts. Our principal focus is on referral development from Primary Care Physicians, but we will also be redesigning our web page, producing new materials that highlight recent study findings (the NCOA study on the importance of treating hearing loss and the joint VA/NIDCD clinical trial which proved the effectiveness of hearing aids), and trying to build alliances among hearing advocacy groups and organizations like AARP. In the very near future, I think we can help bridge the gap between hearing professionals and primary care physicians.
AO/Beck: That would be a significant contribution. The primary care docs, whether they are internal medicine, pediatricians or gerontologists, often refer to ENT only. The primary care docs have traditionally had no idea what an audiologist is, where we are, or what we do. Thankfully, that seems to be changing quickly.
Olive: Obviously audiologists have maintained a great and solid relationship with ENTs, and that is something we hope to nurture. The ENTs have developed a new respect for hearing professionals as their educational and clinical background have dramatically increased with the advent of the Au.D and other educational and board certification programs. We hope to help foster recognition of those skills and those degrees in the ENT community and throughout all medical disciplines. Obviously, we're all better off with mutual recognition and respect,
AO/Beck: That is a vast task and I wish you a speedy and successful journey!
Olive: It's very important to realize that for each hearing impaired patient the ENT is seeing, there are hundreds of hearing impaired people going to the primary care docs. If we really want to make a fundamental difference for the 26 to 28 million patients with hearing loss in the USA, we need to better educate the primary care docs on hearing loss, hearing aids and the hearing profession and motivate those doctors to identify hearing loss and refer to a hearing professional for appropriate care. Physicians treat vision as critical to the overall quality of life. However, they do not traditionally treat hearing loss with the same level of importance, and that is something we can help address, rather quickly, I hope. We need to get the message out and BHI can be instrumental, and somewhat transparent in the process. It does no good for BHI to have a strong relationship with Primary Care. Our objective is to build the bridge between the Primary Care Physician and the local hearing professional who is ready, willing and able to meet the needs of that doctor's patients.
AO/Beck: Very good. However, we certainly do not want to eliminate the ENT from the resource and talent pool. Clearly they play a critical role in ear disease and medical and surgical management of ear disease. So, how do we nurture the primary care relationship without isolating the ENT relationship?
Olive: It's based on knowledge and mutual respect. You as a doctor of audiology, would not interrupt the relationship between the primary care doctor and the ENT doctor. Rather, you or any hearing professional can help the primary care doctor decide when and who to refer to ENT and you can help the ENT doc determine the diagnosis and treatment based on your findings and recommendation. Basically, it's a 'win-win' situation, when it is based on education, knowledge and the patient's best interest. Many areas of medicine use allied health professionals as adjuncts to their professional practice. For instance, physical therapists, OT and optometrists all work successfully with primary care docs to best manage their patients. I think we can do the same in hearing health care.
AO/Beck: I agree. We, as audiologists, are ready, willing and able to refer to ENT as needed, but let's face it, the vast majority of patients we see with hearing loss do not have ear disease, they have hearing loss. That is probably true for some 90 percent of all hearing impaired patients.
Olive: Absolutely., the key is knowledge. We have all of this information and talent available and we need to get the appropriate information both to the Primary Care Physician and the public, Additionally, we need to better educate the medical community about the capabilities of hearing professionals to serve the patients efficiently. We know that the great majority of the people with hearing loss can be best served with hearing aids. But we also know that primary care docs are more comfortable referring to other MD specialists. So one of our goals is to educate the primary care doc as to who is who and what the scope of practice and role of hearing professionals is with respect to diagnostic tests and hearing health care in general. I can envision the BHI serving as a catalyst to improve not only the relationship between the audiologist hearing professional and the patient, but also as a catalyst between the audiologist hearing professional and the medical community.
AO/Beck: I have to tell you that your organization has a wonderful webpage and I give almost every patient the sheet you guys have on the web regarding multiple reasons to try binaural amplification. It really carries a lot of weight when I hand my patient a sheet downloaded from a not-for-profit site which helps underline my hearing aid dispensing philosophy.
Olive: I'm glad that's useful for you. It's always nice to hear about people using our website. We are in the process of completely redesigning our site, so hopefully it will become much more user friendly, up to date and helpful in the coming weeks.
AO/Beck: John, where does the funding come form for BHI?
Olive: There is a percentage of monies which the HIA sends to us, based on a portion of their income, which in turn, is based on a formula that is based on the manufacturers sales over the requisite time period. So, we are funded indirectly by the manufacturers. The corporations who manufacture components and finished products in the hearing industry support both BHI and HIA. They contribute on a quarterly basis according to a formula that is tied to sales volume.
AO/Beck: If I may ask, how large is the BHI budget?
Olive: For this first year that BHI has been reactivated, it runs just over a million dollars.
AO/Beck: John, it's been a pleasure getting to you know a bit and getting to know more about the mission and the goal of the BHI. For the readers, how can they get more information about BHI?
Olive: Audiologists are welcome to call me personally at 703-684-3391 or email me at jolive@clarionmr.com. Our website may be accessed at www.betterhearing.org. I now attend all the major professional meetings and will be at AAA in the spring of 2001.
AO/Beck: John, thanks again for your time. It has been a pleasure.
Olive: Thank you Doug, I appreciate the opportunity to tell your readers about BHI.
