Study outlines streamlining of clinical workflow using innovative audiology tool that upholds QIPP agenda and assists with positive positioning in AQP climate.
The Department of Hearing Services at The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust has announced the results of a study1 into Real Ear Measurements (REMs) - the process of verifying a patient’s hearing prescription against the real ear acoustics of a hearing aid to ensure an accurate fit - using a specialist audiology technology solution compared to manual adjustments.
Results illustrate that the time to gain REMs was halved from 31.6 minutes manually to 14.1 minutes via the AutoFit solution from Siemens Hearing Instruments. Overall appointment times were reduced from 45.5 to 30.8 minutes and percentage of return patient visits reduced from 20% for manual REM fittings within 3 months to 0% for fittings using AutoFit. In a climate of Any Qualified Provider (AQP) and the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) programme, the newly implemented technology solution can provide departmental and Trust wide efficiency gains.
The study opens the potential for more patients to be seen by the Department of Hearing Services during the working day, and for greater quality time to be spent during appointments for hearing loss counselling or discussion of services. The AutoFit solution also helps standardise REMs across the department. Furthermore, a reduction in time of follow up fitting appointments, a reflection of accuracy of fitting, has the potential for cost savings and waiting list enhancements.
Sarah Hinchcliffe, study author and Audiologist at Department of Hearing Services at The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust comments, “We started using AutoFit from Siemens at the beginning of 2012, moving over from manually adjusting Real Ear Measurements. The departmental audit comparing manual to automated adjustments has demonstrated that in a time of diminishing returns in the NHS, the AutoFit tool can maximise efficiency without sacrificing patient satisfaction. We feel it’s a valuable resource for an audiology department with the emerging reputation based initiative of AQP.”
Sarah Hinchcliffe, Audiologist at Department of Hearing Services, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust uses AutoFit from Siemens Hearing Instruments to gain Real Ear Measurements.
“More quality time with patients coupled with efficient and accurate hearing instrument fitting appointments are essential to audiology departments and Trusts striving for competitive reputations,” states Wendy Davies, National Sales and Audiology Manager at Siemens Hearing Instruments. “The Any Qualified Provider initiative means that departments are looking to provide a good service that patients are satisfied with year on year. The audit study at The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust helps provide data illustrating that specialist solutions such as AutoFit helps influence QIPP scores in the areas of increasing rehabilitation time and time saving.”
Notes to editors:
1. Departmental audit study 2012 entitled ‘Can AutoFit REMs improve Workflow?’ by Sarah Hinchcliffe, Audiologist at Department of Hearing Services, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust. Conducted using 20 randomly selected bilateral hearing aid fitting appointments – half of REMs were manually calculated and half automatically gained via AutoFit from Siemens Hearing Instruments. Results first published as clinical poster at British Academy of Audiology (BAA) Conference, 12 - 13 November 2012, Manchester.
About Siemens Hearing Instrument (www.siemens.co.uk/hearing)
Siemens Hearing Instruments Ltd (Crawley, West Sussex) provides a comprehensive range of digital hearing instruments and software, patient management systems and audiology equipment to the National Health Service, independent retail dispensers and national chains in the UK. It is the UK operation of Siemens Audiology Solutions, a business unit of the Siemens Healthcare Sector; Siemens Audiology Solutions has been at the forefront of audiological innovation for over 130 years and is the world’s market leader in the design and manufacture of audiological products.
