MM304 - The Role of Technology in Person-Centered Care and Health-Related Outcomes

Abstract:
Today, people live very diverse lives, dependent upon origin, interests, aspirations, capacity, and cognitive abilities. From this diversity stems various individual motivations and goals. Regardless of these diverse backgrounds, experiencing a hearing disability can be devastating. The ability of audiologists to provide a versatile hearing device, offered as part of a comprehensive person-centered care solution, tailored to individual lives and needs, is essential in order to remain competitive. Additionally, the provision of a versatile hearing device enables clinical practices to optimize conversion rates, increase revenue and maintain a positive company reputation when patient satisfaction is optimized.

Summary:
For more than a decade, person centered care has been a buzzword in Audiology. In the truest sense of the phrase, person centered care in Audiology requires that the clinician explores and plans how patients can overcome their hearing challenges on their own terms. Person centered care involves asking open-ended questions, active listening and collaboration with the patient and their significant others on treatment goals. Although hearing aid technology is an essential part of virtually any intervention strategy, the role of technology is rarely discussed in the person centered care literature.

This course takes a fresh look at person centered care and the integral role that hearing aid technology plays in the process. First, the course explores how smartphone apps can be used in the hearing assessment and motivational engagement process. Second, the course examines how hearing aid technology features, tailored to the individuals lives and needs can be conducted in an efficient manner. Third, the course outlines how technology can be applied, using ecological momentary assessment as well as smartphone apps, to the process of monitoring improvements in health-related outcomes.