LM111 - Implementing a Virtual Tinnitus Education Class at Your Medical Center

Abstract:
According to the CDC, approximately 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus. At Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, tinnitus is the second highest referral reason to audiology, compared to hearing loss. With the increase in telehealth resources and availability an hour long "Understanding and Managing Tinnitus" virtual course was created to capture and counsel patients on their condition when the baseline audiogram and initial counseling session was not enough.

Summary:
Patient education and informational counseling is one the best tools clinicians have to promote compliance and buy-in from our patients and their families. This is particularly true for our patients who have tinnitus. They are often concerned and anxious after the onset of their tinnitus and seek the help of an audiologist. In many cases, a baseline hearing evaluation and initial counseling session are not enough. However, when presented with hearing device treatment or therapy-based tinnitus solutions patients feel overwhelmed and are unsure of where to start. Our presentation will focus on the "in-between" patient. These patients are concerned enough to seek medical treatment and need further guidance after their initial evaluation. Since the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, audiologists have been expanding and promoting telehealth services for our patients. Our organization decided to create and pilot a monthly online health education class which is all about tinnitus. The patients in this pilot are from all over Northern California from Sacramento to Fresno and a prerequisite for being enrolled in the class was a diagnostic evaluation and referral from the diagnostic audiologist.

What we have learned:

1. A live, group, online setting allowed patients to understand they are not alone in their experience with tinnitus.
2. The class being taught by an audiologist was critical to providing accurate and evidence-based information on tinnitus.
3. The class reviewed factual information about tinnitus.
4. The class explained the tinnitus treatment options available at our medical center including - sound therapy (self-guided) and formal (hearing device fitting), general wellness, stress management, and mental health services.

As a result of implementing the class we have seen:

1. Increase in our patient satisfaction surveys.
2. Reduction in patient requests for specialty referrals to Ear, Nose, Throat, and other specialty departments.
3. Increase in hearing device fittings as a treatment option for tinnitus.

Implementing a monthly virtual tinnitus education class can improve departmental workflows, reinforce reliable and evidence-based treatment for tinnitus, and improve many lives.