Have you ever wondered what to do with your old hearing aids after you upgrade to newer technology? Well, we have a use for those older devices that are still in fairly good condition.
Jane, Beth, Jamie and I are proud to announce our support of the Community Care Clinic of Rowan County. For years we have been a sponsor and attended the annual spring fashion show held at Catawba College. The Rowan Medical Society Alliance Foundation works very hard to raise money and awareness for the clinic. This year “Bonnets, Baskets and Brunch” was a huge success, but we thought we could do more.
In order to receive services at the Community Care Clinic you must meet the following requirements: be uninsured, a Rowan County resident, over 19 years of age, not receive Medicaid, Medicare or Disability Benefits and have an income of less than $23,540 or $48,500 for a family of four.
Many of their patients are employed in our community, but do not have health insurance. They are our restaurant servicers, cooks, dishwashers, hairdressers, etc. They contribute to our community but do not have the means to cover hearing evaluations or hearing aids.
The Community Care Clinic provides medical, dental, pharmaceutical and vision care but has not had a way to provide hearing healthcare. The residents of Rowan and Cabarrus County have been very supportive of the services we provide, so we thought this is where we can help.
Last month we met with Krista Wooly, the clinic’s executive director to determine the clinic’s hearing needs. Many patients have multiple medical issues including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Since there is such a high correlation with these medical issues and hearing loss, we developed a plan to incorporate a hearing screening program.
I purchased a hearing screener for their use, so the medical staff can screen the patients while they are at the clinic. Last week, medical assistants, Jessica and Mohamed spent time in our office, screening our patients. This was a great opportunity for them to learn how to use the equipment with a variety of patients with different hearing abilities.
With Krista Wooly’s help, we decided that all their patients will be screened before seeing the clinic’s physician Dr. Amy Wilson. We established a criterion for referral to our office for a full diagnostic evaluation.
If we determine a patient is in need of further medical treatment, we will refer to an ENT who also works with the Community Care Clinic. But what if a patient’s hearing loss can be helped with amplification? This is where you can help! Your donated hearing aids will be reconditioned by one of our suppliers and refit to the patients at no cost to them.
Why is this so important? Untreated hearing loss can have an effect on income. One of the major goals of the clinic is to reduce a patient’s need for their clinical services. A study by the Better Hearing Institute found that the use of hearing aids reduced the risk of income loss by up to 90-100% for adults with mild hearing loss. For those with moderate-severe hearing loss, treatment reduced the risk of lost income by 65-77%. The results are clear: left untreated, hearing loss can impact your earning potential. Help us reduce this risk by making a tax deductible donation to our cause.
For more information, give us a call at (704) 212-2376 or visit our website at hearingsolutionsofnc.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon.