Patient management for cochlear implant recipients in audiology departments: A practice review.

Patient management for cochlear implant recipients in audiology departments: A practice review.

Cochlear Implants Int. 2016 Mar 29;:1-6

Authors: Lorens A, Skarzynski H, Rivas A, Rivas JA, Zimmermann K, Parnes L, Lassaletta L, Gavilán J, Bodt M, van de Heyning P, Martin J, Raine CH, Rajeswaran R, Kameswaran M, Manoj M, Pulibalathingal S

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine and evaluate the time clinics needed to complete the sub-processes involved in the first-fitting and follow-up fitting of people with a cochlear implant.
METHODS: Eight HEARRING clinics completed a questionnaire recording how long it took to complete the sub-processes involved in first-fitting and follow-up fitting cochlear implant recipients. The mean times of clinics and procedures were then compared.
RESULTS: Questionnaires on 77 patients were completed. Clinics varied widely on time spent on each sub-process in both first- and follow-up fittings. Total first-fitting times were similar across clinics. Follow-up fitting times varied more across clinics although this may have been due to differences in questionnaire interpretation.
DISCUSSION: If a patient management plan can help increasingly busy cochlear implant clinics provide high-quality care more efficiently, essential first steps are determining which procedures are generally performed and how long their performance takes. Until reliable data are gathered, constructing a patient management plan or reaping the potential benefits of its use will remain elusive; clinics will have to find what solutions they can to meet rising workload demands.
CONCLUSION: The variation in time spent on each sub-process may suggest that some clinics have more efficient workflow procedures. Compiling a best practice for each process could be instrumental in creating a professional process management plan that would increase efficiency without sacrificing quality of care.

PMID: 27078519 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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