In the UK, more than 50% of hearing aids are sold through optometry practices. In the US, the number is almost nothing. Why? And what are industry players – big and small – doing to change that? Find out in our latest Power Hour episode. Your host Eugene Shatsman is joined by industry innovators Jed Grisel, ENT physician from Amplify Hearing, and Doug Breaker, from MDHearing. They discuss how integrating hearing services into optometry clinics transforms hearing care, making it more accessible and affordable.
If you’re already seeing patients over 55 in your practice, is hearing the right subspecialty for your practice? It sounds great on paper – almost no additional work from your team, a lucrative economic model, and incredible benefits for patients. Especially when you consider that almost 80% of patients who need hearing correction aren’t receiving treatment. And these patients might be in your exam chair each and every day.
Imagine offering your patients hearing tests and eye exams in one convenient location? This is the future that Jed and Doug envision, combining cutting-edge technology with unparalleled convenience. This model has already succeeded in the UK, where half of private pay hearing aids are dispensed through optometry practices. Now, it’s time for US optometrists to explore this revolutionary approach. By addressing high costs and insurance complications, US optometrists can bridge the gap with the UK and provide better hearing care.
Jed and Doug explain how their models are reshaping hearing care. Doug shares how MDHearing offers in-store hearing tests followed by telemedicine consultations, making high-quality hearing aids more accessible. Jed discusses how Amplify Hearing delivers prescription-level care in optometry clinics, enhancing convenience for patients.
Integrating hearing services into your optometry practice is a strategic move that can enhance patient care and boost practice growth. Tune in to this episode of Power Hour to learn from Jed Grisel and Doug Breaker on how you can make hearing care a standard part of your practice, improving your patients’ quality of life and creating new opportunities for your business.
Key Takeaways:
- Integration of Services: Learn how combining hearing and vision care in one practice can benefit patients and practitioners.
- Accessibility and Affordability: Discover innovative models making hearing aids more affordable and accessible.
- Changing Perceptions: Understand the importance of shifting societal views on hearing aids and the significant impact on quality of life.
In this episode:
00:39.56 Background of Dr. Jed Grisel
01:59.91 About Doug Breaker
02:41.16 Audiology in the optometry space
05:43.18 Access to hearing aids
07:33.67 Hearing aids and age perceptions
10:22.29 Hearing and vision business models
15:03.47 Revenue sharing results in practice profit
22:06.33 Reasons why the business model may not work
28:13.13 Matching price points
33:20.51 Technology evolvement with hearing aids
38:26.53 Quality of life enhancements through the stages of hearing loss
44:11.46 Patient reception to cross-pollinating business models
46:58.02 Should every patient over 50 get a free hearing test?
48:22.99 Viable behavior changes needed in optometry-merged-audiology practices
51:22.37 Hearing aids – common in optometry practices pre-2035?
54:47.37 Parting thoughts
Contact Information
Connect with Doug Breaker
Doug Breaker is the CEO of MDHearing, bringing with him extensive experience from previous CEO roles at HomeFinder.com, EarthClassMail.com, and Scripted.com. With decades of expertise in software, hardware/software integration, operations, and scaling high-touch customer support teams, Doug ensures that MDHearing delivers high-quality, affordable hearing aids alongside exceptional support and user-friendly apps and software. He is currently pursuing certification to become a licensed hearing instrument dispenser.
Website – https://www.mdhearingaid.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougbreaker/
Connect with Dr. Jed Grisel:
Dr. Jed Grisel graduated Summa Cum Laude in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University and completed medical school there with honors, being inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology at the University of Cincinnati. Since July 2011, he has been practicing with Head and Neck Surgical Associates. Dr. Grisel is a pioneer in robotic-assisted cochlear implants, performing the first such procedure in Wichita Falls. He is also the Co-Founder of the Auditory Implant Initiative and developed a cloud-based clinical outcomes database for cochlear implant patients.
Website – https://texomaentandallergy.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-grisel-88228210/
Connect with Eugene Shatsman:
Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman
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