The_CommENTator_Fall_2011

In My Corner...
Collaborative Surgery Gives Patient Hope
Imagine that you‘re thin and active: a
lean, 116-pound runner with boundless
energy. Now imagine yourself, inexplicably gaining weight, your body more than
doubling in size, with no explanation. Not
to mention the constant pain.
Meet Connie Stadtfeld.
This issue marks the fourth in the new
iteration of the CommENTator. That‘s a
full cycle of issues, one for each season.
In this issue, we‘ll take you inside our
ENT Clinic with Dr. Ari Rubenfeld, its
Medical Director.
Dr. Rubenfeld has made his mark in the
Department in a relatively short time with
us, and discusses in detail some of the
clinical, technological, and leadership
initiatives we‘re pursuing to continue to
improve the quality of care we deliver and
maximize patient experiences.
All of these steps are important, and
should have an effect on what goes on
inside the hospital, and with the network
of physicians with whom we collaborate
across the Chicago region, Illinois, and
the Midwest.
We are constantly striving to improve the
experiences of our key stakeholders –
patients, physicians, payors, and others.
I think you‘ll agree that while there‘s always more to do, we‘re continuously taking tangible steps and making real progress. And that‘s important not only for
our patients and other stakeholders, but
to our mission as a public teaching hospital and university medical center.
Also this month, you‘ll read about Dr.
Miriam I. Saadia-Redleaf‘s investiture as
Mayer Professor, Dr. Stephanie Joe‘s
work across disciplines, and our alumni
gathering at AAO-HNS‘ annual meeting.
As we continue to grow and expand our
referral base and bring new patients into
our practice, we also take steps to provide care for the underserved citizens in
our communities.
―My body was changing so quickly,‖ she
recalled. Stadtfeld was in her early 30s,
working with autistic children in Ohio (she
and her family moved to Carpentersville a
few years ago). One day, she felt weak.
Then came dramatic weight gain, accompanied by excruciating pain that took over
her whole body. ―I‘d gain up to ten
pounds in 24 hours, and couldn‘t lose it.
It was terribly depressing,‖ she said.
Years of doctors‘ visits turned up very
little, then an MRI detected a benign pituitary tumor, one that didn‘t require surgery.
―I was worried about my four kids. I thought
I was going to die, and surgery was really a
problem.‖
Her doctor referred her to neurosurgeon
Fady T. Charbel, MD, Professor and Head
of UIC‘s Neurovascular Section and CoDirector of the Skull Base Program, who
recommended immediate surgery.
In February he and Stephanie Joe, MD,
Associate Professor of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, a specialist in Rhinology and endoscopic sinus surgery, and
Co-Director of the Skull Base Program, operated to remove the growth.
Dr. Joe used endoscopy—high-definition
digital telescopes and cameras—to make a
pathway to the tumor through the nose so
Dr. Charbel could readily (and less invasively) remove the tumor.
―Until ten years ago, this was done only
through an open, more
But Stadtfeld
invasive approach, where
needed more. On
the ENT made facial cuts
permanent disato provide the neurosurbility leave begeon with access,‖ Dr.
cause she couldJoe noted.
n‘t stand for more
than five minutes
―It requires specialty trainat a time, she
ing and coordination besubsequently detween ENT and neurosurveloped chest
geon (she and Dr. Charpains, shortness
bel have collaborated on
of breath, and
this procedure for years),
frequent kidney
because we work in destones.
Dr. Stephanie Joe and patient Connie
fined spaces, must use
Stadtfeld in the ENT Clinic.
our instruments together
Stadtfeld concluded that she had a human growth hormone and dance in concert,‖ she added.
(HGH) deficiency. HGH is secreted by
the pituitary gland and catalyzes metabol- ―It‘s an up-and-coming way to do these procedures, and takes unique ability to do them
ic/energy-related functions. Without
endoscopically. It minimizes pain and easenough HGH, life moves very slowly.
es recovery for the patient, too.‖
Sure enough, tests revealed she had virtually none.
Stadtfeld‘s relief was palpable. While recovering from surgery, she felt burning senHGH treatment provided some relief, but
sations. ―Lke someone had lit a match,‖
then Stadtfeld developed severe mishe recalls. The burning was a sign her
graines and vision problems. Another
metabolism was starting to work properly.
MRI found hemorrhaging in the pituitary
tumor. ―I freaked out,‖ she remembers.
Continued on page 2
Dr. Saadia-Redleaf Honored at Mayer Professorship Investiture
Family, friends, happy patients, and colleagues from the medical center, College of Medicine, and other institutions gathered October 4 for the investiture of Miriam I. SaadiaRedleaf, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, as the recipient of the Louis J. Mayer Professorship.
The event, held at the University Club of Chicago, was hosted by Dimitri T. Azar, MD,
MBA, and Dean of the College of Medicine.
Dr. Azar gave a tribute to Louis J. Mayer,
MD, who endowed the professorship in otology/neurotology. Dr. Saadia-Redleaf, director of the Department‘s otology/neurotology
program, then accepted the medal that accompanies the professorship.
Other speakers at the ceremony included J.
(Left to Right): Dr. Dimitri Azar, Dr. Miriam
Regan Thomas, MD, Francis L. Lederer
Saadia-Redleaf, Dr. J. Regan Thomas, &
Dr. Lon S. Kaufman at the Mayer ProfesProfessor and Head of the Department, Lon
sorship investiture dinner at which Dr.
S. Kaufman, PhD, Vice Chancellor for AcaSaadia-Redleaf was honored.
demic Affairs and Provost Professor, Biological Sciences, and two of Dr. SaadiaRedleaf‘s former colleagues at the University of Chicago Hospitals (where she worked
before coming to UIC), David Firm, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery,
and Ernest E. Mhoon, Professor of Surgery.
Dr. Saadia-Redleaf is a highly regarded otologist/neurotologist who earned her M.D. from
the University of Chicago‘s Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed residency and
fellowship training at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Publications
Thomas, J. Regan. Facelift:
Thomas Procedures in Facial
Plastic Surgery. Shelton, Conn:
PMPH-USA, 2011
Bhattacharyya TK, Jackson P,
Patel MK, Thomas JR. Epidermal
Cell Proliferation in CalorieRestricted Aging Rats. Curr Aging
Sci. 2011 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of
print] PubMed PMID: 21834786.
Kakodkar K, Saadia-Redleaf MI,
Weiss M, Grasberger H. Cochlear
Structure and Hearing in Murine
Congenital Hypothyroidism
Caused by Targeted Gene Mutations in the Mouse Dual Oxidase
A1 and A2 Genes. Laryngoscope,
August 2011; 121: Supplement S5;
pS324.
Toriumi DM, Dixon TK. Assessment of Rhinoplasty Techniques
by Overlay of Before-and-After 3D
Images. Facial Plast Surg Clin
North Am. 2011 Nov;19(4):711-23.
PubMed PMID: 22004862.
Collaborative Surgery Gives Patient
Hope continued
―Once I got up to walk, I felt great. I hadn‘t been
able to stand and talk because I was in such pain.‖
Stadtfeld, 43, did lose some weight after the surgery, but says her endocrinologist has advised she
shouldn‘t expect the surgery to correct the HGH
deficiency, or that a lot of weight will come off. Assuming she stays on a path to full recovery, there‘s
a possibility of getting back to normal—including
returning to teaching at some point.
―I‘m so grateful,‖ Stadtfeld noted. ―I‘m able to do
things that I couldn‘t for so long.‖
News We Can Use
We appreciate your ongoing
comments and submissions of
news, photos, and other information of relevance. Feel free
to send your contributions to
Chris Flowers, at
[email protected].
Dr. Ari Rubenfeld: Quality Improvement Is Job #1
In his three years at the medical center, Ari Rubenfeld,
MD, has made quite an impact. The ENT Clinic‘s medical
director, Dr. Rubenfeld came to the Department in 2008 from
Chicago‘s Mount Sinai Hospital. A graduate of Cornell University and SUNY-Buffalo School of Medicine,
he did residency training at Georgetown University. He spoke to The CommENTator
about several initiatives in the clinic.
Another patient-focused initiative is built around our transition to
point-of-service documentation. While the University hospital has
garnered many awards for being the ―most wired,‖ the ambulatory sector has lagged in integrating a system that is at our disposal for a completely paperless office.
Development and implementation of point-of-service
electronic documentation (and, subsequently, computerized physician order entry) will facilitate better patient
throughput and ensure that documents are ready for
communication with outside/referring physicians. It will
keep us a step ahead of compliance requirements and
new standards/practices concerning medical records.
Can you tell us about quality improvement
initiatives in the ENT ambulatory services?
Patient satisfaction is a major factor in health
care institutions‘ business models. It‘s not
that dispensation of care has been done in a
vacuum, without regard to patient input, but
it‘s safe to say the model of paternalistic delivery of care – the ―old‖ paradigm – is not the
warmer, safer, bio-psycho-social model that is
expected today.
Combined with the already implemented e-prescribe
program, there is no doubt healthcare information will
flow more smoothly from provider to provider. The first
phase of our rollout began in October, and we hope to
have all faculty and staff on board within 90 days of that.
Dr. Ari Rubenfeld
This is a time when a great deal of attention
and credence are given to patient satisfaction nationwide. Healthcare facilities in Chicago are competing for the
hearts and minds of our patients. With that in mind, we are
seeking ways to formalize the high level of care and commitment we‘ve always felt are within our capabilities.
The major focus of the ENT Clinic includes appointments/
scheduling, wait time, and staff/patient interaction. Our appointments scheduling has been shifted to Central Scheduling, through Ambulatory Services.
This is a positive move, as Central Scheduling has the resources to manage the influx of patient calls and requests. We‘ve also rebuilt our scheduling format to create a
seamless transition and include improved patient access.
We are instituting a new scheduling system tied to our electronic medical records system in the next 18 months. That
should improve scheduling, access, and the transfer of patient information and enhance patient satisfaction.
Patients don‘t like having problems scheduling appointments. We‘re making real improvements, and are confident
that our efforts and methods will serve as a model for other
departments.
The quality of our care and the clinical skill of our staff are as
good as anywhere in the city and region. However, any
challenges patients sometimes have, something as simple
as getting through the door, can obstruct and color their
sense of the quality of care. When patients believe they‘re
getting great care, they‘re on their way to getting great care.
When patients are treated like they‘re important and get care
that‘s specific to their problems, they will certainly walk out
happy. The gist is to validate their concerns beyond simply
addressing their physical needs.
An added bonus is that our diligence in developing the
templates will be touted by our information services
group as a model. And from that, our department, across the
entire ambulatory spectrum, will demonstrate that we have the
system capabilities to make this project happen.
What’s keeping the clinic and the physicians busy these days?
We‘re all very busy.
Dr. Miriam Saadia-Redleaf‘s investiture as an associate professor (see page 2) is an appropriate validation of her unswerving
commitment to patient care, patient access, teaching, and research within the otology-neurotology sphere. She is diligently
working to expand our cochlear implant program and cement
relationships with neurosurgeons within the Medical Practice.
Dr. Rakhi Thambi and I staff sedated auditory brain stem testing
in the clinic. This has freed up operating room time that was being eaten up by audiologic testing under anesthesia rather than
performing procedures. Large numbers of patients at the medical center require general ENT care. We share a vision of being
here to serve patients, and this alone keeps us quite busy, rarely
able to sit down during clinic or operative days.
Dr. Kristen Pytynia is busy in the cancer center. The collaboration with oncology and radiation oncology in the cancer center
space has given her the ability to deliver the comprehensive cancer care one should expect from a physician with her credentials
and skills.
Dr. H. Steven Sims continues to build the Chicago Center for
Voice Care. It‘s always fun to hear about his outreach efforts,
which include pressing flesh with the folks in the theater district
or Lyric Opera to lecturing to and meeting with students at local
drama and journalism schools. We all rely on him to provide,
even for our own patients, the latest and greatest in voice care.
Dr. Stephanie Joe was named Residency Director this year.
Continued on page 6
Making Sweet Music & Hearing It – Again
Musicians like to have their instruments working in top condition. A longtime professional musician, singer, and arts
supporter, Susan Cartland Bode noticed that her hearing, a
fundamental musical tool, was not operating at peak performance, and quickly went about getting it fixed.
That‘s not unusual. But what is atypical is that Bode, about
70 when she noticed her hearing decline, acted much faster—almost immediately, she says—than many people in
her age group. Most older people can take up to seven
years to address a hearing problem, said Nichole Suss,
AuD, a UIC audiologist who treated Bode.
―A lot of people don‘t know what they‘re missing,‖ Dr. Suss
said. They don‘t know that hearing aids can help restore
some hearing, especially in the higher registers. Susan is a
very social person with specific needs. Human contact and
energy are so important to her.‖
Undiagnosed or untreated hearing loss, no matter the patient‘s age, is a barrier to socialization, Dr. Suss noted.
―Especially with elderly adults, it can have symptoms similar
to Alzheimer‘s: withdrawal, lack of participation, inattentiveness. That‘s why it‘s so important to get treatment, especially for older people,‖ she added.
So Bode did
some research,
picking up the
phone, talking to
friends and colleagues with
hearing problems, and visiting
hearing-aid retailers. One of
her calls was to
UIC Audiology,
and Dr. Suss
took the call.
―Nichole was
more interested
Susan Cartland Bode
in helping me
hear than selling
me a pair of hearing aids,‖ a different approach from some
of the storefront operations she‘d visited, she recalled. After further research, she followed up with Dr. Suss, met her
at UIC soon after, and a week after that, in the fall of 2009,
was fitted for her digital hearing aids.
―My conversation with Nichole made all the difference,‖ she
said. ―I was impressed. She was thorough, and listened
closely to what I said I needed.‖
―I‘m not your typical person over 60. I don‘t sit at home,‖
Bode said. ―I‘m in the choir, I travel a lot, and when my family comes over, everyone talks at once.‖ Bode had trouble
―Susan laid it out on the line,‖ Dr. Suss remembered. ―She
hearing the conversation at her dinner
told me she could literally look outside her
table, and her husband told he she was
“Nichole was more interested in window and see a storefront hearing aid
talking louder than usual, she said. The
helping me than selling me a pair shop, and wanted to know what the differcondition also affected Bode while pursuence was between a business like that and
of hearing aids…”
ing her musical activities.
the service she‘d get at UIC.‖
―During rehearsals, I‘d constantly
―Some of my friends had gone to storefronts and had dealt
ask my choir mates what the
with hearing technicians, not audiologists,‖ Bode noted. ―I
director was saying,‖ she noted.
wanted the best trained and most expert person taking care
of my hearing problems.
Continued on page 7
Know Before You Go: How To Shop For Hearing Aids
According to the Center for Hearing Communication, more than 38 million people have significant
hearing loss. At least 15 million let this condition go undiagnosed and untreated. And while a third of
those 65-plus experience hearing problems, they‘re not alone. Significant proportions of people aged
45-64 – not to mention children who listen to loud music – have hearing problems. Getting proper
and timely treatment of hearing problems is critical to quality of life. But how does a consumer know
where to get the best treatment?
Nichole Suss, AuD
Some people go to hearing-aid stores located on-street or in shopping malls. These visits are often
self-referred, without a physician‘s consultation, and some consumers may experience a significant
difference in hearing care as a result.
―Ideally, you should see an audiologist, someone trained and certified in hearing healthcare,‖ said Nichole Suss, AuD, an UIC
audiologist. While some retailers may employ audiologists, they are not required by law to do so. As a result, the person treating
a hearing problem could be more concerned with selling hearing aids than diagnosing the roots and causes of hearing disorders
and recommending appropriate treatments.
Many cases of hearing loss do require hearing aids, which can have tremendous benefits. But before purchasing a device that
could cost a few thousand dollars, it‘s best to get a comprehensive medical and/or hearing examination. Many hearing problems
are tied to medical causes: inner-ear problems, nerve disorders, even more serious may be growths or tumors. A primary-care
physician or otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon can diagnose medical and other conditions that either manifest as hearing
Continued on page 7
Dr. Thomas Chairs AAO-HNS Annual Meeting, Hosts Alumni Reception
UIC faculty members Drs. Stephanie Joe
and H. Steven Sims with UIC residents
Drs. Bennett Barch and Nirav Thakkar.
Dr. J. Regan Thomas with Drs. James
A. Geraghty (‗96) of Peoria, IL, and
Amit Agrawal (‗98) of Columbus, OH.
Dr. Henry Cramer, (‗89) of Downey,
CA with Dr. J. Regan Thomas and Dr.
Scott Sebastian, (‗08) of Austin, Texas.
Dr. J. Regan Thomas, Francis Lederer Professor and Department Head, presided
over the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery‘s annual
meeting in San Francisco in September.
Dr. J. Regan Thomas with Dr. Tim (‗76)
and Mary Reichert , of St Louis, Mo. and
Dr. Lawrence Berg (‗88) of Elgin, IL.
The conference, the organization‘s largest ever, was attended by about 10,000 physicians, including a large international contingent. A highlight of the meeting to Dr.
Thomas in his role as AAO-HNS President was to award a special presidential citation to Dr. Eugene Tardy. ―Dr. Tardy was instrumental in educating many people in
our department over the years. It‘s nice to see some of the heritage of UIC highlighted at the meeting.‖
The meeting also features alumni gatherings, and this year‘s was well attended, Dr.
Thomas said, with about 30 alumni on hand. ―There was a wide range of age
groups represented, including some recently retired alumni and recent graduates,‖
he added.
Dr. Thomas also spoke of the opportunities for exchange of ideas and the potential
for collaboration that arise from such a gathering. ―A meeting like this gives us an
opportunity to make direct contact with a lot of alumni. And it‘s good to see the interaction among people finding out who has expertise they perhaps didn‘t know about
before, or who might be good to approach for a referral relationship.‖
―For our department, if there are patient issues and problems our alumni want to refer, we can fulfill most of those criteria.‖
Pictured here are Drs. Robert Kotler
(‗73) Beverly Hills, CA, Stephanie Joe,
UIC Faculty, Nikhil Bhatt (‗78) Chicago,
IL, Gary Livingston (‗87) Crystal Lake, IL,
Jane Dillon (‗88) Hinsdale, IL, and
Lawrence Berg (‘88) Elgin, IL.
He spoke highly of the participation of faculty and residents at the conference.
―Several faculty presented papers, were part of panels, or involved in some educational fashion,‖ he noted. ―Several of our residents presented papers as well. It was
a nice showcase for the Department overall.‖
Departmental Picnic
Departmental faculty, staff and their families gathered on a beautiful fall day along Chicago‘s Lakefront for the annual picnic, held
Oct. 2 at Waveland Park on Chicago‘s North Side. About 25 people attended in all. Burgers were prepared by Grill-master Wes
Becton, Department Administrator.
Dr. Louis & Nina Scaramella Lecture Series
Larry Tobacman, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Research in the College of Medicine, and PI/Co-Director of the Center for
Clinical & Translational Sciences, delivered the annual Dr. Louis & Nina Scaramella Lecture Sept. 21. His talk, ―The UIC Center
for Clinical and Translational Science: Opportunities for Clinician Scientists,‖ spoke to the multi-disciplinary MD-PhD Medical
Scientist Training Program in the Center.
18th Annual Louis F. Scaramella, MD ENT Research Fund Golf Outing
The 18th Annual Louis F. Scaramella, MD ENT Research Fund Golf Outing was a huge success, raising more than $20,000 to
support resident research in the Department. Held August 15, at Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort, it was the first golf event
held since Dr. Scaramella‘s passing last year. In Dr. Scaramella‘s honor, a plaque commemorating his contributions to the Department was given to the club to display. In addition to his passion for the practice of medicine, his family, and the Department,
Dr. Scaramella was an avid golfer. Next year‘s event is scheduled for Monday, August 13th, at Prestwick.
Dr. Ari Rubenfeld: Quality Improvement Is Job #1 continued
This alone is no small task, but she managed to oversee a
stellar performance during our recent planned residency review. Some capital expenditures to expand her clinic practice
are underway. These will include in-office procedures lessening patients‘ need to undergo general anesthesia for specific
problems. She‘s always busy in Sinus/Nasal Allergy services,
where as director Dr. Joe oversees our allergy screening and
community allergy outreach.
I‘m also involved in internal clinic restructuring and working
closely with our business side to finalize some major capital
improvements. The goal of the former is making the clinic and
its service more accountable and patient-friendly. For the latter,
expanding each patient room to contain the instruments and
equipment to serve any otolaryngology need or workup will give
us the flexibility to manage space and resources more effectively and efficiently.
It‘s also important to talk about our commitment
to Public Aid patients. If you‘re a patient with
ENT needs (particularly a child) and are on Public Aid, you likely have problems finding an appointment. That‘s where we excel.
As of September, I came back as a full-time faculty member to the Department, having recently left
the Veterans Administration Hospital on the West
Side. I am adding a morning clinic specializing in
tonsil/adenoid patients. That should ease the rest
of our schedules (though probably not mine!).
“It’s important to talk
about our commitment to
Public Aid patients…”
If a referring physician needs a patient with a non-emergent
problem to be seen quickly, we do all we can to see a patient
within ten days. That‘s blind to needs or insurance. These
populations are expanding due to federal initiatives that have
ensured access to healthcare services for millions of Americans. And we‘re stepping up to the plate to meet the needs of
our community, state, and region.
You always seem to be particularly busy. What specific projects keep you active?
For one, I‘m part of the Performance Improvement Team for
ENT/Orthopedics, an extension of my role as Medical Director. I‘m a sitting member of the ambulatory information services liaison committee, and of the CPOE (computerized physician order entry) design group. I mentioned the point-ofservice documentation initiative earlier, and I‘m involved in its
design. Needless to say, whenever I get a moment freed up,
it gets eaten up by other hospital and clinic commitments.
We‘re also involved in an important effort to streamline our internal referrals for HMO Illinois, a large source of referrals.
Through this initiative, we‘re aiming to minimize patient holdups
that hinder the care of these patients. As physicians, we want
to look only at the patient‘s name and age. All else, insurance
included, should be handled in advance. If referrals are streamlined, once the patient comes to our office, we can focus on caring for the patient.
I feel that if we can pull this off with our internal referrals, my
vision is to put the patient first and keep the referring physicians‘ intent top of mind. HMO regulations can be cumbersome. If an HMO patient arrives with a referral and needs services, the only consideration should be in providing quality care.
Presentations
Dr. J. Regan Thomas, Francis L. Lederer Professor and Department Head, discussed Facial Scar Revision at the ORL 2011, The
Best of. . . in Paris, October 14.
Dr. D. Toriumi gave two presentations at the AAFPRS meeting: The first was a panel discussion: How to Obtain Stable Results in
Cosmetic Rhinoplasty - A Year is Not Enough, September 8; and the second was a workshop: Essentials in Facial Plastic Surgery:
Rhinoplasty, September 10.
Milestones
Congratulations go to Dr. Tara Brennan who was honored with the Resident Best Teacher Award and to Dr. Heath Dryfuss, who
was honored with the Resident Research Award.
Congratulations are in order to Kathy Reidy, Information Services Supervisor, who has a new granddaughter, Harper Grace Seymore, born September 8, 2011. Kathy beams: ―She is most wonderful and the sunshine in my day!‖
Congratulations to Dr. Miriam Saadia-Redleaf whose daughter, Sahai, was graduated from Whittier College, California.
Congratulations are in order to Drs. Rakhi Thambi and Tara Brennan for completing The Chicago Marathon. Well Done!
Congratulations to Dr. Dean Toriumi on being selected by Castle Connolly for America's Top Doctors for 10 years in a row.
Know Before You Go: How To Shop For Hearing Aids continued
problems or need to be treated along with hearing.
―You may encounter very good people in those stores,‖ Dr.
Suss said. ―But in many cases, you could also be serviced
by people who‘ve taken only a short training program and
are incentivized to sell hearing aids based on commission.
To the patient, that may be a lot different than treating a
hearing condition.‖
Finally, hearing aids appear expensive. And, contrary to the
misconception that Medicare pays for them (it doesn‘t), what
you pay could come out of your own pocket. Depending on
where you go for treatment and your insurance, some or all of
your costs may be covered. Dr. Suss noted that if your insurer
picks up only partial coverage, you‘ll most often pay the bulk of
the cost. (UIC Audiology works with patients and their insurance companies for billing and reimbursement.)
The diagnostics used in UIC Audiology‘s sophisticated audiology practice (all of UIC‘s audiologists have doctoral degrees, the highest level of training in the field) are also generally quite different from what a patient will encounter at a
retail store.
While costs vary depending on the device, a proper hearing
aid, even with basic technology, can cost more than $1000.
But over several years of daily use, that‘s not a bad investment, especially considering the quality of life that comes from
wearing properly fit hearing aids, Dr. Suss added.
Because many staff at retail operations are not audiologists,
their diagnostic tools are typically limited to a basic audiogram. That could fail to diagnose more significant medicallybased problems, especially any number of conditions of the
head and neck.
Sometimes the price may seem a bit cheaper at a retailer. It‘s
important to look closely at what you‘re actually paying for.
Some stores have a la carte costs for every visit, for example:
Are regular checkups/tune-ups on the hearing aids provided? If
not, what are the costs? What are the return policies? Are
there restocking fees?
At UIC, the connection between Audiology and Otolaryngologists who specialize in these conditions is quite close. Appointments can be coordinated, often on the same day, to
get a patient a hearing work-up if the ENT doctor indicates
the need. The result, Dr. Suss said, is to ―create a roadmap‖
that links patients with needed medical services at the same
time they are receiving treatment for hearing.
And often at retail stores, patients are ―upsold‖ a top-tier
hearing aid, meaning more money out of their pocket for
something they may not need. If good diagnostics are used,
depending on the severity and cause of the hearing problem, a high-end device may not be necessary.
For the patient, Dr. Suss says, it‘s important to ask if your
provider is taking a needs assessment, then customizing the
selection and fitting of the device to your needs. If not, you
should insist on proper diagnostics and getting a device that
meets your specific needs.
Also, some retailers don‘t provide free adjustments to their
hearing aids. At UIC, many services – including periodic
cleaning/maintenance and adjustments to digital hearing aids
(about 95 percent of all devices today) – are provided in the
purchase price, with no additional cost for an adjustment or
software update. UIC Audiology also provides a 3-year warranty and supply of batteries for most hearing aids.
In the end, hearing problems affect quality of life. Many people
withdraw from participating in activities they‘ve enjoyed their
entire lives, even accepting hearing loss as something that
they just have to ―live with.‖ Getting proper treatment and care
is critical, and when a patient does seek that out, it‘s important
to ask the right questions to make an educated decision that
will provide the desired outcome.
Making Sweet Music & Hearing It – Again continued
Nichole and all the UIC people are impressive, they‘re doctoral-level people, and I wanted the best-educated person to take care
of me. I wondered if the storefront place would still be there in six months.‖ As it turns out, Bode was right, the hearing aid store
in her community recently shut down.
Bode is very happy with her hearing aids, small, light devices that ―work with my short hair. Sometimes I forget I‘m wearing
them,‖ she said. Hers have customized settings Dr. Suss programmed for her to meet specific needs around music, pitch, and
ambient noises. ―I can overhear people talking in the theater now,‖ she noted with a laugh.
Bode was also happy with the nonprofit aspect of UIC, which meant, among other things, no sales tax, and some savings over
some storefront hearing aid retailers she visited. ―I got a really good deal,‖ she added.
And Bode is now a passionate advocate for hearing treatment among her peers. ―I truly could get on a soapbox about how passionate I am. What keeps people from wanting to improve their hearing? So many of our friends are hearing-impaired. People
yell at each other. These people wear glasses, for heaven‘s sake. And for some reason, they have a stigma around hearing."
―It does affect your quality of life. I‘m very happy.‖
February 20-24, 2012: 36th Annual
Midwinter Symposium on Practical
Challenges in Otolaryngology
WWW.UICENTSKIMEETING.ORG
June 22, 2012: Graduation & Alumni
Day Activities
The Now Hear This! Fund is committed to the rehabilitation of hearing in children who have undergone hearing
restoration treatment, especially while they are learning to hear, listen, and communicate. Your contribution assists
our mission of providing comprehensive care, particularly for those who are in financial need. Will you consider a
donation? For more information, please visit: http://www.nowhearthisfund.org/.
The purpose of the Now Hear This! Fund, which partners with the divisions of Audiology and Otology, is to advance
the quality of life and treatment for people experiencing hearing loss. The Fund accomplishes this mission through
improved patient resources, clinical care, education, and research.
Impaired hearing can cause significant developmental and integration problems for children and young people, as well
as drastically reduce the quality of life of individuals experiencing hearing loss at later stages in life. These
consequences often include withdrawal from social, family and work arenas, with related increases in rates of
depression. Currently, some 31 million Americans have hearing loss; with the Baby Boomer generation reaching
retirement, this number is expected to double by 2030.
If you are able to help, please mail a check payable to:
Now Hear This! Fund
1855 West Taylor Street, Suite 2.42
Chicago, Illinois 60612
or donate online: http://nowhearthisfund.org