We spoke to Helen Hodges, a Nurse in Milton Keynes for Makewell Clinic, who has recently started delivering ear and hearing healthcare with TympaHealth in the community.
Where did you hear about TympaHealth?
Our Makewell Clinic is part of the ECG Healthcare group who have been working with TympaHealth for some time. When we opened our clinic earlier this year, we really wanted to offer microsuction to our local community and so looked at bringing the system into clinic.
How did you start your journey using the Tympa System?
We started by looking at several companies to decide which system would be the best for us in Makewell Clinic to perform microsuction. We chose the Tympa System because we were so impressed with the quality of images from a handheld device. As we also wanted to take the system out into the community to support care home residents, we realised that the portability of the system would benefit us.
What type of customer uses your service?
One of the things that has surprised us, is that it is not only older people who have ear wax! It really is people of all ages. Our Makewell Clinic is located close to the centre of Milton Keynes and so we are really accessible to our local community. We have also started a visiting service for care homes and retirement homes so that people don’t have to travel to have their ear wax removed.
How did you find the training provided by TympaHealth?
The training was very thorough, taking us through the theory and allowing us to learn otoscopy on models before practicing on each other. The training programme allows for plenty of practice and encourages you to reflect on the examinations that you do before moving on to perform microsuction. We spent time practicing on each other at Makewell Clinic and on friends and family before our final assessment and were given further tips on the day to help make the procedure as straightforward as possible for our clients.
What was your favourite aspect of the training service provided by TympaHealth?
Personally, I really enjoyed learning about the context of ear wax removal and the difference that microsuction can make to people’s lives. Learning about the links between hearing loss and dementia was very powerful and made me even more determined to provide the service to our community in Milton Keynes.
What methods have worked well when it comes to getting the word out about your new Tympa service?
We are fortunate to have a marketing team here at Makewell Clinic who have been advertising on social media and have produced leaflets for us to share with GP surgeries so that they can signpost people to us if they ask about microsuction. Word of mouth is also working well for us.
What has been your favourite thing about the Tympa System?
The portability of the system is a real strength as it means we can do microsuction in the community. The other thing I really like is the Tympa Panel which allows you to upload images of any pathologies that you are unsure of for review by audiology and ENT specialists. As a Team of Nurses, it is reassuring to know that any questions or concerns we have can be answered and that any further advice can then be shared with the client.
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