Cochlear Care Centre only opened in February 2018 but has already been nominated as a finalist in two categories at the 2019 Deakin University Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
A finalist in the Health and Wellbeing and Inclusive and Accessible Business categories, the centre is regional Victoria’s first making cochlear implants and life-long care more accessible in greater Geelong and western Victoria.
The centre’s awards entry says almost one in four patients attending the Cochlear Implant Clinic at Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital lives more than 100km away.
“On average, during the first year with a cochlear implant there were previously up to 12 trips to East Melbourne, our Geelong centre ensures people can access cochlear implant services without excessive travel time and cost,” the entry says.
“Our centre provides specialist audiological services such as implant assessments, programming, and streamlined pre-operative counselling.
“We support hearing impaired individuals from age five years and older with their pre and post implant evaluation programmes and provide troubleshooting support and services to cochlear implant recipients of all ages. We support both publicly and privately funded recipients.”
The centre says hearing loss represents a significant global health burden, with more than five percent of the world’s population, 360 million people, living with disabling hearing loss one.
World Health Organisation data indicates approximately 72 million people could potentially benefit from hearing devices, including a cochlear implant, or hearing aid2.
“By bringing the services closer to the people who need them and making them accessible we hope to be able to encourage people to seek help and support for their hearing loss and empower them to make a positive change for their hearing, communication and quality of life,” the centre says.
