Audiology: Integrating services

Accessing audiology services in an optical practice is not a new trend but patients are increasingly looking to receive eye and ear care in one place.

This makes for a compelling case for an independent to boost business, but should an optical practice add audiology itself or seek the expertise of a third party?

Trevor Rowley was able to introduce audiology as an in-house service at Viewpoint in York without compromise because, he says frankly, of the depths of his pockets.

‘If you’ve got a reasonably successful practice, I think doing it yourself in-house is correct,’ he tells Optician.

Rowley employed John Manley to lead services in practice and support integration of audiology into Rowley’s Optix software business.
Recruiting an audiologist, buying the equipment, recovering the costs and becoming profitable took Viewpoint four years in total, but Rowley says he is happy with his decision because he has control over the business.

It took Manley six months to launch the services in 2019 but business was affected by Covid-19 for 18 months. However, the clinic’s diary is now full, despite not advertising services.