EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021
(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)
10/25/2016 | 8:40 AM - 9:45 AM | Solving Middle Ear Pathology in Indigenous Communities: An Australian Perspective | BGPOP Building 402/403/404
Solving Middle Ear Pathology in Indigenous Communities: An Australian Perspective
Purpose: In 2014, the Earbus Foundation of Washington formed a close collaborative partnership with two Aboriginal Medical Services in rural and remote parts of Western Australia. The Earbus Foundation team (consisting of a GP, a Nurse Practitioner, a Nurse, an Audiologist, Audiometrists, and an ENT specialist) worked in close partnership with the Aboriginal Medical Services in a partnership based around identified core principles of collaboration: agreed common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activity, and continuous communication.
Methods: Using a Mobile GP Clinic bus, the Earbus Foundation visited nine communities in the eastern regions of Western Australia and treated hundreds of Aboriginal and at-risk children for middle ear disease. The complete “treatment” pathway consisted of identification, ongoing surveillance, primary health intervention, and tertiary pathways for each child. In the North West of Western Australia the partnership with the Aboriginal Medical Services included joint clinics, shared resources, and shared cultural knowledge.
This paper presents detailed data on the middle ear health of over 2,300 children seen and treated over two years in these communities.
Results: The authors look at how this primary care arrangement between an NGO NFP and a regional Aboriginal Medical Service is aligned with research from Stanford University into collaborative social impact by Kania and Kramer.
On average, the refer rate at end of 2015 (essentially a type B tympanogram, discharging ear or wet perforation) for the two regions is as follows: Eastern Areas of Western Australia: 35% (decreased by approximately 19% from entry to region at start of 2014); and North West areas of Western Australia 42% (decreased by approximately 10% from entry to region start of 2014). 2016 data are also be presented.
Conclusions: Working in close partnership of an NGO (Earbus Foundation of Washington) and regional Aboriginal Medical Services has fashioned a joint approach that is a working-illustration of how to deliver collaborative social impact.
- To understand how to conduct a successful outreach program (hearing)
- To understand what doesn't work in remote outreach work (hearing)
- To understand the importance of hearing health as a subset of the heath of the whole child
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Lara Shur
(), Earbus Foundation of Western Australia, lara@earbus.org;
Mrs Lara Shur has an undergraduate Honours degree in Speech & Hearing Therapy, a Masters degree in Audiology and a Graduate Certificate in Business Management. Lara joined the Earbus Foundation of WA (EFWA)as Director, Clinical Services in 2013. She was previously Manager of Clinical Support WA & NT for the Department of Health & Ageing’s Office of Hearing Services.
Lara was responsible for the design brief and roll-out of the Pilbara Earbus as well as the Perth South Metro Earbus and managed Perth East Metro and Bunbury Earbuses for 3 years prior to Joining EFWA. She began her career in Audiology in South Africa, reaching the position of Senior Audiologist and Speech Therapist at a large public hospital in Soweto.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Paul Higginbotham
(), Earbus Foundation of Western Australia, paul@earbus.org;
Mr Paul Higginbotham began his career as a Teacher of the Deaf in Perth and gained extensive ESL experience overseas from 1988-1996. He holds a Masters degree with Honours in educational and organisational leadership and for 15 years was Principal/CEO of an early intervention agency for hearing-impaired children in WA before becoming the inaugural CEO of the Earbus Foundation in 2013.
Paul chaired the First Voice national alliance, served for 10 years on the WA Non-Government Centre Support Committee, served as Chair of the Association of Independent Schools of WA Special Needs Advisory Committee, is a member of WA Deafness Council Executive Committee and was a foundation member of the WA Newborn Hearing Screening Committee from 1998 to 2012.
Paul designed, developed and delivered every Earbus currently in service in WA. He received the Harry Blackmore Award in 2012 for his outstanding leadership for services to hearing impaired children in Western Australia.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -