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First fit with Oticon RemoteCare

In the extraordinary current situation, many healthcare providers have been forced to serve their patients remotely, even when a face-to-face encounter is normally the most appropriate way to provide care. To help you in these unusual times, this page walks you through how to initialize and then fine-tune the hearing aids during a first fit with Oticon RemoteCare.

Download the quick start guide

How to do a first fit with Oticon RemoteCare

This guide is designed to supplement the existing instructions for Oticon RemoteCare. It will walk you through the necessary steps to do a first fit with Oticon RemoteCare.

 

Before the visit

Follow the steps below to ensure a smooth and accurate remote fitting.

  • 1. Assess whether the patient is a candidate for first fit with Oticon RemoteCare

     

    Candidate checklist

     

    The patient must:

    • Be 18 years of age or older

    • Have a valid audiogram on record (and no reason to believe it has significantly changed)*

    • Have mild or moderate hearing loss (up to HCP’s discretion for more severe hearing loss)

    • Have no occluding wax or red flags (e.g. fluctuating HL / sudden onset HL, sudden onset tinnitus or sudden onset vertigo / asymmetrical HL / middle ear pathologies / aural fullness) – Use clinical judgement to assess if an Oticon RemoteCare appointment can be done without otoscopy.

    • Have a valid email address

    • Have access to a stable Internet connection with a minimum bandwidth of 1/1 Mbit/s

    • Have a compatible smart device – see compatible devices here

    • Have the following mobile device competency:

    – On their iPhone, iPad or Android device, the patient can use applications, receive/send emails, and knows how to connect to Wi-Fi

     

    Download the Oticon RemoteCare Readiness Checklist

     

    * If you do not have an audiogram on record for a patient but they already have wireless-enabled Oticon hearing aids fit in Genie 2 (e.g. Oticon Opn S™), it is possible to read their hearing aid settings and audiogram from the hearing aids using Oticon RemoteCare.

  • 2. A) Help patients in your database who have a valid audiogram but have yet to get started by holding an initial video call

     

    For patients in your database who have a valid audiogram

    Arrange a video call using a video call service currently permitted for telehealth in your region

     

    During the call:

    • Explain to the patient how the process will work

    • Get the patient’s email address (remember to check that the email address is the same one the patient will use to log in to the Oticon RemoteCare App)

    • Review the patient’s case history to ensure candidacy for their hearing aids and for Oticon RemoteCare. Use your clinical judgement to determine whether the patient requires a face-to-face appointment (e.g. if otoscopy is needed)

    • If not already done, measure the ear for receiver/tube size by asking the patient to hold a ruler up to their ear and making it visible to you in the video call – or by sending it as a photograph. It may be useful to involve a significant other or family member to assist, if possible. Measure the distance between the two points as shown below

     

    Defining the speaker length for Oticon miniRITE hearing aids:

    Measure the distance from A to B

    A is where the underside of a pair of glasses sits (alternatively, the patient can rest a piece of paper horizontally on top of their ear).

    B is the top third of their ear canal.

     

    measure_the_distance

     

    • Select the appropriate dome size. If you are unsure, use the video camera to assess the appropriate size with respect to safety and comfort

    • Walk the patient through how to get ready for the Oticon RemoteCare appointment and what to expect. Inform the patient that you will send some information/documents to them about this process. Inform the patient that it may be useful to involve a significant other or family member to assist, if possible

    • Arrange a date and time for the Oticon RemoteCare appointment

    • Schedule an additional earlier date for a video call to check in with the patient and guide them through unpacking, putting batteries in, putting the hearing aids on, and pairing the hearing aids to their smart device. This is to ensure everything is set up for your Oticon RemoteCare appointment

    • Arrange a date and time for the Oticon RemoteCare appointment

     

    Send the following documents to the patient to help this process:

     

    Oticon RemoteCare App instructions for use – (For iPhone, iPad and Android)

    How to get the most out of your RemoteCare appointment brochure

    Support website for hearing aid users

  • 2. B) Help your existing patients who are due for new devices get started by holding an initial video call

     

    For existing patients

    Arrange a video call using a video call service currently permitted for telehealth in your region. You can use Oticon RemoteCare for this if the patient already has it installed and has compatible Oticon hearing aids

     

    During the call:

    • Explain to the patient how the process will work

    • Get the patient’s email address (remember to check that the email address is the same one the patient will use to log in to the Oticon RemoteCare App)

    • Review the patient’s case history to ensure candidacy for their hearing aids and for Oticon RemoteCare. Use your clinical judgement to determine whether the patient requires a face-to-face appointment (e.g. if otoscopy is needed)

    • Identify the receiver/tube size by checking the patient’s records or the receivers they are using. Otherwise, measure the ear for receiver/tube size by asking the patient to hold a ruler up to their ear and making it visible in the video call – or by sending a photograph of it. It may be useful to involve a significant other or family member to assist, if possible. Measure the distance between the two points as shown below

     

    Defining the speaker length for Oticon miniRITE hearing aids:

    Measure the distance from A to B

    A is where the underside of a pair of glasses sits (alternatively, the patient can rest a piece of paper horizontally on top of their ear).

    B is the top third of their ear canal.

     

    measure_the_distance

     

    • Select the dome size from the previous fitting/visit. If you are unsure, use the video camera or Oticon RemoteCare app to assess the appropriate size with respect to safety and comfort

    • Walk the patient through how to get ready for the Oticon RemoteCare appointment and what to expect. Inform the patient that you will send some information/documents to them to help this process

    • Inform the patient that it may be useful to involve a significant other or family member to assist, if possible

    • Arrange a date and time for the Oticon RemoteCare appointment

    • Schedule a date for a video call to check in with the patient and guide them through unpacking, putting batteries in, putting the hearing aids on, and pairing the hearing aids to their smart device. This is to ensure everything is set up for your Oticon RemoteCare appointment

     

    Send the following documents to the patient to help this process:

     

    Oticon RemoteCare App instructions for use – (For iPhone, iPad and Android)

    How to get the most out of your RemoteCare appointment brochure

    Support website for hearing aid users

     

     

    (If you do not have an audiogram but the patient has Oticon RemoteCare and compatible Oticon hearing aids, then use Oticon RemoteCare to transfer the settings and audiogram from the patient’s current hearing aids).

  • 3. Prepare the hearing aids for the patient

     

    • Configure the hearing aids for the patient. Attach the correct speaker and the dome size you have selected in step 2. Include alternative sizes of domes when sending the hearing aids to the patient should adjustments be necessary

    • Program the hearing aids using the appropriate acoustic settings and based on the latest valid audiogram

    • Save and exit Genie 2

  • 4. Send the hearing aids to the patient

     

    • Take care to include what you would normally give the patient in the clinic, such as batteries, IFU, alternative dome sizes, and any other accessories that you think may be required

  • 5. Check the patient is set up correctly and prepared for the Oticon RemoteCare appointment

     

    • In a video call, guide the patient through unpacking, putting batteries in, putting the hearing aids on, and pairing the hearing aids to their smart device. Generally, ensure everything is set up for your Oticon RemoteCare appointment.

    • Remind the patient to follow the How to get the most out of your RemoteCare Appointment brochure before the appointment

    • Tell the patient to try on the hearing aids. If they need to change the dome, direct them to this video: www.oticon.com/support/how-to/use-and-care/replace-dome

  • 6. Carry out the Oticon RemoteCare appointment at the date and time arranged

    Prepare yourself for the visit by reviewing the best practices on the Oticon RemoteCare web support page.

    At the start of the visit

    • Make sure the patient can see and hear you clearly

    • Make sure the patient went through the user preparation checklist



    Ask your patient

    • Did they insert new batteries in the hearing aid(s)? If they have rechargeable hearing aid(s), did they fully charge them?

    • Did they fully charge or plug in their iPhone, iPad or Android device?



    Carry out the processes you would normally perform to ensure the best audiological experience.


    We recommend you

    • Ask the patient to hold the phone up to their ear to allow you to check the physical fit of the receiver/tube and domes/earmolds

    -If the patient needs to change the dome, the following link may be useful: www.oticon.com/support/how-to/use-and-care/replace-dome 

    -Check visually that the patient has attached any replacement dome correctly to the speaker according to the guidance and IFU already provided, to ensure the dome is attached in a proper and safe manner

    • Instruct carefully on:

    - Insertion and removal of the hearing aids

    - Battery handling

    - Hearing aid controls

    - Handling the hearing aids

    • Check for feedback, both by monitoring the gain risk indicator in the fitting software and by listening. Ask the patient to move their hands to and from the ear to check if feedback is triggered.

    • Note that it is not possible to use Feedback Manager in Oticon RemoteCare. You could consider reducing high frequency gain in the short term, but if it is a persistent problem, it could indicate excessive wax, in which case consider waiting until you can carry out a face-to-face appointment.

    • Adjust the gain according to the patient’s needs

    • Counsel the patient as you would normally do

     

  • 7. Arrange a physical appointment

     

    This is to ensure the patient is still using the hearing aids correctly, and to fine-tune their hearing aids and make adjustments to them.

    • If this cannot be done soon after the Oticon RemoteCare appointment, arrange another Oticon RemoteCare appointment to monitor the patient’s progress, followed by a physical appointment as soon as possible

    • Ensure that the patient understands that they should contact you if they have any issues

  • 8. End the RemoteCare session

     

    • Inform the patient that you should be the one to end and disconnect the session, in order to make sure that all necessary changes have been made and saved

    • Save and exit Genie 2

 

Videos



Visit our other RemoteCare pages for additional support and trouble shooting tips

As this is not the full support page, but a quick guide for first fittings with RemoteCare.
Get help here

 

US Disclaimer: RemoteCare is not a substitute for an in person fitting of a hearing aid. Providers must schedule in person appointments with their patients to confirm the fitting settings as soon as practical. RemoteCare is not a substitute for clinical judgment and does not make clinical determinations. Providers are responsible for programming the appropriate settings in RemoteCare pursuant to their own clinical judgment. Providers performing RemoteCare services must be licensed in the state in which the patient is located during the RemoteCare session or comply with the appropriate state’s telehealth rules during this global pandemic. It is solely the responsibility of the provider to determine and adhere to local licensing laws.

Please remember that the disclaimers for Oticon Genie 2 and the Oticon RemoteCare App are still valid both for professionals and hearing aid users, and are also available in the IFU.

IFU Genie 2
The manufacturer does not take responsibility for the consequences of using this fitting software outside its intended use or warnings.

IFU RemoteCare App
The manufacturer does not take responsibility for the consequences of using the app outside its intended use. Your hearing care professional is responsible for the fitting through the app. The manufacturer does not take any responsibility for hearing aid fitting. The manufacturer reserves the right to discontinue the app service without prior notice.