Joint DOD/VA Partnership Benefits Veterans with Hearing Loss

By Mr. Wesley P Elliott (Army Medicine)September 16, 2014

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 080929-A-IW334-001 - Dr. Mark Little, Chief, Eisenhower Army Medical Center Audiology, explains the use of the new hearing aid to Terry Russell, a former U.S. Marine and Dublin VA patient at the EAMC Audiology Clinic, Fort Gordon, Ga., on August 29, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 080929-A-IW334-014 - Dr. Mark Little, Chief, Eisenhower Army Medical Center Audiology, explains the use of the new hearing aid to Terry Russell, a former U.S. Marine and Dublin VA patient at the EAMC Audiology Clinic, Fort Gordon, Ga., on August 29, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 080929-A-IW334-016 - Dr. Mark Little, Chief, Eisenhower Army Medical Center Audiology, explains the use of the new hearing aid to Terry Russell, a former U.S. Marine and Dublin VA patient at the EAMC Audiology Clinic, Fort Gordon, Ga., on August 29, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 080929-A-IW334-017- Dr. Mark Little, Chief, Eisenhower Army Medical Center Audiology, fits Terry Russell, a former U.S. Marine and Dublin VA patient, for his new hearing aid as part of the GeorgiaLina Federal Healthcare Executive Council cooperation ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT GORDON, Ga. -- The newly renamed GeorgiaLina Federal Healthcare Executive Council is making access to hearing aids for Veterans easier and faster by joint partnerships between Military Healthcare and the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

The Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga, originally partnered with the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, Dublin, Ga., the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Ga., and recently added William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, S.C., and the Moncrief Army Community Hospital, Fort Jackson, S.C., to grow the opportunities for cooperation between the medical facilities.

The GFHEC works to provide faster access to care for Veterans and DoD Beneficiaries by allowing the VA and Military Healthcare facilities to be seen by referral at other locations that may have open appointments or other specialty care that are unavailable at their facility.

The Carl Vinson VA is facing an increase in the number of patients who need hearing aids and the local civilian healthcare facilities have not been able to quickly accommodate the patients. So the staff at the Dublin VA reached out to their partners in the Eisenhower Army Medical Center and the Charlie Norwood VA.

"The Veterans are seen at EAMC for their audiogram and to get their ear molds for the hearing aids. The molds are then sent to Dublin VA, where the hearing aids are purchased, and delivered to EAMC," Said Karen Coleman, DoD/VA Liaison for Eisenhower Army Medical Center.

Then the patient is fitted for the hearing aid. The hearing aids normally only require one fitting but second fittings are performed by the Carl Vinson VA.

Terry Russell, a former U.S. Marine and Dublin VA patient, was referred to the Eisenhower Army Medical Center for his hearing aid after being identified by the Dublin VA.

"I had gotten used to the idea that I didn't care if I heard you or not. I would just nod and say yes honey, I know what you mean," said Russell, jokingly.

First, he received a letter from the VA saying that they were going to schedule an audiology test and he could choose EAMC or a private audiologist in Macon, Ga., where he lives and he chose EAMC.

"Next thing I know, I'm getting a call from Dr. Little at Eisenhower asking if I'd like to come to Augusta. He told me how to catch a transit from Dublin to bring us down here, he actually arranged everything for me."

Dr. Mark Little, Chief of EAMC Audiology, gave Russell the phone number to call for the free transportation service that is provided twice a day between the Carl Vinson VA, EAMC, and the Charlie Norwood VA by the Veterans transport system which recently received two new passenger vans.

"In a weeks' time I was here to see Dr. Little. From the first time I saw Dr. Little he was very informative on everything, he took the mold of my ear, checked my hearing, told me what he thought was wrong, and that it might take five to six weeks to get the molds back."

When the molds came back Russell was scheduled for a fitting of his new hearing aids.

"Two weeks later I'm back here getting my hearing aids. Once Dr. Little called me, in a week I was here getting fitted, and two weeks later I have a hearing aid."