High Desert Hearing added space, equipment and staff to meet growing needs of patients

Tim Harty, The Business Times

High Desert Hearing Center doubled its space at 631 24 1/2 Road, Unit G, late last year by expanding into a next-door unit, then spent the first quarter of this year adding staff and equipment.

The hearing center hired three audiologists in the past few months, the most recent being brought on board in March, as High Desert has demonstrated its commitment to being what its customers want and need it to be.

“We’ve made a significant investment into our space, equipment and team to support the long-term needs of our community,” High Desert Hearing Center co-owner and managing partner Terry Jacobson said. “This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality hearing health care locally.”

Jacobson said High Desert Hearing Center is one of the larger audiology practices in the Grand Valley based on the number of providers and its recent expansion. She said the Grand Valley is fortunate to have a number of established audiologists, so patients have options when it comes to their care.

That means there is competition, so retaining customers and earning new ones requires earning their business.

“What we’ve seen is that many patients are looking for a more personalized, relationship-driven experience,” Jacobson said. “Our growth has been a reflection of patients choosing that approach and the level of care we provide.”

In November, High Desert Hearing completed renovation of the next-door unit it was able to lease in the Canyon View II office building. Jacobson said the renovation seamlessly connected the two spaces into one cohesive clinic.

“From the beginning, our goal was not just to add square footage, but to be intentional about how the space functions for both our patients and our team,” she said. “We took the opportunity to redesign the layout in a way that improves flow, increases privacy and enhances the overall patient experience.”

She said the work included adding an additional sound booth, expanding clinical space and “creating a more welcoming and comfortable environment from the moment patients walk through the door. By expanding in place rather than relocating, we were able to maintain continuity for our patients while thoughtfully building a space that supports the level of care we strive to provide.”

After having a little more than 1,200 square feet, High Desert Hearing now has close to 2,500 square feet.

Jacobson said the expansion was driven by necessity.

“As our schedules became fuller and wait times increased, it became clear that we had outgrown our space,” she said. “We never want patients to feel like they have to wait too long to get the care, answers and support they need, especially when hearing loss can affect communication, relationships, safety and overall quality of life.”

Jacobson said High Desert Hearing partners with all major hearing aid manufacturers and a variety of local vendors, and the expansion helps strengthen those relationships.

For new equipment, she said the hearing center added state-of-the-art diagnostic and hearing-aid technology to support its testing, fittings and follow-up care.

“One new test analyzes Otoacoustic Emissions, which allows our audiologists to identify certain types of hearing loss that may not appear on a basic audiogram,” Jacobson said. “We’ve also added Extended High Frequency testing to detect inner-ear changes earlier, which is especially important for musicians, chemotherapy patients and individuals with noise exposure.”

She said High Desert Hearing has long utilized Real Ear Measurement as a standard of care, and with this expansion, “We have upgraded to additional, more advanced REM equipment. This allows us to further improve accuracy, efficiency and consistency when verifying that hearing aids are programmed to each patient’s unique needs.”

She added the hearing center will continue to invest in new technology as it becomes available to ensure it is offering the best possible care.

With its recent hiring of three audiologists, High Desert Hearing now has five audiologists, which Jacobson said “is something we’re incredibly proud of and a reflection of the growth we’ve experienced. This allows us to expand access to care, reduce wait times and provide a high level of expertise to our patients.

She said the hearing center also added support staff to help provide a “seamless and positive experience from start to finish.”

The totality of the changes, Jacobson said, means High Desert Hearing has the space and tools needed for its staff to “truly focus on each patient and do their best work.”