Empowering Vulnerable Patients: My Career in Audiology Home Visits

Hi I'm Humairaa, I'm the Hearcare Partner at Specsavers Oldham Domiciliary and this is my Specsavers story. As a Home Visits Hearcare Partner, I want to share my journey and the impact of audiology home visits.

A Journey Rooted in Compassion

My career began during the pandemic, a time when many healthcare services were even harder if not impossible to access. I started with a competitor conducting home visits for hearing tests, often in challenging conditions like gardens, fully equipped with PPE. This experience was challenging as you can imagine, being my first role after graduating, but this experience also grew my empathy for patients who had been isolated due to lockdowns.

The Transition to Specsavers

After two years, I transitioned to Specsavers, attracted by the opportunity to continue home visits and run my own business. I was actually one of the first Specsavers domiciliary audiology businesses. This led to a lot of learning and adaptation. Despite the challenges, the rewarding nature of the work kept me as motivated as ever.

Why Home Visits Matter

Home visits hearing tests are not just about convenience; they are the only solution for many patients. By bringing services to their homes, I ensure they receive the care they need. This personalised approach is not only beneficial for the patients but also deeply fulfilling for me as a healthcare provider.

A Dynamic and Rewarding Career

For those considering a career in audiology or healthcare, my story is a testament to the rewards of domiciliary work. It offers a unique blend of professional growth and personal satisfaction. The ability to connect with the community, provide essential services, and see the direct impact of your work on patients’ lives is unmatched.

Cross functional teams

We’re trying to build a multi discipline team in our business. We’re working towards a place where all our staff have an understanding of hearcare from the optics side of our joint business. We’ve got one colleague who's been an OA for about 20 years and is really interested in hearing so he’s learning to do the basic repairs, nothing too complex. We have a bit of a roadmap for his training so he can develop some more audiology-related competencies which shows there’s certainly an opportunity for people who currently work in optics to transition over the audiology roles too.

Support and Growth at Specsavers

The support system at Specsavers has been crucial in my journey. From initial setup to ongoing operations, the guidance and resources available have been invaluable. This support network ensures that even as a new business owner, you’re never alone. And that’s the same today, I’m a more experienced partner in audiology home visits and I’m ready to help others out whenever I can.

Audiology home visits require compassion, adaptability, and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable patients. For those passionate about healthcare and looking for a career path, home visits offer an opportunity to truly make an impact.