Take the fear out of irrigation

Posted on July 16, 2024 by AU Bankaitis

Ear irrigation is a cerumen removal method that uses water to flush ear wax out of the ear canal. It is an effective method for removing cerumen although inherent limitations of syringes, manual spray pumps, and smaller, portable irrigation systems to control for water temperature or flow have created some pause for providers to use irrigation (when indicated) for cerumen removal. This is where the Earigator can serve as both a solution and a nice addition to your clinical equipment arsenal to step up your cerumen management game.

The Earigator is a fully-automated cerumen management system that heats water to body temperature to avoid caloric or vertigo effects. It is capable of controlling irrigation flow and pressure. It is a totally self-contained system requiring no water connection. A magnifying lens with LEDs integrated in the hand-held trigger magnifies and illuminates the ear canal, making it easier to see where to properly aim the irrigation. The lens also has a splash guard, directing water into the catch basin. The system comes packaged with 25 disposable nozzles and one catch basin. Both may be reordered as needed.

As shown in the image below, the Earigator is available with or without the custom designed cart. Not sure which way to go? You are better off getting the Earigator with the customized cart upfront. Don’t believe me? Learn more at the A.U’s Choice page found in the Specials section of the Oaktree Products website.

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Treasure Trove of Specials from Oaktree Products

Posted on June 20, 2024 by AU Bankaitis

Oaktree Products just launched a redesigned web page showcasing “special products” worth checking out. The featured products appear in dedicated sections of the web page because they are special for different reasons, offering something for everyone:

  • Sweet Spot: Discover exclusive offers with significant savings on essentials by accessing coupon codes only posted here. Customer service won’t even know the codes so be sure to check this section out as often as you can. Special prices of products featured here will be “sweet” but won’t last very long.
  • E-blast Promos: Access current Oaktree promos delivered to subscribers via email in this section. You can subscribe (if you want) with one simple click of a button too!
  • What’s New: Curious what products have recently been added to Oaktree’s offering? Explore “What’s New” to see the newest products. Want to learn more? Click the image for item description.
  • Bargain Bin: Looking for something that works but doesn’t have to be new or packaged in a pretty box? Click “Bargain Bin” button for slightly used or overstock items that can easily be added to your cart at bargain prices.

Whether you’re looking for a deal or curious what products are new, the journey begins HERE. Specials are also accessible from the home page by clicking SPECIALS from the horizontal menu bar located below the Oaktree Products logo.

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Audiology on the Move….

Posted on May 2, 2024 by AU Bankaitis

Audiology is certainly on the move. More and more audiologists seem to be incorporating mobile services within their clinical practice. Owners wanting to differentiate their audiology practice are adding mobile services to bring hearing care directly to the patients’ homes. Providers are adding mobile audiology to expand services beyond the traditional clinic to tap into underserved markets. Audiologists who want autonomy and flexibility are more often thinking about starting their own mobile audiology business.

Whether a full-service or hybrid model, your mobile services will require portable equipment. Oaktree Products offers a wide range of screening and diagnostic equipment from brands that include Amplivox, Inventis, Path Medical, Auditdata, Resonance, hearX, and Welch Allyn.

From a portable perspective, here are a few highlights of Oaktree’s equipment offering:

1 Smartphone and 3 Tablet-based audiometers available through HearX

PC-based two-channel audiometers including Inventis Piccolo Speech and Measure by Auditdata

Path Medical Sentiero Handheld DPOAE screener (upgradable to include air conduction screening, DPOAE diagnostic) and Sentiero Desktop tympanometer (upgradable to include DPOAE screen, DPOAE diagnostic, AC, other middle ear tests, etc).

Check out the Find My Portable Equipment resource page to specifically browse the current portable equipment offering of specific interest (e.g. boothless audiometry, portable audiometers, portable tympanometers, portable OAE, portable REM, etc).

A dedicated Mobile Audiology resource page contains additional information including a start-up supply list based on feedback from from audiologists in the trenches of operating a mobile audiology business, link to the mobile audiology FB group, and more.

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Use your CORE to Navigate Solutions

Posted on October 4, 2023 by AU Bankaitis

What is the best way to identify amplified stethoscope solutions for your hearing instrument wearing patients? Invest in a 3M Littmann CORE Amplified Stethoscope and have it ready to demo in your office. Why? Most medical professionals want to stream auscultation directly to their hearing instruments. Since the 3M Littmann CORE has built-in Bluetooth capabilities, having it on hand will:

  • determine if streaming auscultation can be achieved with the patient’s current Bluetooth-enabled hearing instrument technology;
  • help establish realistic expectations;
  • facilitate buy-in of necessary configurations (e.g., headphones, different amplified stethoscope) by allowing the patient to experience successfully hearing auscultation without needing to remove hearing instruments.

Learn more about the benefits of having a demo by reviewing the Tips for Dispensing Professionals section of Oaktree Products updated Amplified Stethoscope Resource Page. Check out the 3M Littmann CORE demo template at the bottom of the page for suggestions on how to navigate a positive demonstration experience for your patient. Use the 3M Littmann CORE checklist to master basic operations of this popular amplified stethoscope in preparation for offering effective product demonstrations.

Other information accessible from Oaktree’s Amplified Stethoscope Resource page includes amplified stethoscope solutions and considerations as a function of hearing technology. Options are outlined for each technology scenario to help audiologists effectively navigate viable solutions. Be sure to check it out!

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Spread the Audiology Word

Posted on September 6, 2023 by AU Bankaitis

October is Audiology Awareness month, a month dedicated to generating audiology awareness and the importance of good hearing health to the general public. It’s also a perfect opportunity to educate other healthcare professionals about hearing loss and balance, and the benefits of your services.

For example, local physicians in your community may not know general facts about hearing loss or the link between untreated hearing loss and falls.1 Nurses and other healthcare personnel at assistive living facilities may not appreciate that untreated hearing loss can impact the brain.2 Your local media may not be aware of the recent landmark ACHIEVE study where hearing intervention reduced cognitive change by 48% over a 3 year period in older adults at risk for cognitive decline.3 These key community contacts may not fully appreciate the benefits of the services you provide. There is a ton of information other healthcare providers in your community would welcome to hear, like to know, and proactively do something about! Commit to sharing information and spreading the word about your audiology expertise throughout your community in October by starting the planning process today.

For inspiration and ideas, a new Community Outreach resource page on the Oaktree Products website offers links to valuable resources including key findings of the recent ACHIEVE study and free-to-use infographics and animated video for your blogs, practice website, and social media platforms. From now until the end of October, Oaktree Products is offering one year’s worth of free batteries with a purchase of special PockeTalkers, a great outreach tool for local physicians to use with their own patients as needed to improve communication and facilitate a referral for your services.

References:

  1. Lin FR & Ferruci L (2012). Hearing loss and falls among older adults in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine: 172(4):369-371.
  2. Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, Ames D, Ballard C, Banerjee S, et al. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of Lancet Commission. The Lancet Commissions: 396(10248):413-446
  3. Lin FR, Pike JR, Albers MS, et al. (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the United States (ACHIEVE): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 402(10404):786-797.
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Redux: available NOW at Oaktree Products (at an incredible price)

Posted on October 27, 2022 by AU Bankaitis

Here’s the value proposition: reduce effort spent on moisture-related hearing aid repairs while making your patients believe you are a miracle worker! That’s the sentiment among providers who dispense and service hearing aids that invested in and currently use the Redux Pro Professional Hearing Instrument Dryer in their clinical practice. Moisture continues to be the most common reason for hearing instrument malfunction and this in-office system is the only one on the market offering verified and complete moisture removal. The patented technology creates a vacuum to lower the evaporation point of water, allowing for the system to remove all moisture and completely dry hearing instruments. The reported eight (8) minute average drying treatment is fast and efficient.

The Redux Pro Professional Hearing Instrument Dryer is self-contained, requiring no additional hardware or software, and fully operational in just four (4) steps. This innovative product is now available at Oaktree Products at a savings of up to $850!!! As a bonus, receive FREE ground shipping on the remaining Oaktree Products orders in 2022! Order online using item code REDUXPRO at www.oaktreeproducts.com or contact customers service toll free (800.347.1960) or via email (otp@oaktreeproducts.com) to place your order today.

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Find Your Audiometer Resource

Posted on September 27, 2022 by AU Bankaitis

Looking for an audiometer but don’t have the time to pare down options? Check out the Find Your Audiometer resource page to browse Oaktree Products’ expanding offering and quickly narrow down your search. Three main buttons systematically populate audiometers according to general capabilities, listing product models that meet certain criteria. For example, looking for an inexpensive audiometer with air conduction capabilities only? Click the SCREENING button to view available audiometers offering air conduction capabilities only. Need an audiometer with air and bone conduction capabilities only without unnecessary bells and whistles? Click the DIAGNOSTIC button. Select the ADVANCED button to populate diagnostic audiometers offering speech testing capabilities and additional built-in or add-on features.

Once populated, refer to the individual product card (pictured left) to further pare down your search according to some key feature descriptions. Do you have a preference for a PC-based audiometer? Check out those audiometers with “PC-based” appearing in the bottom left hand corner of the product card by clicking the card. It will take you to the specific product page where you can learn more about that particular audiometer. The individual product cards make it really easy to find two-channel audiometers, audiometers equipped with automatic testing capabilities, rechargeable audiometers, even audiometers with a built-in real-ear measurement system. Check it all out at the Oaktree Products Find Your Audiometer resource page!

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Lighted Curette with Rechargeable Light Source

Posted on July 25, 2022 by AU Bankaitis

Love your lighted curettes but tired of losing your light source? Check out the LightBeam, a disposable lighted ear curette system for professionals equipped with a rechargeable LED light source. While in the charging base, the light source will glow BLUE while charging. After 30 minutes, the light source will be fully charged and glow GREEN. When fully charged, the light source has a battery life of 50 minutes. Polycarbonate curettes connect to the light source via a threaded connection for a secure fit. The disposable curettes come in a variety of loop and spoon styles (scroll down to view styles) with each curetted numbered at the base (immediately above the threaded portion) to help quickly identify curette style for easy re-ordering. Patented tweezer attachments are also available.

The LightBeam Starter Set includes one rechargeable light source, one charging base with cable, one magnifier, and a variety pack of 50 curettes (six curettes of eight different styles plus two tweezers). Refill lighted curettes (without the light source) may be purchased separately as a variety pack or in packs of 50 of the same style curette. In stock and available at Oaktree Products; for more information, contact customer service toll free at 800.347.1960 or via email at otp@oaktreeproducts.com.

Pro tip: the light source should be placed in the charger when not in use to ensure a full charge at all times.

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