Warren Center Receives $7,550
for New Audiometer from MeHAF

BANGOR, ME – The Warren Center is the recipient of a $7,550 grant from Maine Health Access Foundation to replace an aging audiometer.

In 1996, The Warren Center purchased their current Grayson Statler audiometer second hand. This equipment is in use on a daily basis and is a diagnostic tool that allows our doctors of audiology to determine whether an individual is in need of a hearing aid or other hearing related services. It is housed in our only handicap accessible booth and provides space for a wheelchair and assistant.

“The current audiometer,” says Warren Center Clinical Director Dr. Amanda Samoluk, “although often quite functional was cutting in and out. We would often have to reboot it several times a day. It was making unpredictable static and beeping noises that were unrelated to the testing. It truly is on its "last leg". “
The Warren Center’s Administrative Director Mary Poulin says, “that we are grateful to the Maine Health Access Foundation for their donation to purchase the new audiometer. It is an essential piece of equipment. Without it we can not do our job.”
The Warren Center uses the audiometer to provide direct services for those who are without insurance, with insurance, or underserved providing affordable and timely access to comprehensive quality hearing health care.

The center reaches out, not only to neighboring counties, but statewide to provide free hearing aids for those who qualify through our Regional Hearing Aid Bank Program. During the current fiscal year we have already provided free hearing aids to 33 residents. Since its inception in 2002, 117 ReHAB recipients have received a hearing aid through the program. Program participants are not charged for the program, but donations are accepted. Currently, residents from Eagle Lake to South Portland are waiting for a hearing aid from the program.

Dr. Samoluk says that the new audiometer “will enable us to provide continuous care to all of our new and existing patients. With the threat of equipment breakdown looming over our heads we had the potential for canceling many patients and would have been able to only use one of our audiology booths. The breakdown of an audiometer would have decreased our capacity to service our patients by half.”
The new audiometer is expected to be installed by the end of May.

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Organization Background:

The Maine Health Access Foundation’s mission is to promote affordable and timely access to comprehensive quality health care, and improve the health of every Maine resident.
As the state’s largest health care foundation, the Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) supports strategic solutions to Maine's health care needs through grants and other programs, particularly targeting those who are uninsured and medically underserved.

Annually, MeHAF provides approximately $5 million in grant and program funding in support of achieving our mission.