Audiologist perspectives on a regional telehealth model for cochlear implant follow-up care: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the perceived utility, challenges, and opportunities for improving a regional telehealth model for cochlear implant (CI) care. METHODS: This qualitative study involved a focus group with five CI audiologists at a tertiary care center. Participants discussed their experiences with a regional telehealth program that used seven satellite sites as part of an ongoing non-inferiority trial. The transcript was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Audiologists identified regional telehealth as beneficial for routine follow-ups, troubleshooting, and reducing travel burden. Visits were shorter and more convenient for patients and providers. Challenges included difficulty communicating with patients who had cognitive or auditory limitations, limited capacity for remote troubleshooting and device handling, and lack of audiometric testing. Site variability in equipment and room acoustics also affected care quality. Participants recommended improving audiovisual infrastructure, standardizing site setups, integrating interpreter and captioning services, and expanding reimbursement. While certain populations posed greater challenges, regional telehealth was viewed as beneficial for mitigating geographic access barriers without the technological requisites for home-based telehealth. CONCLUSION: Audiologists perceived regional telehealth as a valuable adjunct to traditional CI care for improving access in underserved areas. Addressing infrastructure and workflow limitations may enhance effectiveness and support broader adoption.