A Message From the Executive Director
Update on NBC-HIS, IHS and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
I’m writing to share with you that the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences and the International Hearing Society have taken preventive and proactive measures to keep the staff team healthy and safe. We are following the advice of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to slow the spread of COVID-19 and have moved to a remote work environment.
Please know that the staff team is available to you via our remote infrastructure. Our goal is to keep working during this current time so that when things are back to normal, we haven’t missed a beat.
To reach NBC-HIS staff: Please email info@nbc-his.com to reach Certification Manager Mary Buday and Certification Coordinator Mary Stone.
To reach IHS staff: Please email interact@ihsinfo.org. You may also contact staff directly through the phone directory or via email through our staff directory web page.
NBC-HIS and IHS recognize the current COVID-19 situation and are monitoring for potential impacts on our certificants, members and chapter associations. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Since then, each day has brought us news that our world is changing quickly. Be sure to check out sources such as the CDC, your local government, the White House, and the WHO often for updates.
NBC-HIS has also partnered with IHS to provide you with additional resources help stay informed, found here. Our best efforts will be made to keep this as current as possible.
And, if you plan to keep your office open, here are some suggestions on how to communicate with your clients about Coronavirus (COVID-19):
- When confirming appointments, discuss the sanitation protocols you follow. This transparency will reassure customers that their safety is front of mind.
- Send email updates to your database to specify what protective measures your office engages in. Provide resources and links that can be reviewed and implemented in your customers’ own daily routines. After all, precaution extends far beyond the office!
- Prepare for questions customers may ask by creating a list of detailed and reassuring responses. Familiarize all staff with these responses.
- Consider whether any business policies should be temporarily adjusted to allow patients added flexibility, such as return periods.
Please know that we are here for you and have you, our valued board certificants and members, in our thoughts and prayers. While we are living with a new level of uncertainty, there is also an outpouring of kindness and a renewed sense of community. If there is anything we can do to provide you with additional support during these times, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Mennillo, MBA
Executive Director
National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences and
International Hearing Society