By Stephanie Czuhajewski and Amar Malik
You’re a clinician, an employer, a business operator – and increasingly, a financial navigator for your patients – all at once.
Independent practice owners already know firsthand that running a growing audiology practice means wearing many hats. Rising overhead, lean staffing, and growing administrative demands don’t slow down – even as patient volume and care frequency increase.
The tools available to independent audiology practices have evolved, and practices that leverage them can find advantages in efficiency, patient access, and growth.
The Administrative Burden Is Real – But There Are Solutions
For most independent practices, administrative overhead is more than an inconvenience – it can ultimately impact staff capacity and revenue. Synchrony research, conducted on behalf of its Health & Wellness financial solution, CareCredit, shows that more than half of providers (56%) say they do not have the staff or resources to support patients in finding alternative payment options for care.1
That gap matters, because those conversations directly affect whether patients move forward with recommended treatment.
Integrating financial solutions into existing workflows is one way practices can address this challenge. Financing tools that integrate directly with practice management systems and offer multiple funding options make it easier to build payment into the patient experience without adding extra work for staff.
For independent practices to truly support patients in navigating the cost of care, provider teams need to be able to do so proactively and clearly. That kind of guidance doesn’t happen by accident – it requires staff who have the time and bandwidth to engage in those conversations. Reducing administrative friction can help create that capacity, freeing up staff resources to focus on what matters most: direct patient care.
Patient Financing as a Practice Growth Strategy
Operational efficiency is the starting point for creating conditions for better care, but practice growth comes from patients who move forward with recommended care. For many, that decision comes down to one thing: cost. Practices that can proactively address that barrier, with staff equipped to guide patients through their options clearly and confidently, are the ones best positioned to convert interest into case acceptance.
Costs can be a major barrier to patients committing to hearing care and device adoption. The “Hearing Health & Loss Prevention” study found that 43% of respondents cited cost as a primary factor in whether they would get their hearing checked.2 Meanwhile, providers struggle with enabling care access,1 with 76% of surveyed consumers saying they would pursue additional medical services if they had accessible ways to pay for them.1 Additionally, 86% of surveyed providers reported that out-of-pocket costs are a major concern among their patients.1
The opportunity is clear: offering structured financing options can meaningfully increase case acceptance and bring more patients into recommended care. In fact, 59% of providers report that offering alternative financing solutions is critical for their patients.1
Independent practices that invest in scalable financial infrastructure are also better positioned to serve an evolving patient base. According to Synchrony research, audiologists are seeing more patients ages 18-to-29 presenting with hearing deficits.2 These findings highlight a growing, younger cohort for whom payment options may be especially relevant.
These pressures from an increasing patient population are only set to intensify: The U.S. population aged 65 and older is projected to grow from approximately 58 million to 82 million by 2050.3 This represents a long-term demand driver that makes a patient-friendly financing infrastructure not just a patient benefit, but a direct practice growth strategy.
Practices that can accommodate the financial needs of a diverse patient population across ages, income levels, and insurance situations may be best positioned to grow. A true financial partner goes beyond offering a single payment option; the right partner looks for opportunities to expand access to care through educational resources, connections to trusted lenders, and tools that support both patients and staff in making confident decisions.
The Bottom Line for Independent Practices
For independent practices, helping to reduce cost barriers represents a meaningful opportunity to improve both patient access and practice growth. Offering structured and scalable financing options can support case acceptance and help more patients move forward with recommended care.
As patient expectations and financial pressures continue to evolve, practices may benefit from evaluating whether the financial tools and resources they offer are keeping pace with the needs of both their staff and their patients.
About the Authors
Stephanie Czuhajewski, MPH, CAE,is the Executive Director of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, a leading national professional association dedicated to advancing best clinical and business practices in the delivery of audiology services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Sullivan University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of New England. When she is not working, Stephanie enjoys watching baseball and eating ice cream.
Amar Malik is the General Manager for Audiology and Vision Markets at Synchrony, overseeing Allegro and PayMonthly loans as well as the CareCredit credit card. With nearly seven years in this role, he brings deep expertise in sales, retail, and loyalty marketing to support the growth of over 30,000 providers, always prioritizing provider and patient experience.
Previously, Amar held marketing and leadership roles at Sears Holdings, including Director of Marketing and Strategy for one of the nation’s largest loyalty programs, and senior positions within Sears Automotive.
He holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate business degree from Indiana University. Amar lives in Chicago with his wife and two sons, and enjoys traveling, sports, and making the most of Chicago’s summers.
References
- “Healthcare Journey Research Consumers and Providers.” Synchrony, 2023.
- “How Cost and Limited Awareness Impact Hearing Care Across Generations.” Synchrony. May 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.carecredit.com/sites/cc/pdf/Synchrony_CareCredit_Audiology_Infographic.pdf.
- “2023 National Population Projections Tables: Main Series.” U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved from: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/popproj/2023-summary-tables.html.
