Photo By Douglas Stutz | Give a listen in decreasing permanent hearing loss…Navy Medicine Readiness Training...... read more read more
Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command (NMRTC) Bremerton Occupational Audiology (OA) and Hearing Conservation (HC) Department conducted a tri-service HC Certification Course, April 26-30, 2021.
The course, held at the Branch Health and Education Center on Naval Base Kitsap –Bangor, was led by Lt. Shanece Washington, command audiologist and HC program manager, and Mr. Rizzandro ‘Buddy’ Garcia, regional senior HC technician.
The training helped to increase NMRTC Bremerton’s ability to provide HC surveillance and support to over 30,000 enrolled personnel across 71 commands.
"An essential component of the hearing conservation program involves monitoring hearing ability of personnel exposed to occupational hazardous noise. Monitoring allows early identification and intervention for individuals who may experience noise induced hearing loss or auditory injury from noise exposure. Hearing data is tracked and monitored for trends and is used to assess the effectiveness of a command’s hearing conservation program," explained Washington.
The class is intended for individuals who will be assigned to operate a hearing conservation audio testing booth, such as hospital corpsmen assigned to the HCP, occupational health technicians, and hearing technicians.
“This class is important in order to provide mission support to decrease occupational noise induced hearing loss and increase staff readiness and retention, certified individuals are authorized to perform hearing screenings, education and training, and hearing protection device fitting,” added Garcia.
The pandemic outbreak had resulted in an extended hiatus of holding the class. The recent April session doubled in attendance size, while adhering to social distancing guidelines and the use of face masks for infection control.
Garcia noted the week long course included participation from industrial hygiene and occupational medicine subject matter experts, tailored specifically to the Navy’s Hearing Conservation program responsibilities.
“To support the HC mission to decrease occupational noise induced hearing loss and increase staff readiness and retention, certified individuals are authorized to perform hearing screenings, education and training, and hearing protection device fitting,” explained Garcia. “Successful completion grants certification for five years that may be applied across Department of Defense medical facilities, air stations and aircraft carriers.
This particular course also offered the opportunity to obtain dual certification by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). CAOHC certification qualifies technicians to provide HC services outside of DOD territory, Garcia noted.
“The HC program mission would not be successful without the support, dedication, and action of NMRTC Bremerton’s select certified active duty hearing conservation technicians across the region,” stated Garcia.
The OA department typically hosts at least one course per quarter. The core team consists of Lt. Washington, Dr. Mark Miller, Mr. Buddy Garcia, Mr. Erik Lembke, Mr. Louie Maneja, and Mrs. Sia Ma.
Future dates are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 9-13, and Dec. 6-10, 2021. Those interested in attending can contact: rizzandro.m.garcia.civ@mail.mil and/or 360-476-9383; Lt. Washington at: shanece.l.washington.mil@mail.mil and Dr. Miller at: mark.f.miller39.civ@mail.mil
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2021 09:43 |
| Story ID: | 396193 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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