Download PDF Version: Audiology Provider Profile - Dr. Sara Claycomb, Au.D.

Many doctors today seek alternatives to practicing in traditional settings. Aria Care Partners (ACP) offers an option for those in hearing, vision, dental, and podiatry specialties.

This case study profiles a doctor of audiology who joined the team in recent years. She sheds light on the Aria path, briefly describing the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) practice environment, the benefits of working for the company, and the support doctors can expect to receive.

Dr. Claycomb’s Journey to Aria Care Partners

After 11 years of practice, Dr. Claycomb was interested in a change. She felt she was not fully realizing her professional objectives as pressures mounted to increase volumes of patients seen. “I was not making as much of a difference with people as I wanted,” she noted, “and I was motivated to help more of those facing financial and personal struggles.” Following a short break when her second child was born, her search for alternatives led to joining the medical staff of ACP in 2023.

Onsite Care in the SNF Environment

Dr. Claycomb emphasizes that SNF care delivery is not “one size fits all” and presents a dynamic, interesting practice environment encompassing:

• Mobile care. Aria’s professionals serve multiple facilities over a given geographic area. Dr. Claycomb works three days per week and covers approximately 30 SNFs, with the furthest being a two-hour drive.
• Deeper interactions with residents. ACP’s onsite approach allows the doctor to spend time communicating with each individual, focusing on prevention as well as remediation, and engaging the patient in ways that promote both physical and mental health.
• Forging relationships with SNF caregiver staff. Dr. Claycomb stresses the importance of relationship building. “We develop good connections with the nurses,” she says, “which is valuable in gaining their help executing daily care regimens such as putting in a hearing aid every morning.” 
• Advocating for patients. Dr. Claycomb observes that she has become comfortable approaching the nurses, directors, or facility administration to raise special care issues when necessary.

Benefits of Working for Aria Care Partners 

Dr. Claycomb identifies a number of benefits of the ACP program that she and her colleagues find particularly motivational:

• Flexibility. Doctors are able to set their own schedule structure. Options range from full time to just one or two days per week, and specific weekdays can also be adjusted if needed. 
• Care culture. Dr. Claycomb highlights Aria’s resident-first culture, which is fully supported by her supervisors. “I don’t feel everything is just about cost.”
• Autonomy in care delivery. Aria doctors can determine the sequence and timing of seeing their list of residents. Dr. Claycomb characterizes it as “a more independent style of work,” one that lets you “adapt to personal situations” such as consulting with family members who are visiting. 
• Variety. Dr. Claycomb enjoys the fact that Aria work provides “so much variation day-to-day,” adding that the medical professional can be “more like a case manager” helping devise strategies to improve resident health and wellbeing.
• Rewarding work. Residents often need a lot of help and have restricted autonomy, so ACP doctors can make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Support Provided by Aria

Dr. Claycomb highlights the company support underpinning each doctor’s ability to be effective and productive:

• Full equipment package. “I have nearly all the equipment that I had in the hospital clinic.” She says that Aria provides portable audiometers (MedRX), tympanometers, and other necessary instruments to deliver complete onsite care.
• Preference items. Aria permits choice of tools and supplies. Dr. Claycomb selects her preferred ear tips, lights, gloves, and other items.
• EMR. Aria deploys the EMR for its doctors, who have participated in several input sessions to recommend helpful software modifications.
• IT support. Dr. Claycomb has found the Aria technology team to be very responsive in helping staff with the EMR and other technology.

Take the Next Step

To learn more about joining the Aria Care Partners team, please visit ariacarepartners.com/careers/audiology-jobs or contact us at (877) 674-1211.