Midwest Hearing Aids to move two offices

WICHITA — Midwest Hearing Aids owner Terry Brewster is on the move again by partnering on two new locations with ophthalmologists.

“We’re trying to really put ears and eyes together,” he says. “It’s all about co-branding.”

Brewster says years ago it used to be that optical shops also sold hearing aids because people who needed hearing aids often needed glasses, too.

“Everything comes back full circle,” he says.

Brewster is moving his Newton shop to 1715 Medical Parkway in the same area that William Beck has his ophthalmology clinic.

“We have worked very hard, but we finally got a lease,” he says. “We’ve been working on Newton forever. . . . We’re real close to moving in.”

Brewster also is moving his office at 21st and Woodlawn to the Grene Vision Group office at 1851 N. Webb Road.

“It’s where the main Grene Vision Group offices are at,” he says. “I’m going to try to co-brand with Dr. (Mark) Wellemeyer.”

Wellemeyer says that the patient demographic for both groups is similar so there are benefits for both.

Brewster expects to make that move in early July.

There are 37 Midwest Hearing Aids sites in Kansas, and Brewster says two more are in the works. Look for news on those in the coming months.

 

 

Midwest Hearing Aids expands with eight new Balance Centers

WICHITA — After taking Midwest Hearing Aids from one office to 37 since 1977, president Terry Brewster has further expanded by opening eight Balance Centers.

The latest of the centers is being installed today in Dodge City.

“It’s been an unbelievable response,” Brewster says. “It’s unique testing that we’re doing.”

The centers test patients for balance disorders and dizziness.

“They’re going to take off,” says Mike Keller, chief operating officer for the Newton Medical Center.

The Newton Medical Center is leasing space for one of the new Balance Centers.

“When you look at the aging population, one of the more difficult diagnoses is dizziness,” Keller says. “It’s a complex issue. That’s because a person’s dizziness could be the result of so many different things.”

It could be visual, neurological, a muscular skeletal issue or an inner ear issue, he says.

“As more research and advances come, hopefully the balance centers can be helping in guiding a physician,” Keller says. “From the centers, (patients) go from there to one of the specialties.”

The first center opened within a Midwest Hearing Aids office in Chanute late last year.

“It takes kind of a leap of faith to do this,” Brewster says of the investment in the offices. “So we finally opened one up.”

He says he knows the centers are meeting a need, though.

“It’s servicing a population that really needs servicing.”

Brewster says a lot of patients in areas such as Chanute used to have to drive to Joplin or Wichita for testing but now can be tested and treated in the same place.

“That’s a quality of life issue.”

The centers also are in Midwest Hearing Aids offices in Andover, Dodge City, Great Bend, Liberal, Newton, Salina and Winfield.

Brewster isn’t sure how quickly he might expand the centers.

“We’ll see how this goes.”