UCSF Learning Health System Initiative

Hearing Learning Health Network

Advancing evidence-based hearing healthcare through collaborative research, standardized clinical practices, comprehensive education, and sustainable innovation

One Mission, Two Identities

The Hearing Learning Health Network operates through complementary frameworks designed to serve different stakeholders while advancing the same goal: equitable, evidence-based hearing healthcare for all.

EARS

Equitable Access to Rehabilitative Services

Patient-facing brand providing accessible, multilingual resources and tools that empower individuals and families navigating hearing healthcare.

  • Clear, actionable patient education
  • 9 languages with cultural sensitivity
  • Community-centered design approach
  • Family and caregiver support
Explore Patient Resources
HLHN

Hearing Learning Health Network

Professional framework advancing the field through research, clinical standards, provider education, and scalable innovation.

  • Research collaboration infrastructure
  • Evidence-based protocol development
  • Provider training and certification
  • Academic and institutional partnerships
Explore Partnerships

The Learning Health Network Cycle

HLHN operates as a continuous improvement system where research findings inform standards, standards guide education, and real-world innovation generates new research questions.

1
Research & Data

Collaborative studies identify what works in hearing healthcare

2
Standards Development

Findings translate into clinical protocols and best practices

3
Education & Training

Standards inform patient resources and provider education

4
Innovation & Implementation

New care models generate data for the next research cycle

Continuous improvement: Each cycle strengthens the evidence base and expands our capacity to deliver equitable, high-quality hearing healthcare.

Four Strategic Pillars

HLHN's comprehensive approach addresses the full spectrum of hearing healthcare improvement through integrated, evidence-based initiatives.

Research & Data Infrastructure

Building collaborative research networks and shared data systems to generate and disseminate evidence for hearing healthcare improvement.

Key Initiatives
  • Multi-site collaborative research studies
  • Shared databases and outcomes tracking
  • Implementation science investigations
  • Health literacy and equity research

Evidence-Based Clinical Standards

Developing standardized protocols, quality measures, and care pathways that ensure consistent, high-quality hearing healthcare delivery.

Key Initiatives
  • Clinical protocol development and validation
  • Quality measure creation and benchmarking
  • Standardized documentation frameworks
  • Health literacy-informed patient materials

Education & Training

Creating comprehensive educational resources for patients and robust training programs for hearing healthcare professionals.

Key Initiatives
  • Multilingual patient education (9 languages)
  • Provider certification and continuing education
  • Community health worker training programs
  • Family and caregiver support resources

Innovation & Practice Improvement

Testing and scaling new care delivery models, technologies, and approaches that expand access and improve outcomes.

Key Initiatives
  • AI-powered multilingual content creation
  • Community-based care delivery models
  • Technology integration and optimization
  • Patient engagement platform development

Health Literacy: Our Unifying Framework

HLHN is fundamentally a health literacy initiative that addresses systemic barriers to hearing healthcare through comprehensive, evidence-based solutions.

Health literacy is the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions. By positioning HLHN as a comprehensive health literacy initiative, we address root causes rather than symptoms, creating sustainable, scalable improvements across the hearing healthcare ecosystem.

Partnership Opportunities

We're building strategic collaborations with organizations whose missions align with different aspects of the network, creating synergies that advance our shared goals.

Academic Institutions

Research collaborations, shared databases, multi-site studies, and educational program development

Professional Organizations

Clinical standards development, provider training, certification programs, and field-wide advocacy

Patient Advocacy Groups

Co-development of education resources, community engagement, patient-centered research priorities

Healthcare Systems

Implementation support, quality improvement initiatives, standardized protocol adoption

Join the Hearing Learning Health Network

Whether you're a researcher, clinician, institution, or organization, there are opportunities to collaborate in advancing evidence-based, equitable hearing healthcare.