A Complete Tympanometry Solution
for Urgent Care, Pediatricians and General Practitioners
Tympanometry is a rapid, objective test that evaluates middle-ear function by measuring how the eardrum responds to changes in air pressure. It can support the assessment of middle-ear effusion and other middle-ear conditions.
51.7%
Tympanometry changed diagnosis and/ or management
*Denver Health Evaluation
75.6% vs 91.8%
AOM antibiotic prescribing with
vs. without tympanometry
*Denver Health Evaluation
18.2%
Predicted tympanometry indication rate out of 10.000 encounters
*2026 Urgent-Care Model
Why Objective Middle-Ear Assessment Matters
Shared Mission - Bridging the gap between specialty and primary care!
MAICO Diagnostics is proud to partner with Compassio Medical Education in a shared mission to improve the accuracy of diagnosing common otologic conditions and support responsible antibiotic stewardship. Ear-related complaints remain one of the most frequent reasons patients seek care in urgent care and primary care settings, with ear pain ranking among the most common presenting concerns. Yet determining the true underlying cause of symptoms can be challenging when relying solely on otoscopy and patient-reported symptoms.
Accurate assessment of middle ear status plays a critical role in differentiating conditions such as acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, and eustachian tube dysfunction. Improving diagnostic confidence can help clinicians make more informed treatment decisions, reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, and ensure appropriate follow-up care when needed. Help us close the gap!
Did you know?
Ear pain is among the five most common reasons for urgent care visits.
How many of your patients present with ear complaints?
- Ear pain
- Sudden hearing loss
- A child with URI, fever and erythematous tympanic membrane
- Ear fullness or pressure
- New onset dizziness or tinnitus
Clinical Evidence and Guidelines
Clinical Standard
AAP Acute Otitis Media Guideline
- AOM should not be diagnosed without middle-ear effusion.
- Effusion may be assessed with pneumatic otoscopy and/or tympanometry.*
- Best for: medical directors and clinical leadership.
Antibiotic Stewardship
Denver Health Urgent-Care Evaluation
- Tympanometry changed diagnosis and/or management in 51.7% of uses.
- AOM antibiotic prescribing: 75.6% with tympanometry vs. 91.8% without.
- Single-site retrospective QI evaluation; interpret as association.
Urgent-Care-Value
JUCM Urgent-Care Utilization Study
- Model predicted tympanometry indication in 18.2% of 10,000 UC encounters.
- Financial model estimated break-even after 214 exams.
- Best for: operational and financial discussions; values are modeled.
Clinical Standard
AAO-HNSF OME Guideline (Update)
- Recommends tympanometry when OME is suspected and diagnosis remains uncertain after pneumatic otoscopy
- Recommends against systemic antibiotics for OME.*
- Best for: Clinical Leadership; Stewardship
Pediatric Value
Diagnostic methods for AOM in children
- Reports otoscopy alone at 61% sensitivity and 61% specificity for MEE and describes tympanometry as a simple, objective method for assessing TM mobility and middle-ear function for improved sensitivity and specificity.
- *Sundvall et al. | BMC Family Practice | 2019
- Best for: Diagnostic Accuracy; Education
General Practitioner Value
Diagnostic accuracy in GP Mgmt of OM in children
- A three-hour interactive workshop significantly increased GP confidence in using tympanometry/pneumatic otoscopy and diagnosing OME
- Ongoing practice/support may still be needed.
- *Rosenkranz, Abbott, Reath et al. | 2012
- Best for: Training; Implementation
*Want to learn more about the clinical evidence behind tympanometry? Explore published research, guideline recommendations, and the full JUCM study findings. Clinical Evidence for Tympanometry
Calculate the Potential Value of Tympanometry
Estimate the potential financial contribution of tympanometry to your practice.
Tympanometry is a simple, objective test that takes approximately 3–5 seconds and provides information about middle-ear status to support clinical assessment and treatment decisions.
Use the calculator to explore scenarios based on test volume, reimbursement assumptions and implementation costs. Results are estimates for planning purposes only. Actual reimbursement and utilization vary by payer, contract, location, medical necessity, documentation and applicable billing requirements. As example: Medicare/Medicaid in US pays around $15 per tympanometry test. In urgent care pilot programs, providers use tympanometry 3-4 times per day, seeing about 25 patients daily. This could lead to an annual revenue of approximately $14,404 per provider.
The MAICO + Compassio Solution
Successful implementation requires more than purchasing a device. The MAICO + Compassio solution combines a MAICO tympanometer with a structured six-week implementation and onboarding program, followed by continued support for three years. The Compassio program costs $84 per month for 36 months.
MAICO Tympanometry Devices
6-Week Clinical Onboarding
Week 1: Education launch
Introductory education for medical assistants, nurses, and providers, covering ear anatomy, middle-ear conditions, guidelines, and billing and coding.
Week 2: Hands-on training
On-site device onboarding by an e3 representative (US customers), supported by guided practice with the easyTymp.
Week 3: Personal support from Dr. Jeffrey LaCour
Providers participate in a live Zoom session with Dr. Jeffrey LaCour and review real-world tympanometry cases together.
Week 6: Live follow-up
Dr. Jeffrey LaCour leads a live Q&A session to address clinical scenarios, answer questions, and discuss lessons from the initial implementation period.
Example Onboarding, Programm may vary depending on the customer needs. To explore latest offerings, please visit: Compassio Medical Education.
3 Years of Continued Support
After onboarding, the practice continues to receive:
- Clinical support from Dr. Jeffrey LaCour and the Compassio team, with email responses within 24 to 48 hours
- Video otoscope support for secure image review
- Check-in calls with the clinical team
- Device support from e3 (US customers), MAICO, and Compassio
- Continued access to Compassio courses for new hires
- Quarterly updates on billing, clinical developments, guidelines, and lessons learned
Meet Dr. Jeffrey LaCour
Dr. Jeffrey LaCour, ENT - Founder of Compassio Medical Education
Dr. Jeffrey LaCour is a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT) with more than a decade of clinical experience and a passion for improving hearing health and ear diagnostics. Recognizing the challenges clinicians face when evaluating ear-related complaints in urgent care, pediatric, emergency, and primary care settings, he has become a leading advocate for improving diagnostic confidence through tympanometry education.
Trained at LSU Medical School with additional specialization in Otology and Rhinology, Dr. LaCour combines clinical expertise with practical, case-based education. As founder of Compassio Medical Education, he develops programs that help healthcare providers better understand middle-ear disease, improve diagnostic accuracy, support antibiotic stewardship, and deliver evidence-based care.
Through the MAICO and Compassio collaboration, Dr. LaCour shares his expertise to help clinicians integrate tympanometry into everyday practice and improve patient outcomes.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
" I love the Tympanometer. I had an older patient that c/o chronic postnasal drip since having COVID 1 year prior. She was placed on Zyrtec, Singular, and nasal sprays 4 months ago and now comes back in the office without relief. The tympanometry read she had fluid in the ears. I was able to accurately diagnose this and send her to ENT who drained the…fluid at their visit with resolution of symptoms. The tympanometry has been easy to use and has given me confidence in my ENT skills. The device takes up little room in the office space which is a great plus. "
Heather Shoultz, MSN, FNP, AG-ACNP-BC
Family Healthcare of Bedico
