Buying home medical equipment (HME) is increasingly easy these days, given the number of retailers selling it. Walmart and Target sell CPAP and respiratory supplies, incontinence products, wound care supplies, orthopedic braces. They sell bath chairs, grab bars, commodes.

Mail-order retailers such as Amazon sell all of the above, plus scooters, manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs.

Of course, all HME suppliers are not created equal. But does that really matter? Does it make a difference whether a senior buys a scooter from a home medical equipment provider vs. Amazon?

A new study from Humana Healthcare Research and Harvard University suggests the answer.

Study: Seniors often treated reactively, not proactively

HME Business’s Shelby Grebbin reported on the study and what it could mean for HME providers.

“Today’s primary care health-care system often fails to meet the needs of seniors, many of whom have both chronic conditions and complex care needs,” a Sept. 4 news announcement about the study said. “The traditional primary care system that primarily operates in fee-for-service arrangements with insurers can be difficult to access and is often more reactive than proactive.”

At the heart of this idea is that seniors are not simply older adults — just as children are not simply adults-to-be

A July 2021 article published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine — The Relevance and Added Value of Geriatric Medicine (GM): Introducing GM to Non-Geriatricians — advocated for a better understanding of senior-focused care in health-care segments less than familiar with this specialty.

“Geriatric Medicine holds a crucial role in promoting health and managing the complex medical, cognitive, social, and psychological issues of older people,” the study’s abstract said. “However, basic principles of GM, essential for optimizing the care of older people, are commonly unknown or undermined, especially in countries where GM is still under development.”

The study noted that many seniors experience hypertension, major neurocognitive and mental health disorders, malnutrition, and peri-operative complications, among other common conditions, “which could be more appropriately managed under the light of the approach of GM.”

But here’s what really got my attention: “The role of allied health professionals with specialized knowledge and skills in dealing with older people’s issues is essential, and a multidisciplinary team is required for the delivery of optimal care in response to the needs and aspirations of older people. Thus, countries should assure the educational background of all health-care providers and the specialized health and social care services required to meet the demands of a rapidly aging society.”

The role of the HME provider

Back to my question about a senior buying a scooter from Amazon rather than from an experienced HME provider.

Who at Amazon is going to talk about three wheels vs. four wheels? At what part of the “Add to Cart” process is Amazon — or Target, Walmart, etc. — going to ask if the user of this scooter has the hand dexterity to manage the scooter’s controls? Or the balance and stability to be able to climb onto and off of the scooter?

Yes, there are “frequently asked questions” sections on mail-order websites. And potential buyers can wade through product reviews from other customers. But who will explain what a flat-free tire is, and its pros and cons?

You will. You, the HME provider. And sometimes, as a senior in your showroom is trying out different scooters, watching you disassemble them for transport, you might also say, “I think a power wheelchair might be a better fit for you and your environment, and here’s why.” Because unlike Amazon, you’ve been watching and assessing that senior’s needs and capabilities as soon as they came through your door.

HME professionals provide more than products. They provide education and training. They support adherence to clinical goals. They can make recommendations as patients’ needs or abilities change, or as disease conditions progress.

Health care has long recognized the many benefits of pediatric specialization, because it’s accepted that children have different medical needs than adults do. It’s time that seniors were seen in that same light. I’m so glad — and relieved — that you and your peers are already here, leading the charge in advocating for seniors.