Oxygen
The market for oxygen therapy has grown immensely
over the past decade, with nearly 1.5 million people relying on supplemental
oxygen to address their medical needs. While tank delivery of oxygen
remains a viable market for HME providers, patients want to continue carrying
out their daily routines and need a product that allows them to stay on
the go. That’s where portable oxygen concentrators, and the companies who
maintain the machines, step in.
In just the past few years, portable oxygen concentrators have begun to
reflect the rapidly changing technology becoming available to HME providers
and their patients. Rather than waiting for maintenance issues to occur on
their machines, providers increasingly have the ability to remotely monitor
oxygen output, battery life and more through online platforms. Now, companies
are expanding wireless connectivity to POCs in the hopes of making
24/7 monitoring possible for more patients.
At the same time, manufacturers are focused on making the machines
lighter and sleeker for patients who want POCs to blend in with the rest of
their belongings. The demand is high for machines that can provide the right
mix of portability, battery life and tank capacity to fit patient lifestyles. If an
HME provider can guarantee all three, they can see revenue growth in this
key area. Here is a sampling of the latest products and services to hit the
oxygen therapy market:
CAIRE Inc.
myCAIRE
Telehealth app connects with CAIRE oxygen concentrators via patients' smart devices
Responding to the
increased need and
demand for telehealth
solutions, CAIRE Inc.
has launched a new
telehealth solution
called myCAIRE, which connects to CAIRE’s concentrators via
the patient’s smart device and facilitates remote data collection
through a secure, cloud-based technology in real-time. The medical
equipment provider can then easily access the data via from its
desktop. The myCAIRE application is available through Android,
iOS and Surface platforms, and the portal provides customizable
views, filtering and search options to view oxygen usage, flow rates,
device notifications, equipment location, and requests sent directly
from patients to the provider through the app.
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
Clinical Respiratory Patient Management and Custom Mobility
ACHC launches two new DMEPOS accreditation distinctions
National accreditor Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has
launched two accreditation distinctions for
DMEPOS organizations, offering comprehensive
solutions to increasing demands for
accountability and better patient care. The
distinction in Clinical Respiratory Patient
Management puts emphasis on a collaborative,
teams-based approach that encompasses
assessment, treatment, documentation,
and education to enhance quality of
life and reduce hospital readmissions. The
distinction in Custom Mobility focuses on
responsive care and services that improve
activities of daily living and quality of life for
patients requiring mobility support.
The Compliance Team
Patient Centered Respiratory Home
Accreditation standards designed for respiratory providers
Patient-Centered Respiratory Home (PCRH)
is a proprietary accreditation that sets in
place quality standards that guide clinical
respiratory providers to better engage with
chronic care patients. Better outcomes are
driven through additional care planning and
focused follow-up visits with program goals
being three-fold: address poor respiratory
care management; decrease emergency
department visits; lower the number of
hospital readmissions. PCRH’s standards
enhance patient management practices
through concise measures that cover access
issues, provider coordination, and communication
between respiratory specialists and
prescribers.
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
Distinction in Clinical Respiratory Patient Management
New distinctions for DMEPOSaccredited providers
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has developed two new
distinctions for DMEPOS-accredited
organizations. The Distinction in Clinical Respiratory Patient Management, a recognition that allows
providers to demonstrate expertise in managing respiratory conditions,
and the Distinction in Custom Mobility, a designation that recognizes
first-rate providers of custom mobility products, will further help
providers demonstrate their commitment to patients’ quality of life.
Each of these distinctions is available to providers accredited under
the ACHC DMEPOS program.
Precision Medical
Live Active Five
Portable oxygen concentrator designed for easy use
Live Active Five is designed for your
patient’s ease, comfort and peace of
mind. It starts with the touch of a button.
Convenient top access makes battery
changes quick and easy. The long-lasting
battery fully charges in two hours. It has a
simple LCD screen with easy-to-understand
language. The dual curve design is comfortable
to wear on either side.
OxyGo LLC
ConservOx
Conserving regulator weighs just 280 grams, reduces deliveries
OxyGo has Introduced ConservOx,
its new oxygen conserving regulator
(CGA 870). ConservOx is one
of the smallest, lightest, and most
dependable oxygen conservers on
the market today — weighing only
280 grams. HME providers can lower their operating costs while
protecting themselves, patients, and employees from COVID-19 by
reducing their cylinder deliveries with ConservOx.
Quality Biomedical
Q-Connect
Cloud-based system helps provider manage equipment in the field
Managing a fleet of respiratory equipment
– including ventilators, O2 concentrators,
humidifiers, etc. — is important, regulated,
and expensive. To help providers contend
with that challenge, Quality Biomedical
developed Q-Connect, a cloud-based
equipment service-management platform.
Using Q-Connect, Providers of respiratory
equipment can easily track PM due
dates, request RMA numbers and pick-ups,
manage equipment location, view service
reports online, and track the status of their
equipment as it moves through the service
process. Quality Biomedical’s new v.3.0 is
faster, offers new features and more intuitive
navigation. Integration with Brightree
further enhances the value of Q-Connect,
which is provided free to Quality
Biomedical’s customers.
GF Health Products
Finger Pulse Oximeter
Finger pulse oximeter emphasizes easy-use features
The John Bunn JB02020 Finger Pulse Oximeter from GF
Health Products Inc.
(Graham-Field) is a
lightweight, pocketsize
device designed
for home, clinical
and EMS settings. The
unit provides fast and
accurate oxygen saturation
(SpO2), pulse
rate, and perfusion index measurements via
a large LED digital display, and includes SpO2
and pulse rate alarms. Other usability features
include one-button operation, and automatic
power-off function to conserve batteries. In
terms of size, the device accommodates range
of finger sizes from pediatric to adult.
CAIRE Inc.
FreeStyle Comfort
The FreeStyle Comfort is a lightweight, five-setting pulse
flow portable oxygen concentrator with wireless connectivity,
sensitive breath detection features, and delivering
a maximum output of up to 1050 milliliters. Weighing only
5 pounds and designed with patient comfort in mind,
it has an ergonomic, curved shell, LCD display screen,
and battery pack options offering up to eight hours of
charge. Operational via wall outlet power, motor vehicle power, or by rechargeable
battery power, the device is designed for easy traveling and meets FAA guidelines for
commercial air flights.
OxyGo LLC
OxyGo Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
Studies have shown that some people with COVID-19 symptoms
have alarmingly low levels of blood oxygen—OxyGo’s
Fingertip Pulse Oximeter tracks oxygen saturation and pulse
rate to help monitor health and recovery. It’s portable, easy-to-use and the CDC recommends using a pulse oximeter for
identifying COVID-19 symptoms. Patients can self-monitor
their condition and detect early symptoms of COVID-19. This
non-invasive pulse oximeter is designed for use in hospitals, nursing homes, gyms, at
home or even on-the-go.