What You Should Know Before Going To A Medical Supply Store For Home-Use Equipment

By Eugenia Dickerson


Medical supplies and equipment for home use are able to assist people having medical and physical limitations maintain their lifestyles even with their conditions. But, you should have some knowledge about such equipment before purchasing them from any medical supply store. Having such knowledge will lead to your home being a safer place for anyone living with you having special medical conditions.

The foremost thing to do is decide whether you will need the equipment for a short period of time or for a longer period and whether they are for permanent or temporary use. Some equipment used for rehab may be purchased for shorter timeframes until patients are cured. But some equipment may be needed for a lifetime and purchasing such equipment outright may turn out to be cheaper in the long run. Since some devices may have to be purchased a number of times over and over again, such items may be affordable to the buyer.

All equipment like scooters, wheelchairs, ramps, and bed lifts have specific weight and height capacities unique to them. This weight is what the equipment is able to safely support in correspondence to the height of the patient. It is important to take the measurements of the individual who will be using the equipment with you at the time you purchase home-use medical supplies.

Have a specialist come over for a visit. There are many qualified in-home care specialists who are able to assist you with many decisions and inviting such a person will turn out to be quite beneficial. Such a person is able to help you in deciding what type of equipment will be suitable for the patient and what will fit into your home.

Consult with your insurance provider. Talk to them about the coverage options for home-use equipment and supplies before you make a purchase. Your insurance policy might cover all or some part of the cost based on the medical necessity, but may also require you to buy a specific brand or from a specific vendor in order for the cost to be covered.

Comfort is another thing to consider. Most of the time, the equipment, when used daily, may become uncomfortable to use after some time; and adding a few improvements such as an extra cushion on the seat of a wheelchair or crutch, or using a smaller sized needle with your glucose monitoring device will help a lot in easing the discomfort. Therefore, take comfort into consideration in addition to cost when choosing what types of equipment you are about to buy.

Write a list. Noting down what you need comes in quite useful if you are outfitting an entire room or your home with equipment for a patient to use. If you have inadequate knowledge about what should be included, you may refer to a physical therapist or doctor to compile your list of requirements beforehand so that you are familiar with your options and range of products.

Get the assistance of a professional for installations. It is important to ensure safety of equipment such as wheelchair ramps and bed lifts by getting a professional to install them. So, you should always find a medical supply store that will refer you to a professional who guarantees his work.




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