Archive: October 2011
Turning Leaf turns to medical supply markets
October 31, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
LEBANON, Ore. - When provider Anne Turner added diabetes supplies to her product mix this summer she found a ready pool of customers: her CPAP patients.
"With awareness and the growth of obesity, diabetes and (sleep apnea), we feel we can touch more of the patient population by incorporating the two," said Turner, president of A Turning Leaf.
A Turning Leaf celebrated its one-year-anniversary in September. The company has seven employees and Turner's husband has been able to join as a full time...
Patients, products and payers: Three essential elements of success
October 30, 2011HME News Staff
We operate in a highly complex industry facing a complicated and seemingly ever-changing landscape of challenges to navigate. As you go about your daily business in this environment, it can be easy to forget that success is dependent upon the same three essential elements it always has been. It all comes down to the patients you dedicate your efforts to, the products you provide and the payers you work with for reimbursement. If we lose sight of these simple elements of the business, the complicated...
Behind the numbers
October 30, 2011Liz Beaulieu, Editor
If you're like me, and you follow the Medicare Market Marker on our Databank page each month (partly because I have to put it together, but mostly because I find it interesting), you probably raised an eyebrow while reviewing the last few issues.
For K0823, your standard power wheelchair, the number of allowed beneficiaries has spiked. In Region C (why haven't we changed that to Jurisdiction C, by the way), that number increased from 5,411 (February) to 9,498 (March) to 12,525 (April). This month:...
Insurer eyes diabetes market
October 30, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
Another source for diabetes supplies has thrown its hat into the Medicare ring--one that has diabetes providers crying foul.
In August, Humana announced that its mail order pharmacy, RightSource, would offer diabetes supplies to Medicare beneficiaries--both Humana members and non-members.
"I can't think that's right," said one mail order provider who didn't want to be named. "Humana as an insurance company is telling their patients to use Humana's pharmacy, so that money is just going in circles."
Right...
Avoid agressive scheduling
October 30, 2011Dick Fuller
A. Sending your repair tech on a 40-mile drive to perform a minor repair on a wheelchair is more than a nuisance; it really hurts the bottom line.
Way too often, the typical field tech is over-scheduled for the day. While it would appear that this approach would get the most work done, it is one of the worst things you can do.
Why? Because an aggressive schedule for field service means that the tech will only have time to knock out the specific repair, and miss the opportunity to inspect other...
No more 'plain Jane' scrubs
October 30, 2011Elizabeth Deprey
WETUMPKA, Ala. - Provider Peter Czapla is trying a different approach to attract new referral sources: selling scrubs.
"Our sales force, when they go in and see the referral sources, sees everyone is wearing scrubs," said Czapla, general manager of Wetumpka, Ala.-based Quality Home Healthcare.
Selling scrubs increases the company's retail offerings and cash flow, with the added bonus of helping referral sources see everything that the company has to offer, Czapla said. Quality Home Healthcare...
Box: Incontinence
October 30, 2011HME News Staff
CHANGING PERCEPTIONS
'Normalizing' incontinence: Urinary dysfunction is an affliction that no one likes to talk about, let alone admit they have. But a dynamic marketing campaign by the pharmaceutical industry has turned erectile dysfunction into a major business while removing the stigma associated with the condition. Some believe that a similar initiative could do the same for the incontinence market.
FAVORABLE NUMBERS
Demand uptick: Research shows that as the baby boomers continue to enter...
RT survey reveals communication gap
October 30, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
IRVING, Texas - When it comes to reducing hospital readmissions, communication between hospitals and homecare providers will play a key role. But a recent survey of respiratory therapists reveals they have a long way to go.
"At this point, there isn't a lot of joint effort between hospital RTs and homecare RTs," said Greg Spratt, homecare chair for the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).
Spratt recently surveyed respiratory therapists to get a baseline of information for his "Hospital...
Information with a 'pink flair'
October 30, 2011Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
HOUSTON - There's so much happening in the world of breast care that Rhonda Turner needed a magazine to get it all out there.
In December, the executive director of the American Association of Breast Care Professionals (AABCP) will launch an online magazine, "MeasureUp!"
"It's a full range of information geared toward the professional with a bit of a pink flair," said Turner.
The monthly magazine will include a feature article, new product reviews, fitter highlights, calendars and...
Fully vet your drivers
October 30, 2011Bill Tricarico
A. It is widely known in the risk management field that motor vehicle reports (MVRs), which detail a driver's past performance, are a useful means of predicting future driving performance. This has been dramatically demonstrated in several studies, which indicate that in 41% of the total crashes, the driver had a poor driving record. In a lawsuit, the driver's record may be discoverable and admissible. A poor driving history makes defense decidedly more difficult.
In addition, there are more and...