4 Common Categories of Durable Medical Equipment

Durable medical equipments are very essential for patients as to improve their quality of living. These durable medical equipments are therapeutic devices which are designed for the recovery of the patients ailment as quickly and comfortably as possible. Durable medical equipment are intended to withstand repeated use by non-professionals or the patient, and is appropriate for use in the home. As the word durable itself tells about the significance of these medical equipment’s which are likely to last for a long time without breaking or getting weaker. Health of the patients is fully depended on these equipment, if these equipment are weak or break easily then they are harmful for the patients and instead of improving their health they prove to be really critical. Responsibilities of durable medical equipment are to keep the user safe and these products are built strong, long-lasting and generally easy to clean and maintain.

There are two types of durable medical equipment:

Life Sustaining durable medical equipment: Equipment like nebulizer, humidifier, cycle dialysis machine for peritoneal dialysis etc are considered as life sustaining without which the patient cannot survive and hence need to be purchased.

Non-life sustaining durable medical equipment: All other equipment those are not listed as life sustaining comes in this category will be paid as rental up to the allowed purchase price.

Commonly used durable medical equipment’s are:

1) Ambulation assistive devices: These are mobility devices help a person with functional impairment move about in their environment. Such devices are:

a. Walker: There are various kind of walker like 2-button walker is a folding walker that is easy to use and store. Trigger release walker is also type of folding walker that is easy to transport, use and store. Trigger release with 5” wheels is most common type of folding/rolling walker easy to use over different type of terrain. There are heavy duty walker and wenzelite walker also available to accommodate most patient weight.

b. Cane: It is the most widely used assistive device which is used when the individual needs limited support and has good balance. It supports up to 25% of a person’s weight and may prevent many falls.

c. Crutch: Crutches should have comfortable grip and padding and adjusted for length so that the crutch does not press on your underarms.

2) Wheelchair: When physical changes seems to limit your movements the option of wheelchair makes your life easier and comfortable.

A wheel chair is of different types:

a. Power wheel chair: It is a battery operated based with four wheels and adjustable seat controller attached on one of the armrest that allows the rider to control the movements of the chair. These are beneficial to those patients who are unable to operate wheelchair manually.

b. Hybrid wheelchair: These chairs come with transport wheels attached to the chair and are the combination of the chairs comes between the standard and transport wheelchairs.

c. Manual wheelchair: These chairs are easy to transfer with a built-in or removable armrest. A mid to high level back and push handle to allow no occupants to propel the chair.

3) Orthopedic devices:

a. Belt: An infinite variety of Dacron, cloth and leather material is used to fabricate waist belts, shoulder harness and chest straps, which provide suspension as well as control through their attachment to cables that attach lock to various joints. Halter, Fracture frame, Trapeze bars are other orthopaedic durable medical equipment.

4) Bath safety:

Hand held shower, shower chairs and bathroom grab bars and assist bars are some examples of bath safety which are mostly used by the patients who face difficulty while bathing.

Most of the durable medical equipment can be purchased without a prescription but it is essential and safe to purchase prescribed equipment.

GPC Medical tries to supply a comprehensive range of products to its clients.