Medical care is a curious thing; in some ways it has changed so much, in other ways it has changed very little.
One thing that has evolved in the last few decades is the migration of medical care back into the home. No longer are patients spending several days in hospital beds in hospital wards. Health care services are migrating to smaller community clinics that can deliver services in an ambulatory setting.
And going a step further, there are more medical supplies emerging that can treat patients in a growing number of chronic conditions and elevated severity while allowing them to remain in the comfort of their home.
This is a great improvement in how we deliver medical care for a few reasons.
For one, most people do prefer the comfort of their own home to the coldness of a medical facility. The noises, the interruptions; none of it matches the quiet of home. Quiet matters, because it enables rest. And rest is one of the primary needs for recovery.
Second, it alleviates the health care system from expenses, expenses that ultimately punish the patient. Even if insurance seems to cover health care costs, it all rolls down hill to hit the patient's wallet eventually.
Keeping patients out of the hospital spares the system from unnecessary costs because the patient can manage their condition from home, with the right medical supplies.
Third, homes are typically cleaner than hospitals. Hospitals are a place where the sick aggregate. When you are sick, your immune system does not run at full strength and therefore makes it easier to acquire other infections in the hospital.
And infections do spread in the hospital. An estimated 100,000 people die each year from hospital acquired infections. Two million people acquire them; that's a lot of expensive care that hospitals must extend to heal these patients. The American health care delivery system spends roughly $30 billion to $45 billion every year on this tragic medical inefficiency.
But give patients the medical supplies that they can use at home, and you keep them of of the hospitals, and away from elevated risk and exposure to new germs, bacteria, and viruses.
Here are 20 medical supplies that patients can use at home, and hopefully, keep them out of the hospital.
1. 12 Types of Wheelchairs
There are many types of wheelchairs available. They are built for different sizes, different functions, different modes of power and energy, and a variety of safety and comfort features.
It's not a "one-size-fits-all" medical equipment category. Be sure to research the types of wheelchairs, how they are used, and how to ensure proper fit.
Using the wheelchair that is best suited for you can keep you out of the hospital and on rack to live life the way you want.More »
2. Portable Oxygen
There are options in this category too. Sure there are the large green canisters that probably everyone has seen, but there are also new smaller canisters designed for less severe conditions.
Read this product review of portable oxygen and see if it is right for you. More »
3. Respiratory Aids for Home Health Care
Nebulizers, CPAP machines and masks, air cleaners and air purifiers, oximetry meters, even suction machines are available now for the home. But you can inquire about them if you don't know they exist. Read this article to get familiar with what they look like and how they can help you.More »
4. 3 Common Self-Care Medical Supplies
Three of the most common self-care medical supplies are hearing aids, blood glucose meters, and mobility aids.
Follow this article to get a short introduction to these three self-care categories. More »