WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — From the
Carolinas to New England, durable medical equipment providers spent
much of the past three or four days preparing their customers for
Hurricane Irene, reports the American Association for Homecare.
Of particular concern to the companies are people who require
supplemental medical oxygen, which is often supplied by an electric
concentrator. During a power outage or evacuation, having an
adequate back-up supply is essential to the health of the oxygen
users, many of whom are Medicare beneficiaries.
Homecare Concepts in Farmingdale, New York has been
delivering oxygen to patients who have lost power. The company
itself lost power and employees have been coordinating care and
service via cell phone to the more than 100 patients without power
in the New York City area. “Those who were without power had
additional gas [oxygen] cylinders delivered to them,” said
Joe Candiano, operations supervisor at Homecare Concepts. “It
wasn’t always easy as the guys were dodging downed trees and
power lines to get to homes. This is not just a nine to five
job.”
Mark Richardson at Home MediService in Havre de Grace,
Maryland, said his company received at least 58 Hurricane
Irene-related calls over the weekend and the company made two dozen
trips to visit oxygen users on Sunday alone. “Many of our patients
were very impressed that their oxygen company would take the time
to call them and make sure they had adequate back-up. Many
were very thankful that we went out in that storm to make sure that
they weren’t at risk.”
EME Medical Equipment in Ephrata, Pennsylvania put all
delivery, clinical, and management staff on alert for the weekend
and lined up gas and liquid oxygen supplies. Ted Gress, a
registered respiratory therapist and operations manager at the
company, said high winds and heavy rains produced power outages
over the
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