Smarter Hospice DME Partnerships for Better Care

Durable medical equipment (DME) is integral to hospice care. A patient's needs for equipment can be both acute and urgent, meaning hospice providers need fast, efficient systems for DME procurement. 

When providers encounter obstacles for getting equipment, patients may suffer delayed care and unnecessary discomfort. At the same time, family members and other caregivers may experience increased stress.

Qualis helps hospice providers modernize DME management through online systems that simplify equipment orders and improve care delivery.

Common Ordering Challenges

DME ordering processes traditionally involved manual data entry to get prescription information into an order system. The task can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, often requiring many staff hours per week.

Entering orders by hand can result in typos or other errors that create hold-ups in getting equipment delivered or create payment obstacles when errors result in denied claims. 

Limited vendor networks mean working from a limited inventory of available DMEs. If a hospice provider’s primary DME vendor doesn’t have equipment available, the hunt for a vendor that can deliver it may zap more staff time, present unexpected fees, and delay delivery for the patient. 

How Modern Ordering Systems Work

Digital tools for DME procurement streamline ordering, tracking, and delivery. Advanced DME ordering systems can integrate with existing tech systems, including electronic medical records (EMRs). With HIPAA-compliant technology, DME ordering platforms can import prescribing data directly from the EMR to quickly populate order forms with key information. 

Once order specifics are in the system, hospice staff can use a mobile device to place the order and track delivery. In addition, the system lets hospice staff members request prompt pick-ups when equipment is no longer needed, clearing space in a patient’s home and reducing risk of excess costs due to keeping equipment longer than needed.

The Power of Vendor-Agnostic Models

Working with a robust network of vendors, instead of choosing one or two exclusive vendor partnerships, expands access to DMEs. Hospice providers with extensive vendor networks have more options for getting the right equipment at the right time, rather than compromising on delivery times or DME items. 

A network also allows hospice providers to make special arrangements for patients when unusual circumstances arise.

One hospice team reached out to Qualis when a patient wanted to travel from Pennsylvania to South Carolina for a final family trip to the beach. The patient required continuous oxygen support, which meant the family and providers needed access to oxygen equipment and supplies during travel and at the destination. 

The Qualis team worked with both the Pennsylvania-based DME vendor and a local DME vendor in South Carolina to ensure uninterrupted care throughout the travel time. This collaboration gave the patient a special trip to the beach, safely with their care needs fully met.

Impact on Care Teams

For hospice staff, patients are the top priority. Administrative tasks are necessary, but they take time away from patient care and supporting families. Excessive staff time and attention focused on paperwork and phone calls can frustrate staff, patients, and families alike. 

Using comprehensive DME management systems can reduce the number of staff hours spent on procurement every week. Direct care providers can use ordering platforms to synchronize EMR data and quickly place equipment orders using any mobile device.

Online information about availability and delivery times across the vendor network allows hospice staff members to quickly compare options and choose one that works best for the patient. 

Hospice providers can use ordering platforms to track DME orders and develop preferred vendor lists, choosing the vendor best able to provide each specific item needed for optimal patient care. 

Simplified ordering saves time and lets staff return attention to patient care, instead of filing the right paperwork to place an equipment order. 

Qualis’ Approach

The Qualis DME+ system gives hospice providers a centralized platform for managing all their DME needs, including:

• Contract management
• Invoice consolidation
• Order and delivery tracking
• Detailed daily dashboards
• National vendor network
• EMR system integration
• Mobile ordering
• Automated updates
• Comprehensive reporting

Our business management system offers more than just DME ordering. Our on-demand access to reports and dashboards provides monitoring to help you evaluate operational trends and identify DME cost drivers. You can audit current DME ordering and make adjustments that will benefit patients and reduce unnecessary spending.

Qualis also provides a suite of evidence-based clinical tools, including continuing education courses, that give caregivers the latest information on DME trends so they can deliver the best care possible.

There is no time like now for hospice providers to modernize DME procurement systems. The Qualis DME+ platform can give your organization greater efficiency, identify potential cost and time savings, and position you to deliver the best possible patient care.

Contact us today for a demo and to learn how DME+ can benefit your hospice organization.