Top 10 Durable Medical Equipment Items in Hospice

Every piece of hospice durable medical equipment (DME) can help preserve patient safety and dignity. Whether that’s a hospital bed or an oxygen tank, reliable access to DME is crucial for patient experience and clinical outcomes.

Knowing the top hospice equipment can help you plan, negotiate, and serve patients at top capacity. That's where data-informed procurement comes in, giving you information to guide smarter decisions.

Let's break down the most used DME items, why they matter, and how you can improve your sourcing.

List of Top 10 Equipment Types with Explanations

Hospice care isn’t just about managing symptoms; it also means anticipating and meeting needs with the right tools.

Understanding and keeping in mind the most commonly used DME gives hospice providers that much-needed insight to plan ahead and avoid delays.

• Oxygen devices: Oxygen concentrators, tanks, and related supplies are a large part of most DME orders, to support patients with shortness of breath or respiratory distress.
• Humidifier equipment: Humidifiers are often used with oxygen therapy. They can transform the respiratory comfort of a patient and help manage symptoms such as irritation.
• Walking aids: From walkers to rollators, mobility supports help with a patient's independence, impacting their experience at hospice.
• Hospital beds: Medical-grade beds are essential for safe, comfortable end-of-life care and severe conditions. This includes everything from whole beds to individual parts such as rails.
• Wheelchairs: Patients unable to walk face greater emotional distress unless given a way to leave their beds and rooms. Wheelchairs become crucial elements for any hospice.
• Commode chairs: Commodes can relieve strain on both caregivers and patients, allowing the latter to feel safe while using the toilet.
• Nebulizers: Nebulizers convert liquid medicine into an inhalable mist that’s necessary for treating certain respiratory conditions.
• Pressure-reducing mattresses: Patients who spend a lot of time lying down in bed may feel pain at specific pressure points, which may cause discomfort.
• Alternating pressure pads: These pads work similarly to pressure-reducing mattresses, although they're cheaper and used as toppers over beds.
• Overbed tables: Although simple, overbed tables allow independence and convenience for patients.

What Makes Each Item Critical

Each item is crucial for keeping patients autonomous and independent, which contributes to patient experience.

Oxygen devices are essential for managing conditions and natural respiratory symptoms that come with age. Humidifiers improve respiratory comfort, making this pair of DME items almost inseparable. Nebulizers and wheelchairs are necessities for patients who use them.

Hospital beds and pressure-reducing mattresses offer physical relief while also preventing pressure wounds such as ulcers. Overbed tables allow patients to have a place to eat, write, or even keep personal belongings.

Mobility equipment gives patients a sense of control and helps prevent falls. Commode chairs also reduce strain on caregivers and promote independence for patients with toileting difficulties.

Every item, counter together, contributes to a model of care.

Challenges in Sourcing These Items

Delivery lags are one of the most pressing issues, as delays in priority items can impact patient comfort and experience. Causes can range from inefficient supply chains to local vendor shortages.

Quality inconsistencies may also arise, as hospices juggle between vendors in different geographic areas. It may snowball into maintenance calls or safety concerns, which can disrupt care continuity.

Vendor training gaps can impact efficiency across teams. Even if equipment arrives on time, setting it up and using it correctly require additional steps.

How to Evaluate Vendor Capabilities

Vendor partnerships and relationships influence your ability to deliver high-quality care. Price and availability are the starting point, but a dependable DME partner brings consistency and responsiveness to a clinical team.

While choosing a DME partner, there are a few capabilities to keep in mind.

• Maintenance policies: Reputable vendors document inspection routines and procedures for keeping equipment safe and functioning. This ensures patients and professionals can rely on the DME.
• Backup inventory: Contingencies are needed for high-demand items. Ask potential partners whether they can meet emergency needs without compromising patients.
• Training procedures: Vendors should provide staff education and set-up guidance. This is especially important for essential equipment such as medical beds and oxygen systems.
• Fullfillment history: Look for signs of operational excellence. On-time deliveries and low return rates, for example, are two signs of a supplier that’s reliable and accountable.

How Qualis Ensures Availability and Quality

At Qualis, we understand that a DME is crucial for patient comfort and trust.

That's why we built our platform around a robust DME network spanning over 900 suppliers across the U.S. We prioritize visibility and transparency through centralized reporting. Access to real-time data and analytics means empowered teams that can track trends.

Download the full hospice DME checklist and let Qualis help simplify sourcing.