What is DME in medical terms? The answer may be simple at first, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
DME stands for durable medical equipment, including essentials such as hospital beds, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. But DME isn’t just equipment.
Many hospice managers think of DME as a rather stiff process where you place an order and hope it shows up. Efficient DME management, on the other hand, is about comfort and continuity, and not about just supplying stuff.
At Qualis, we believe it’s time to define DME as what it really is: a critical piece of the puzzle that can be as straightforward as it can be strategic.
At first glance, it may be hard to grasp just how crucial DME is in healthcare.
Equipment isn’t just functional; it’s foundational. It shapes the patient and caregiver experience, affecting CAHPS scores, symptom relief, and how much trust families put in you. In other words, it makes care feel uninterrupted.
Efficient DME management means equipment is delivered on time, without pickup or delivery hassles and confusing communication. When any of these things go wrong, your whole operation can be compromised by unnecessary stress and administrative burden.
Discharges, pickups, and equipment education all affect the continuity of care, and thus end up having an enormous impact on your patients and their outcomes. Good DME isn’t just a checkbox; it’s the backbone of hospice care. But DME problems are rooted far deeper than you may think.
On the administrative side of healthcare, DME is often seen as a mere transactional aspect of day-to-day hospice operations. But a true DME partner does much more than just move boxes from one point to another. Unfortunately, that’s what the traditional DME management model often leads us to think.
Too many hospices are stuck with companies that deliver equipment but don't provide the appropriate support for it. Delays and a lack of communication are often synonymous with traditional DME, as it relies on one vendor instead of letting competition take place.
We, however, believe in a different model: a vendor-agnostic, proactive approach to DME.
In practice, this means we aren’t tied to any single provider, instead relying on a broad vendor network across the nation. A product is out of stock? A vendor is delivering late? Just switch over to another option before it starts to impact your operations.
But things don’t end there. Effective DME also requires a proactive mindset. This is why, behind the scenes, our team works tirelessly to coordinate orders and solve problems before they reach you.
At Qualis, we firmly believe that DME is a reflection of your hospice, and outcomes can only be as good as the equipment you get. So, how can we help?
We built our systems (and our whole model) to prioritize one goal: making DME management as easy as possible. And that starts with smart workflows designed to assist hospices with tools including:
Our software brings it all together, so forget about juggling with multiple vendors or tracking things by hand. We’ll handle the complex stuff so you can focus on what really matters: your patients.
If there’s one thing that defines Qualis as a DME hospice partner, it’s flexibility. Even the best vendors are prone to errors and accidents, and having a few extra options can't hurt.
Choice is our No. 1 priority, as we believe that competition between vendors will always lead to the best results for you. Our nationwide network of over 900 vendors ensures that you always have options and backup plans.
You’ll also get access to our centralized reporting platform, which simplifies vendor management in one place. No more tracking spreadsheets, no more chasing updates — you’ll always know what’s going on and where to get more details.
Our team of experts works endlessly to monitor vendor performance and hold vendors accountable. As such, we have created a network of reliable providers that are ready to get you exactly what you need, when you need it.
It’s time to reconsider the age-old “box-mover” mindset: DME is an integral part of any care plan and not an afterthought. When handled correctly, it makes your team’s hard work pay off.
At Qualis, we believe that DME should be a priority in any hospice, but not an administrative burden. If you’re ready to see how we partner with hospices like yours, contact us today!