Home medical equipment receipt in a home care appropriate population

Citation
Fm. Weaver et al., Home medical equipment receipt in a home care appropriate population, J AG HEALTH, 11(4), 1999, pp. 494-516
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
JOURNAL OF AGING AND HEALTH
ISSN journal
08982643 → ACNP
Volume
11
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
494 - 516
Database
ISI
SICI code
0898-2643(199911)11:4<494:HMERIA>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
Objectives: This study examines home medical equipment (HME) receipt for 1, 040 veterans considered appropriate for home health services. Methods: HME receipt was monitored for 12 months using the Department of Veterans Affair s' Prosthetics database. Results: Eighty-three percent received at least on e item; averaging 7.4 items (SD = 6.8). The most common items included comm odes/bath benches (9%), canes/walkers (7%), safety equipment (7%), liquid o xygen (6%), and wheelchairs (6%). Two functional status variables, home car e use and race, correctly classified 69% of HME recipients. Logistic regres sions were run for specific equipment; c-indices ranged from .64 to .75. Ag e, race, income, functional status, risk of hospital readmission, and home care use were significant predictors. Discussion: HME accounted for $4.5 bi llion in sales (16% of total) for medical products in 1996. As the HME mark et continues to expand, the characteristics of HME recipients are necessary to project future HME needs in a growing, elderly population.