From The Mouths of the DME Companies

Today’s Wound Clinic interviewed representative from several leading DME Companies to explore how their businesses help in the wound care clinic space. For the full list of responses from these companies, please visit www.todayswoundclinic.com/dme-interview

The following companies participated in this interview:

National Rehab
  U.S. Corporate Office: Airside Business Park, 540 Lindbergh Dr. Moon Township, PA 15108
  Website: www.nationalrehab.com

Prism Medical Products, LLC
  U.S. Corporate Office: 1328 N. Bridge St., Elkin, NC 28621
  Website: www.prism-medical.com

Wound Systems, LLC
  U.S. Corporate Office: U.S. Corporate Office: 1530 Dunwoody
  Village Parkway, Suite 115
  Website: www.woundsystems.com

Advanced Tissue
  U.S. Corporate Office:
  Little Rock, Arkansas
  Website: www.advtis.com

What a clinician needs to know about using a DME company

  “When choosing a DME Company, the clinician needs to know what product lines the DME offers, what insurance contracts the DME services, what areas they ship and how they receive orders. They also should have an understanding of the shipping time and costs the DME offers, how returns are handled and if they are certified. Some DMEs may charge the patient for expedited freight so they have to choose between a slower delivery or incurring costs. At National Rehab (NR), all initial wound care, urology and ostomy orders are shipped free, next day to the patient’s home. A clinician should also ask what value-added services a DME offers in the way of clinician and patient education and service. NR provides access to two full-time WOCNs as well as CEU courses.”

  - Cheryl L. Hutton, BSN, RN, CWON Clinical Director, National Rehab

What is required of the clinician to find the right DME company?

  “I would suggest sitting down with a representative from the DME company to discuss the philosophies of the clinician/facility. Not every DME company will be a good fit. I my experience delivery time, product selection, the ability to process/handle insurance related issues, and effectively communicate with the clinician/facility and patient are the most frequent issues facing a clinician/facility. These points of service should never be sacrificed and a DME company should be willing to effectively meet these and any other needs the clinician/facility may have within the limits of proper regulatory guidelines (Federal, State, Accrediting Organization, etc.).”

  -Kenneth Reel, VP of Sales, Prism Medical Products, LLC

What “ordering” recommendations do you have for providers?

  “With respect to replacement therapy surfaces, and to the degree possible, advance notice, along with proper documentation outlining placement location, as well as, better communication between clinicians from one shift to another regarding orders for particular patients. (ie, ordered on one shift and not communicated at shift change.)”

  -Tim Graves, Wound Systems, LLC

What problems do you face pertaining to physicians’ orders for surgical dressings; negative pressure wound therapy pumps, wound suction pumps, off-loading devices, etc.?

  “The Medicare guidelines are very clear on what we must have in order to fill orders, we have had situation where an order is delayed in process due to incomplete or inadequate information. So the order is not delayed while we are waiting on necessary information from the clinic it is important the patient information is correct and the products ordered meet Medicare guidelines as related to the wound description.”

  -Kevin Lamb, CEO, Advanced Tissue

What recommendations would you like to give the providers regarding surgical dressings, negative pressure wound therapy pumps, wound suction pumps, off-loading devices, etc.

   “Do your homework when searching for a DME provider in these areas. Choose a DME who has a history of success providing these products for their referral sources and patients. When placing an order with a DME, specify the amount of product the patient will need as well. This will ensure that your patients receive only the product amounts that they will use. The customer service and sales teams for the DME should know the appropriate guidelines and be able to be of service to the clinician.”

  -Cheryl L. Hutton, BSN, RN, CWON Clinical Director, National Rehab

What documentation suggestions would you like to give providers?

   “In regard to surgical dressings, most providers do not realize that they may place an order by submitting their EMR or hard medical record. Many times these records document where the order is coming from, who the order is for, what products the provider wants for their patients and a wound assessment. Hence, a provider’s medical record plus a patient’s demographic will many times allow a DME company to process an order without the need to fill an actual order form, thus saving the provider and/or their staff valuable time.”

  -Kenneth Reel, VP of Sales, Prism Medical Products, LLC

Do you have any suggestions to assist providers justify the medical necessity for surgical dressings, negative pressure wound therapy pumps, wound suction pumps, off-loading devices, etc.?

   “With respect to replacement therapy surfaces, be open to DME vendor in-service sessions to understand what products are available and then “trial” them to see if they are useful.”

  -Tim Graves, CEO, Wound Systems, LLC

What reimbursement advice would you like to offer to the clinician’s that bill Medicare for your product?

   “Advanced Tissue bills Medicare for the supplies we ship to patients so the clinician doesn’t have to worry with that aspect.”

  -Kevin Lamb, CEO, Advanced Tissue