HME News is the monthly business newspaper for home medical equipment providers. This controlled circulation publication reaches 17,100 home medical equipment services providers, including traditional HME dealers & suppliers, hospital- and pharmacy-o
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at Booth 1665 MedTrade Expo Atlanta, GA 8/24-25/2017 Smart Talk hme news / september 2017 / www.hmenews.com 13 Mobile Solution S 24-Hour Care 810-653-5000 | uni v e r salss.com Serving the nation's largest providers WE'LL CARE FOR YOU, SO YOU CAN CARE FOR THEM. SO YOU CAN CARE FOR THEM. Your patients rely on you for quality care and peace of mind. Don't you deserve the same from your software provider? Trust your systems to Universal Software Solutions. We'll be here for you. Always. Let our HDMS software help you run and grow your HME practice. From estimates and customer intake to patient care and billing, our strong built-in workflow engine and powerful API will allow for tight integrations across platforms, giving you more time for what matters most: patient care. See what we can do for you: HME Providers Pharmacies Home Infusions Hospice Home Health Providers at Booth 1655 MedTrade Expo Atlanta, GA 10/24-25/2017 Get a crisper picture By Brad Peterson Q. What is the future of 24-hour care? a . It was not long ago that we dis- covered the power of connectivity Don't fix what isn't broken a imee s wo P e Q: o kay, i see the business benefits, but does it positively affect my patients? a . We can all agree that operational success may keep an organization running, but it's the quality of cus- tomer care that keeps it in business. Often times, efficient logistics man- agement of a HME provider can drive excellent patient care. The benefits of implementing a mobile solution can also improve your organization's customer ser- vice. From creating a paperless environment to optimizing deliv- ery routes, providers are able to enhance the relationship with their patients in the following ways: 4 When a technician is able to worry less about capturing multi- ple signatures or shuffling through a stack of forms, they are able to focus more attention on the customer, answering questions and setting up the equipment. 4 Creating the most efficient route allows drivers to spend more time with each patient during deliv- ery and can also enable patients to receive their equipment sooner. 4 Tracking technicians in real time enables dispatchers and cus- tomer service representatives to communicate accurate estimated times of arrival to patients and quickly answer questions without a lengthy game of phone tag. This also allows the dispatcher to sched- ule those last minute or urgent orders because of the enhanced visibility. 4 I n v e n t o r y m a n a g e m e n t through a mobile application pro- vides dispatchers or warehouse managers with the most up-to-date information of what equipment is being delivered. Serial numbers and lot numbers captured during delivery will keep your inventory accurate. The investment of a mobile soft- ware can bring about lasting and positive effects on your organization that stretch far beyond streamlining operational efficiencies. hme Aimee Swope is a customer success specialist at Apacheta. Reach her at aswope@apacheta.com. and the ability to access informa- tion on demand on our phones. In our world of complex rehab, we have similar exciting new solu- tions, especially when it comes to providing 24-hour care. Power wheelchairs have the capability to be individualized and the electronics learn these subtle differences to produce a revolution- ary drive experience that is consis- tent for the lifetime of the chair. Smart power chairs allow systems to be intuitively configured, provid- ing for more focus on the 24-hour needs of the patient by dialing in their positioning, connectivity and drive functions, all the while gath- ering data on the system's perfor- mance and use for enhanced sup- port and better clinical outcomes. The data gathered from these connected systems will provide a platform for providers to moni- tor and troubleshoot the status of the power wheelchairs in their fleet. Viewing clinical and service information in real time with diag- nostic information and the ability to record statistics over a defined period will take 24-hour care to the next level for both providers and consumers. Now imagine that all the prod- ucts your consumers require are connected and delivering wireless, real time data on how they are being used. They're all sync'd and com- municating with each other to give the individual greater control over their day, environment and life, and you a crisper picture of outcomes and use. This will support a more effective 24-hour care model. hme Brad Peterson is vice president of Professional Affairs and Clinical Education at Invacare. Reach him at bpeterson@invacare.com. Lee Ann Hoffman, seating & positioning spe- cialist at Invacare, contributed to this article.