Whether patients require a walker and hand rails to keep them safely mobile at home, crutches and orthopedic supports to help them recover from injury, or specialized equipment like a nursing pump or CPAP machine, Comfort Care Medical Equipment has the supplies they need.
The 16-year-old company provides innovative products that give its patients quality of life they didnt think they could achieve. It serves patients and caregivers, hospitals and assisted living facilities, and physicians and physician groups throughout Broward County and south Palm Beach. “We support the home plan of care thats prescribed by our patients healthcare provider, which is an almost infinite variety of needs,” says Frederick Shaw, vice president of Comfort Care. “Our patients also enjoy monthly delivery of the products that help them manage chronic illness, from diabetic supplies to catheters and incontinence products to enteral nutrition and feeding pumps.” While patients may be the end-users of its equipment and supplies, Shaw says they also consider physicians, case managers and caregivers to be their customers. “We understand that our contributionexcellent service and cost-effective, top quality productsgives peace of mind to everyone and adds real value in the continuum of care.” Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Comfort Care supplies patients across the state by mail-order. Its new e-commerce site, launching in early 2010, will make it easier for its snowbird patients to get the supplies they need, wherever they happen to be living. What distinguishes Comfort Care from other medical equipment retailers and online retailers is that they are rooted in the community. “Weve had a retail location since 1993, and we know our patients and their caregivers as well as the physicians, hospitals and case managers who refer them to us,” says Shaw. “These relationships are a privilege, and we take responsibility for their care seriously.” Shaw also cites his companys focus on customer servicedetermining the most appropriate products, and making sure patients know exactly how to use themas another factor that sets them apart. “We dont deliver from a warehouse, leave the equipment, and move on to the next sale. Our patients know our names and they see us at the store. We do whatever we need to do to maintain their trust.” Since it believes in its ability to improve patient care and reduce costs, Comfort Care has made a significant investment in technology. All patient information is stored electronically in a centrally located, HIPAA-compliant secure server facility, which gives them instant access to patient records wherever they are, even in the event of a natural disaster. “Technology delivers greater efficiencieswhich, for us, means leveling the playing field with large regional suppliersbut also helps us stay true to our mission of providing customized services to our patients,” says Shaw. “Were also beginning a new education initiative for our referral partners, with special events to keep them informed about developments in our industry that affect patients. Healthcare regulation and reform is a rapidly moving target, and its my job to stay on top of those changes and communicate the relevant information to our referral partners.” One such regulation is the recent mandate by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that home medical equipment providers take part in a national competitive bidding program in order to reduce costs. Shaw stresses how important it is for healthcare professionals to be aware of these recent changes, how they affect patients, and what they can do to help. The first time this was attempted, Congress stopped the program because of concerns about unqualified bid winners and patient access issues. Late in 2009, the Government Accountability Office released a study that estimated the program caused up to an 88% reduction in providers. “Were taking part in this competitive bid, but believe it wont do anything to reduce costs and ultimately, will remove patient choice from the equation. If you support your patients right to choose their own suppliers, we suggest you ask your representative to support HR 3790,” adds Shaw. “Its a budget-neutral bill that gives Congress the same savings that the program was projected to give, without unnecessarily eliminating 88% of local providers and without limiting a patient’s access.”
