Page 12 - HME Business, May 2017

News / Trends / Analysis
Washington Legislative Conference
Study: Oxygen
Patients Are
Interested in New
Cannula Options
Users of dual-prong nasal cannulas report frequent difficulties, interested in single-prong alternatives.
A study looking at user satisfaction found that oxygen patients experienced frequent or constant issues with dual-prong nasal cannulas, and were interested in converting to single- prong alternatives.
Introduced in 1949, dual-prong nasal cannulas have been a default solution to deliver supple- mental, low-flow oxygen to respiratory patients. However, they are not problem-free. Associated issues or complications include irritation of inte- rior nostrils; sore and irritation of upper lips; sores around ears; constriction around neck; displace- ment of dual prongs from nostrils; self-conscious- ness while wearing dual prong devices; removal of device when eating; and use of protective pads to reduce skin irritation.
A recent study, commissioned by UPODS, LLC, which makes the UNI-FLO2 cannula, surveyed 121 dual-prong nasal cannula users to track their difficulties with dual-prong options, and whether they would be more interested in a single-prong alternative.
The study showed that 67 percent of those surveyed using’ dual-prong cannulas said that their prongs became displaced; 42 percent said they needed to remove their cannula to eat or drink; 36 percent replied they felt self-conscious wearing them in public; and 35 percent felt constriction around the neck when wearing them.
After using a single-prong cannula in a clinical setting for 15 minutes, 98 percent replied that the device was more comfortable; 99 percent felt it was stable and secure; and 98 percent said they felt they’d be interested in wearing it.
“When introduced to a new human factors approach to oxygen delivery systems the patients were very interested in converting to a more comfortable, stable / secure, less invasive, less visible—ergonomic single cannula design,”
wrote the study’s authors, Hugh Payton, M. D.; Campbell C. Cauthen, BSRRT; John D. Stephens; and Uday Jain. “We found that the single cannula devices provided higher statistically significant POX readings when compared to dual prong POX readings across flow rate categories within
a defined patient population and across both continuous and pulse delivery type devices.” n
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Capitol Hill this year,” AAHomecare President and CEO Tom Ryan said. “Even if our most likely path to a longer-term fix on rural reimbursement, mean- ingful improvements for the next round of compet- itive bidding, and excluding CRT accessories from bidding-derived pricing is likely to run through federal agencies, Congressional interest and support is essential to the process.”
To take advantage of this prime advo-
cacy opportunity and provide additional time
for providers to build relationships with their lawmakers, the association has shortened May 24’s educational program, concluding the sessions at 2 p.m.
The 2017 event’s price has also been reduced to half the cost of last year’s registration fee, and is now $49 for AAHomecare members and $99
for nonmembers. Providers can register online at http://bit.ly/2nR7yIU or download a PDF version of the registration form at http://bit.ly/2nFXjXF. n
Bestselling Author, Former
Navy SEAL to Keynote
VGM’s Heartland
Conference will feature address Kevin Lacz, who will talk about taking risks to succeed in business.
Attendees of VGM’s Heartland Conference will hear Kevin Lacz, former U.S. Navy SEAL and author of the New York Times best- selling memoir, The Last Punisher, give the keynote address. The VGM Group is holding its 16th annual HME industry conference from June 12 to 15 in Waterloo, Iowa.
The keynote address, “A Morning with Kevin Lacz: Risk vs Reward,” will take place at 8 a.m.
on Tuesday, June 13. Lacz tell the story of his personal journey from struggling student to deco- rated Navy SEAL and successful master’s degree student. His story will serve as an example of the importance of identifying, mitigating and over- coming risk to achieve success.
Lacz was a failing undergraduate student when he left school to join the U.S. Navy SEALs in 2002. During his military career, he served as a sniper and combat medic and received multiple awards, including a Bronze Star with combat “V” (indi- cating acts of valor or meritorious services in combat) and the Navy and Marine Commendation Awards with combat “V.” He was also a key member of Task Unit Bruiser, one of the most highly decorated special operations units of the Iraq war.
Following his military career, he gradu-
ated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in polit- ical science in 2011. He then earned his master’s
degree in medical sciences from Wake Forest University in 2014.
Lacz also served as SEAL technical advisor on the 2014 movie American Sniper, the story of Chris Kyle, and played himself in the film.
Lacz is now a certified physician assistant in Florida and co-owner of Lifestyle and Performance Medicine-powered by Regenesis, a concierge- based, functional medicine practice. He is also the spokesperson for his charity, Hunting for Healing, a Florida non-profit organization that takes serviced- disabled veterans and their spouses on hunting, fishing and other outdoor expeditions.
Lacz’s book, The Last Punisher, a memoir about his 2006 deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, was published in July 2016. Following his keynote address, copies of the book will be available for sale at a book-signing event.
“Heartland Conference is all about creating impactful experiences that our members can utilize to improve their business,” said Sara Laures, vice president of special projects and confer-
ence chairperson for VGM. “Kevin’s presentation is delivered with passion and, coupled with his wry humor, will inspire and motivate our attendees to overcome their fears and achieve at a high level.”
Further information about VGM’s Heartland Conference and Lacz’s keynote address are available on the conference website, vgmheartland.com. n
— Leila Meyer, leilameyer@gmail.com
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