In brief: COPD, Oxygen Plus and more

Providers LONDON - Clinical trial results show Glaxo's Advair has an edge over Pfizer's Spiriva in treating patients with COPD, Reuters reported last week. A two-year study of 1,300 patients found both drugs had a similar impact on rate of exacerbations, but patients treated with Advair gained a significant improvement in health status and greater survival benefit than those on Spiriva, according to an announcement by Glaxo. Results of the first head-to-head study of the two drugs were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Providers Oxygen Plus debuts SALINE, Mich. - A nurse recently opened Oxygen Plus, a home medical equipment store, the Ann Arbor News reported Dec. 14. The store sells wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, diabetic supplies and sleep aids. It also has a women's boutique with items like wigs, body wear and breast prostheses. Theresa Likert has a bachelor's degree in health administration from Eastern Michigan University and a nursing degree from Washtenaw Community College. Likert's mother has run a home medical equipment store in Kentucky for five years. Vendors VGM signs with Masimo IRVINE, Calif. - The VGM Group's Nationwide Respiratory announced a deal with Masimo Dec. 13, making Masimo's pulse oximeters available to Nationwide's 150 independent respiratory providers. Providers use pulse oximeters to assess the oxygen saturation of a patient during overnight sleep tests to determine whether or not the patient meets established Medicare or private insurance guidelines for home oxygen therapy. Masimo announced a similar deal with Apria Healthcare in August.