Tag: Respiratory Therapy
VGM names Lockard to lead respiratory division
April 12, 2022HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates has named Boone Lockard, CRT, as its new director of VGM Respiratory. Lockard, who started his career as a respiratory therapist at Lehan Drugs, has more than 12 years of experience in the DME industry. He also worked on the manufacturer side with Philips Respironics for three years as a key account manager. “I am looking forward to working with the VGM membership on building additional value and navigating challenges in the industry,” said Lockard....
CQRC warns of possible access issues
March 18, 2022HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Patient access to in-home respiratory care may be negatively impacted if a shortage in semiconductor chips is not addressed, warns the Council for Council for Quality Respiratory Care.
In a March 15 letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, CQRC and nine other respiratory care stakeholders urge the administration to use its authority to help address the shortage of semiconductor chips used in home...
Philips: Sales were down, orders were up in Q4, 2021
January 24, 2022HME News Staff
AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – Philips’ comparable sales decreased 32% in the fourth quarter of 2021 for the Connected Care business due, in part, to a double-digit decline in Sleep & Respiratory Care associated with the recall.
For the full year, the Connected Care business recorded a 23% comparable sales decrease.
“Patient well-being is at the heart of everything we do at Philips, and we remain extremely focused on repairing and replacing the devices related to...
Study: RT home visits can reduce COPD readmissions
January 12, 2022HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - At-home interventions by a respiratory therapist can reduce hospital readmission rates among patients with COPD, according to a new study published in Respiratory Care. Study authors looked at outcomes in patients enrolled in a respiratory therapist-led COPD Disease Management Program, comparing outcomes of 658 patients who were discharged from five hospitals in the Atlantic Health System with outcomes of 435 patients who were discharged and then enrolled in the management program....
Encore is NEXUS between respiratory therapy, outcomes
December 17, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
LIVINGSTON, Tenn. – With more than 27,000 patients now managed through NEXUS, Encore Healthcare was able to publish studies in CHEST and other journals recently that show its respiratory therapy management software improves outcomes.
Among the key take-aways from the studies: NEXUS can reduce hospital admissions by about 60% and it can improve medication management by about 41%.
“We’re at a tipping point,” said Zach Gantt,...
Quipt acquisition adds new vertical
November 23, 2021HME News Staff
CINCINNATI – Quit Home Medical has executed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire an “arm’s length” private respiratory care company servicing seven states throughout the U.S. reporting unaudited trailing 12-month annual revenues of about $14 million, $1 million in net income and positive adjusted EBITDA.
The acquisition adds a new vertical in long-term care settings, four new states and 165 remote respiratory therapists.
“We continue to strategically...
AARC releases videos to thank RTs
June 24, 2021HME News Staff
IRVING, Texas – The American Association of Respiratory Care has released a series of new videos, “Thank a Respiratory Therapist,” to help increase community awareness of the profession and highlight the essential role RTs have played in patient care during COVID-19 and beyond. “Like many health care professionals working on the front lines of the pandemic, respiratory therapists worked tirelessly and selflessly to help patients everywhere,” said Sheri Tooley, president...
Viemed sees patient uploads rebound in March
May 4, 2021HME News Staff
LAFAYETTE, La. – Viemed Healthcare reported net revenues for its core business were $25.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, a 12% increase compared to the same quarter last year.
Total revenues were $28.4 million, including $2.9 million for contract tracing services and product sales related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The first quarter will very likely be the quarter where things began to reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic and I am once again...
CQRC to subcommittee: Provide relief to preserve access
May 3, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Home respiratory care providers have played a crucial role amid the ongoing public health emergency and lawmakers should support policies that ensure long-term reimbursement stability in the market, the Council for Quality Respiratory Care stated in testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.
The CQRC submitted the testimony as part of a recent hearing on “The Long Haul: Forging a Path Through...
HHS extends PHE
April 20, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has extended the public health emergency for another 90 days.
The PHE, which was set to expire April 21, is now good through July 21. The PHE was initially declared on Jan. 31.
There are a number of HME-related provisions that are tied to the PHE, including Medicare’s 75/25 blended reimbursement rates for non-rural, non-competitive bidding areas, and waivers of...