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Weaver FM, Giobbie-Hurder AG, Hughes SL, Smith G, Kubal JD, Ulasevich A. Home medical equipment receipt in a home care appropriate population. Journal of aging and health. 1999 Nov 1; 11(4):494-516.
OBJECTIVES. This study examines home medical equipment (HME) receipt for 1,040 veterans considered appropriate for home health services. METHODS. HME receipt was monitored for 12 months using the Department of Veterans Affairs' Prosthetics database. RESULTS. Eighty-three percent received at least one item; averaging 7.4 items (SD = 6.8). The most common items included commodes/bath benches (9%), canes/walkers (7%), safety equipment (7%), liquid oxygen (6%), and wheelchairs (6%). Two functional status variables, home care use and race, correctly classified 69% of HME recipients. Logistic regressions were run for specific equipment; c-indices ranged from .64 to .75. Age, race, income, functional status, risk of hospital readmission, and home care use were significant predictors. DISCUSSION. HME accounted for $4.5 billion in sales (16% of total) for medical products in 1996. As the HME market continues to expand, the characteristics of HME recipients are necessary to project future HME needs in a growing, elderly population.