Ontario oxygen vendors shocked by lack of understanding of the Home Oxygen
Program by the Auditor General's Office
Foremost was the assessment that the HOP payment for the provision of an oxygen concentrator to Ontarians with chronic lung disease was for equipment rental only (as it is in some provinces). In fact the payment is for much more. For
- Home oxygen set up on the same day it is prescribed in order to expedite a patient's discharge from hospital - Emergency service with health care professionals and medical gas service technicians who are on call, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week - Client and family education and training programs and a client centered respiratory plan of care including how to use their equipment. These programs include in-home demonstrations, hands-on orientation, written instruction, videos and modality specific checklists - Emergency back-up systems for replacement 24 hours per day - Ongoing reports to the client's physician regarding their progress, and the vendor maintains records for each client - Technical service involving preventative maintenance set by manufacturers' recommendations, as well as general repair services
Within this amount vendors also provide a comprehensive equipment inventory to ensure the most appropriate equipment is being used to meet the needs of all clients. This includes the continual evaluation and offering of leading edge technologies (e.g. portable concentrators and liquid oxygen systems). Additionally, vendors must have access to a sophisticated communications system to minimize response time.
"The provision of home oxygen is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process and service," said Heather Nicolson-Morrison, CEO of OHRSA. "To compare it to simple purchasing and servicing of an oxygen concentrator shows the auditor's office does not understand the complexity of the service provided. Ontario's home oxygen providers don't simply drop a machine off at the client's door and leave."
Home oxygen therapy enables these very sick individuals to remain independent in their homes for
The Auditor's review also mistakenly challenges the periodic assessment of clients. Client reassessments are conducted at 3 and 12 months following therapy initiation which in fact saves money as it ensures that only clients needing chronic oxygen therapy are receiving continued funding. In fact the retesting saves an estimated
Patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) can be safely supported at home with oxygen and clinical support, at a cost of about
For further information: Heather Nicolson-Morrison, (519) 767-6580, [email protected]
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