Overview
If you’re recovering from an injury or medical condition, or if you’re living with certain diseases, your doctor might prescribe medical equipment that can improve your quality of life and help you do some of the tasks you could do before you were disabled. Common kinds of medical equipment can include mobility devices that help you move around, and implantable devices that work inside your body.
Some equipment is small enough that it can be taken with you from the doctor’s office or the medical equipment store where you obtain it. Other equipment is large or can’t be moved very easily. In these cases, you will need to have the equipment delivered to your home and set up there. Some examples of equipment that might need to be delivered and set up include:
- Mobility devices. Manual wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches don’t usually need delivery, but electric wheelchairs are much larger and heavier, and might require special setup.
- Implantable devices. Implantable devices like pacemakers or cochlear [KOK-lee-uhr] implants work inside your body and don’t need to be delivered. However, these devices might connect to other, heavier equipment that needs to be brought into the home and set up by an expert.
- Other devices. Ventilators are machines that help you breathe. They are often heavy or require special steps to get them working. A hospital bed is a special bed that might have mounting points for other medical equipment you need.
- Supplies. Some medical devices need supplies or replacement parts that can be delivered or shipped by mail to you if you can’t buy the parts in stores or if you can’t leave the house.
Your doctor will usually tell you if a device needs to be delivered and set up in your home. They might also refer you to an medical device specialist who can give you more information about:
- How to use your device.
- How to request home delivery and setup.
- Who to call for maintenance and repairs.
Things to Know
Your doctor, medical device specialist, and the person who delivers and sets up your equipment can give you information about the medical device being installed. They can teach you how to use the device and make any adjustments that are required.
Questions About the Device
Medical devices can be complicated, and the instructions might be hard to understand, so you should ask any questions you might have, such as:
- Is the device installed permanently or can it be moved?
- Who do I call if the device stops working?
- Are there any attachments or accessories I should keep with the device?
- Are there supplies used with the equipment that will need to be reordered?
- How often do I reorder supplies and who do I call to reorder?
Delivery, Setup, and Maintenance
You should keep some things in mind about the delivery and setup process:
- Delivery Time. The person who schedules your medical equipment delivery will contact you to arrange a time that works for you. If you have a caretaker or a family member who may be involved with your care, it is a good idea to invite them to be present when you are taught on the use of your equipment.
- Maintenance. The person who installs your medical device will review and test it to make sure it works, but you might need to have a maintenance specialist come back to check up on the device. You can call your equipment provider with any concerns or questions about equipment operation or problems. If you are renting your equipment, your medical equipment provider will also provide preventive maintenance according the schedule recommended by the manufacturer. Ask your medical device specialist how often this should happen.
- Repairs. Medical devices are built to be durable and reliable. However, like any other tool, they can stop working. Ask questions about what to do if the device fails. If you rely on the device to sustain your life, you will need to get emergency medical help if it breaks. Call 911.