Home Medical Equipment and Supplies

A Guide for Families of Children with chILD

Caring for a child with interstitial lung disease often means using medical equipment at home. This guide will help you understand what durable medical equipment (DME) is, how to choose a homecare company, what to expect, and how to prepare your home for your child’s care.

What Is Durable Medical Equipment?

Durable medical equipment, or DME, refers to medical supplies and equipment that are designed to be used repeatedly over time. These items help manage your child’s medical condition at home. DME is prescribed by your child’s doctor and is usually provided by a homecare or DME company.

Common types of DME for children with chILD include:

• Oxygen equipment: Oxygen concentrators, portable oxygen tanks, oxygen tubing, nasal cannulas, and oxygen masks
• Monitoring equipment: Pulse oximeters to check oxygen levels and heart rate monitors
• Nebulizer machines: Devices that turn liquid medicine into a mist for breathing treatments
• Suction machines: Equipment to help clear mucus from the airways
• Airway clearance devices: Vest therapy systems or other devices that help loosen and clear mucus
• Ventilators or positive pressure machines: Devices that help with breathing, such as BiPAP or CPAP machines
• Feeding tube supplies: Tubes, syringes, formula, and other supplies for children who need help with nutrition
• Apnea monitors: Devices that alert you if your baby stops breathing
• Humidifiers: Equipment to add moisture to the air or oxygen

Your child may need some or all of these supplies depending on their specific condition and needs. Your medical team will determine which equipment is necessary and write prescriptions for the homecare company.

Choosing a Homecare Company

A homecare or DME company is responsible for providing, delivering, and servicing your child’s medical equipment. The company you use depends on several factors including where you live, your child’s insurance coverage, and whether the company has experience caring for children.

In some areas, there may only be one homecare company that stocks equipment for babies and young children. In other areas, you might have several options. Your child’s medical team, hospital social worker, or case manager can help you find companies that serve your area and accept your insurance.

Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Homecare Company

About Their Experience:

• Are they licensed to care for pediatric patients?
• Do they carry pediatric-specific equipment (smaller oxygen cannulas, masks, and tubing)?
• Do they have 24/7 emergency supply availability?

About Delivery and Training:

• Will a trained provider (respiratory therapist or nurse) teach you how to use and clean the equipment?
• Will they make home visits to set up equipment?

About Insurance and Costs:

• Do they accept your child’s insurance?
• Will they help you understand your coverage and handle insurance paperwork?

What to Do If Your DME Company Doesn’t Have Pediatric Products

Adult-sized equipment often doesn’t work well or safely for babies and young children. If your DME company can’t provide pediatric supplies:

1. Advocate directly — explain that your child needs equipment designed for their age and size
2. Get your medical team involved — ask your pulmonologist or respiratory therapist to call and specify what’s needed
3. Request a different DME company — ask your insurance for a list of other approved providers
4. Document everything — keep records of all conversations, dates, and names
5. File an appeal — if needed, file a grievance with your insurance company
6. Seek pediatric-focused companies — ask your child’s care team if they know of pediatric-specialized DME companies nearby

Remember: You are your child’s best advocate. Don’t accept adult equipment for a baby or young child. Keep pushing until your child gets the right supplies for their age and size.

Preparing Your Home

Before your child comes home with medical equipment, your medical team and homecare company will work with you to make sure your home is ready:

• Do you have enough electrical outlets and reliable power?
• Is there enough space to store equipment and supplies?
• Do you have a backup plan for power outages? (Some families need generators for life-sustaining equipment)
• Have you contacted your electric company to let them know your child depends on medical equipment?

Important: Contact your electric, gas, water, and phone companies to let them know your child relies on medical equipment at home. Many utility companies will prioritize these homes during power outages.

Organizing Your Supplies

Create a system to track what you have and what you need:

• Keep a supply list with item names, how often to replace, and how to reorder
• Maintain an up-to-date medication list with doses, what each is for, and your pharmacy’s contact info
• Order refills when you’re about halfway through your current supply — don’t wait until you run out

Questions to Ask Your Medical Team

• What specific equipment and supplies will my child need at home?
• Which homecare companies do you recommend?
• How often does equipment need to be cleaned or replaced?
• What should we do if equipment stops working?
• Do we need backup equipment or a power backup plan?

Glossary

BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) — A breathing support machine that delivers two different air pressure levels through a mask to help keep airways open.

DME (Durable Medical Equipment) — Medical equipment prescribed by a doctor designed for repeated home use. Examples: oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, pulse oximeters.

Nasal Cannula — A lightweight tube with two small prongs that fit just inside the nostrils to deliver supplemental oxygen. Comes in infant, pediatric, and adult sizes.

Nebulizer — A machine that converts liquid medication into a mist that can be inhaled into the lungs.

Oxygen Concentrator — An electrical device that pulls oxygen from room air and delivers a concentrated stream to the patient.

Pulse Oximeter — A small device (often clipped to a finger or foot) that measures the percentage of oxygen in the blood and heart rate.

Respiratory Therapist (RT) — A licensed healthcare professional specializing in breathing care. RTs often provide training on home respiratory equipment.

SpO₂ (Oxygen Saturation) — The percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is carrying oxygen, measured by a pulse oximeter.

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This information is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for the medical advice of your child’s healthcare provider.