The Pulmonary Press

MedGroup
December 2010

Happy Holidays
We wish you twinkling lights, and light snows,
A home alive with cookie smells,
A child to play with,
A dog to pet,
And the hope of answered prayers.

The Six-Second Quieting Response


When you feel tense, annoyed, or upset—recognize the beginning of a negative reaction to stress. As soon as you recognize these feelings are getting started, make yourself smile and imagine that your eyes are sparkling. A smiling face can’t send negative signals to your brain. If you are in a situation where smiling outwardly would be inappropriate, you can always smile inwardly.  You certainly can keep yourself from frowning.  In order to counteract the negative thoughts and perceptions that contribute to stress, say to yourself, “Alert, amused mind; calm body. I am on top of this situation.”

Take two slow, deep breaths, counting to four each time you inhale or exhale. Imagine the air slowly filling your lungs from the bottom to the top. As you exhale, keep your jaw loose and relaxed, your tongue resting on the lower part of your jaw, and your shoulders limp and relaxed. Imagine a wave of warmth and heaviness flowing from your head to your toes and relaxing every muscle in your body. Say to yourself, “I can allow myself to relax and handle this situation better.”  From Dr. Charles Stroebel, The Six-Second Quieting Response

Medicare put oxygen, wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, walkers and other ‘durable medical equipment’ out to bid in nine cities (Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh and Riverside) with expansion of the same program into 91 additional cities next year.

A limited number of medical providers in each city are now contracted to provide these products after January 1, 2011.  A staggering 93% of local providers were NOT awarded contracts, and it is estimated that 39% of all suppliers in a competitive bidding area will likely go out of business.

If you live in one of the above named cities, and have Original Medicare coverage, in most cases, only contract suppliers can provide you items included in the program in order for Medicare to pay for these products.

Secret Santas Invade Petersen Medical!

This year Petersen Medical's service has ranged from donating supplies to young pregnant mothers, cutting material to make bears for abused children, sponsoring wheelchair races for Camp Kostopulos and rubber ducky races for the Make-a-Wish Foundation to helping individual families with medical hardships.

Each time, we asked our employees to donate time, talent, and energy to assist with these causes.  And, the response of the employees was heartwarming.  It was great to see how many embraced our core value "Serve Others First".

The Pulmonary Press

MedGroup

November 2010

Myths and Truths about Oxygen

Myth: Once you start using oxygen, you’ll need it for the rest of your life.
Truth: Many people have discontinued oxygen use after other appropriate treatments have taken effect. This can take time, though.

Myth: Oxygen is addictive.
Truth: Oxygen is NOT addictive.

Myth: If I have a stuffy nose, I shouldn’t bother using my nasal cannula.
Truth: Oxygen can still be delivered even if you have a stuffy nose.

Myth: People who need oxygen must be confined to their homes and cannot do anything, including travel.
Truth: People who use oxygen can lead a normal life. There are several types of portable oxygen systems available that allow people to be more active and mobile. Oxygen can improve exercise capacity. People who use oxygen can travel with advanced planning.

Co-Morbidities of Sleep Apnea

Graph courtesy of ResMed website showing the co-morbidities of sleep apnea by percent of patients showing both Sleep Apnea and a comorbidity.





Petersen Medical is committed to effective treatment in the home setting for our patients. We strive to find low cost in-home solutions for our patients. Due to the wide array of products we offer, and through the continuum of care we provide, we see first hand the effects of co-morbidities pertaining to obstructive  sleep apnea.

The Pulmonary Press

MedGroup
October 2011

Oxygen Fire Safety

Oxygen does not explode, but it does support combustion. That means anything that would normally smolder or be difficult to ignite will burn easily when extra oxygen is available. Be careful around stoves, and never, ever smoke when using your oxygen.

What to do Before a Fire Occurs . . .

• Have you given thought to how you would get out of a burning apartment or home?  Identify and determine the nearest emergency exit or exits within your home.  It is important to always know the safest and quickest exit from any location you are in and it should always be based on your physical capabilities.

• Install heat or smoke detectors throughout your home.  Key locations for smoke alarms are: the kitchen, basement, storage areas, trash areas, accessible attics, sleeping areas and hallways.  Please note that there are various types of smoke alarms.  Heat and smoke detectors can reduce the chance of dying in a home fire by approximately 60%.  It is important to make sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly.  Make sure all smoke alarms are kept cleaned and vacuumed regularly to remove dust particles.  In addition to this, you should test the batteries monthly and replace batteries at least once a year to ensure that they are working properly. If you are unable to perform these tasks yourself, ask your friends, family members, building managers, or someone from the fire department to help you out.

Join Forces with Petersen Medical to Support Jonas and Maggie

Thank Goodness for Social Networking!

Facebook posts by two friends brought some a very special family into our lives at Petersen Medical—the Coleman family. The posts discussed a recent news report they had seen on KSL.  The story was about a family who has two children that have been diagnosed with a genetic disorder call Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Type 1.  SMA Type 1 is the most severe form of the disease and is terminal; most afflicted by this disorder die by the age of 2.  SMA results in the loss of nerves in the spinal cord and weakness of the muscles connected with those nerves.

Meet Maggie and Jonas

OVERLAP Opportunity

Respiratory & Sleep Management
Volume 5 Number 7

September 2010

By Janis Rizzuto

Serving patients who need both PAP equipment and oxygen is a strong way to expand business. Are you doing enough to diagnose and treat this population?

The term “overlap syndrome” was coined in 1985 to describe patients who have both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea. Since then, it has been recognized that the co-existence of COPD and OSA is associated with increased morbidity.

Estimates of the incidence of overlap syndrome depend on how one looks at it. The clinical literature suggests that about 10 percent of OSA patients have some degree of COPD, and between 20 percent to 40 percent of COPD patients have some degree of sleep-disordered breathing, according to Ann Tisthammer, BS, RRT, vice president of clinical education and training at ResMed, San Diego.

Either way, respiratory therapists report that they encounter overlap patients in their work for HME businesses, and that the population benefits from using two technologies, positive airway pressure devices and oxygen equipment. Ricky Hubbard, CRT, respiratory manager at Zurcare LLC in Ridgeland, Miss., says this group of patients is unique. “They tend to be more compliant with their treatment because their condition is more involved than a typical CPAP patient,” he says. “They realize there could be more consequences if they are not compliant, and the consequences may be more severe than if they were just an OSA patient.” Zurcare has a program to monitor compliance with regular data downloads and some wireless technology.

However, Hubbard says that only about 5 percent of Zurcare’s patients have overlap syndrome. He says they typically start out receiving sleep therapy, and then oxygen is added when desaturation is discovered via an overnight oximetry study. Few patients come onboard with orders for PAP and oxygen equipment at the same time, he says.

The Pulmonary Press

MedGroup
Volume 2, Issue 1, September 2010

Prescription Errors

Electronic prescriptions significantly reduce medication errors according to a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Researchers compared the number and severity of prescription errors between 15 health care providers who adopted e-prescribing and 15 who continued to write prescriptions by hand. A review of the paper-based prescriptions and electronic prescriptions found that one year after adopting e-prescribing, the percentage of errors dropped from 42.5% to 6.6% for the providers using the electronic system. For those who continued to write prescriptions by hand, the percentage of errors increased slightly from 37.3% to 38.4%. Illegibility problems were completely eliminated by e-prescribing.

Real-Time Health Management Through Text Messaging

When Dr. Jennifer Dyer, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Ohio State University, discovered that 2.5 billion text messages are sent each day in the US and that calling plans of roughly 75 percent of teens have unlimited text messaging, she decided to try to harness the power of text messaging for her teen diabetics.

According to an article in The Suncoast News, Dr. Dyer, who is also an endocrinologist at the Nationwide Children's Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio, conducted a study on the effects of weekly customized text messages to her teen diabetics.

"Every Time There Is Change, There Is Opportunity"

HMENews, page 8
August 2010

THE UTAH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT DEALERS ASSOCIATION (UTMED) held its annual conference in May at the Embassy Suites in Salt Lake City. One of the hot topics at the conference:  competitive bidding. Panel speaker Rich McKeown, president and CEO of Leavitt Partners and chief of staff for former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, said of the program:  "The train has left the station.  I have no doubt that competitive bidding is here to stay.  There will be some that will adapt and thrive in this new structure and some will just go away.  Every time there is change, there is opportunity."

The Pulmonary Press

MedGroup
Volume 1, Issue 1, August 2010

COPD Awareness Improves,  But Work Still Needs To Be Done

Awareness of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is still low, but it’s improving. That’s the take-home message from a survey conducted in 2009 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). According to the government agency, 68% of adults are now aware of COPD, up from 64% in 2008 and just 49% in 2004. Awareness among current smokers rose from 69% in 2008 to 74% in 2009.

Less than half of all adults, however — just 44% — understood that the COPD can be treated. Physicians maintained a more optimistic view, with approximately nine out of 10 primary care physicians agreeing that available treatments can optimize quality of life for their patients with COPD.

“Awareness is an important first step,” says James P. Kiley, PhD, director of the NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases. “However, awareness alone is not enough. People at risk of developing the disease need to know what the disease looks and feels like, and most importantly, to understand that it can be treated. The key is to get tested and start treatment as soon as possible.”

Petersen Medical — A Proud Sponsor of Camp Kostopulous

Saturday, July 10th, 2010, was the first annual Wasatch Wheelchair Rally held at beautiful Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. This event was organized to raise funds for Camp Kostopulos' year-round adaptive recreation programs and activities for more than one thousand youth and adults with physical and mental disabilities.

Petersen Medical not only had the opportunity to participate as a sponsor for this great event, but also sent volunteers to answer mobility questions and inspect wheelchairs for spectators and race participants.

We even provided free water!

It was great to participate in the support of such a great cause.  Several employees brought their children to help.  What a great way to promote acceptance and understanding for people with special needs.

Petersen Medical Employees Cut 120 Bear Kits for the Utah Children's Justice Center.

At Petersen Medical, one of our core values is “serving others first”. As part of that value and our commitment to serve the community, we have committed to participating in at least one service project each month.

For April, our service was focused on the Utah Children’s Justice Centers and the teddy bears provided to children who have been abused.  The bears are donated by a volunteer group called the “Teddy Bear Ladies”

Utah’s Children’s Justice Centers provide a child-friendly atmosphere designed to help children feel safe and comfortable while they are being interviewed regarding alleged abuse.

Petersen Medical Employees Stock Anna's Treasures for Young Pregnant Women

The Pregnancy Resource Center is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to helping those unprepared for pregnancy. They help young women learn about their pregnancy options and help them through difficult times. One of the services they provide is called Anna's Treasures. Anna's Treasures is their baby boutique filled with baby items to help those in need. Young mothers earn Mommy Dollars by attending parenting classes. These dollars can be spent in the baby boutique on items that they need. They carry maternity clothes, layettes, and infant and toddler clothes.  Other items they offer include diapers, baby wipes, baby bottles, nursing needs, formula, baby furniture, new car seats and toys.