Home-based Healthcare Care Growth Spurs Need for DME Logistics

By Tom Chick, Vice President National Accounts

Technical Transportation, Inc

Sparked by an aging population and fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for at-home healthcare is increasing across the United States. With this trend comes the need for more durable medical equipment (DME) and other medical devices inside the home – and efficient logistics services to deliver and install that equipment.

A recent Forbes article quotes several studies and sources detailing this trend, saying, “10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 years old every day, and by 2030, 18% of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older (compared to 13% today). This will create a growing appetite for solutions that enable older adults to age in place.”

Modern Durable Medical Equipment

DME is typically found in home healthcare settings and typically includes hospital beds, canes, walkers and other mobility solutions to assist with at-home care. As technology evolves, more complex equipment such as kidney dialysis machines are making their way into home care as well.

DME is typically found in home healthcare settings and typically includes hospital beds, canes, walkers and other mobility solutions to assist with at-home care. As technology evolves, more complex equipment such as kidney dialysis machines are making their way into home care as well.

Thus, the need for specialized logistics services and expertise comes into play, as this expensive equipment will require enhanced care, handling and setup to function properly in varied settings. Even hospital beds today require more careful logistics than they have in the past.

Providing Specialized Medical Logistics

For medical device and DME manufacturers and providers, getting this equipment into homes, especially in rural or hard-to-reach areas, can be challenging and may require specialized logistics and supply chain help. These manufacturers should consider third- party logistics (3PL) providers that:

• Are experienced in the healthcare industry. Your 3PL should understand the intricacies of working in various types of healthcare environments. This will reduce any learning curves and potential mistakes that could be both inconvenient and costly.
• Have a higher skillset and more professionalism than a general labor force. Especially with concerns around COVID-19, having a professional, uniformed delivery team can make a big difference in customer comfort and confidence. This can also be a competitive advantage for companies looking to differentiate themselves with the end consumer.
• Provide a good customer experience and satisfaction. Field teams should have full understanding of the DME or medical devices being delivered, and be able to answer the end-user’s questions at any and every stage of the delivery and setup process.
• Have complete US coverage in their delivery and setup services. More rural or outlying communities will be the ones most likely to require DME and home health equipment, compared to consumers who live closer to more populated areas that have widespread medical facilities and services.
• Manage inventory reconciliation and returns. Teams that can offer an organized and efficient process for returns or account reconciliations are a value-add for manufacturers looking to create an excellent experience for the end user.
• Incorporate a spare parts program that has a nationwide reach. Having local, expedited access to repair parts for home-based equipment adds another layer of customer service to a manufacturer’s program. As part of this program, an ideal logistics partner would procure and manage a parts storage location in a strategic location to hold spare replacement parts, special sub-assemblies, hardware kits and critical tools for fast deployment.

If you’re a DME or medical device manufacturer looking to serve home-based healthcare environments, we can help you create a logistics plan to make it happen efficiently. Contact us today.