What Pro2 is Up2

What is the Lung Flute?

The Lung Flute is a device used to help loosen, mobilize, and eliminate secretions from your airways. It consists of a mouthpiece and a reed inside a horn.

How the Lung Flute Works:

When you blow gently into the Lung Flute in a series of repetitions, your breath moves the reed inside. This causes acoustic vibrations, which thin and loosen secretions deep in your lungs and result in the secretions moving progressively up your airways until they collect at the back of your throat.

In many chronic conditions there is a build-up of secretions in the airways. Bronchial hygiene therapy with the Lung Flute can help clear these secretions so they can be swallowed or coughed up.

It's important for both physicians and patients to understand the documentation requirements for ordering Durable Medical Equipment. These requirements have become more stringent, resulting in an increase in claim denials. If a claim is denied, the patient may have to assume financial responsibility or return the equipment to the supplier.

Our goal is to help physicians better understand the documentation requirements to ensure patients get the equipment and services they need. The following information should be documented in the patient’s medical record prior to ordering durable medical equipment:

- Duration of patient’s condition
- Clinical course
- Prognosis
- Nature and extent of functional limitations
- Other therapeutic interventions and results

The following items should also be addressed in the patient’s medical record:

- Why does the patient require the item?
- Do the physical examination findings support the need for the item?
- Signs and symptoms that indicate the need for the item
- Diagnoses that are responsible for the signs and symptoms
- Other diagnoses that may relate to the need for the item

If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact Pro2 at 716-667-9600.

Deductible Renewals:
With 2014 nearing, we wanted to take this opportunity to address an important insurance issue that a new calendar year always brings. Whether you have an individual or employer-sponsored Health Insurance plan, there are certain things to keep in mind as we close out 2013.

There are many qualifications and limitations regarding what health insurance covers and to what extent. Certain requirements must be satisfied before the insurance company will begin paying benefits. A deductible is a fixed dollar amount the policy holder must pay out-of-pocket for eligible services before the insurance company will make payment on covered medical expenses. [For example, if your policy has a $500.00 deductible, you must pay $500.00 worth of healthcare expenses before your insurance will start paying out.]

For most policies, the medical plan’s deductible is based on a calendar year regardless of when your coverage became effective. All calendar year deductibles will therefore be renewed on January 1, 2014. If you are unsure about your policy, please contact your insurance carrier for more information.

Update Your Information:
We're dedicated to providing the highest quality products, equipment, and services to our customers. In order to do so, we rely not only on our tremendous staff, but also on the very patients that we service. It's extremely important that you keep your account with us updated.

Insurance Policy: It’s always a good idea to keep yourself as informed as possible when it comes to your insurance policy. It’s just as important to keep our office up-to-date on any changes that may take place. Many insurance policies renew, change, or terminate at the end of the year. This could mean changes in your financial responsibility as it relates to our products and services.

Contact Information: The quality of our service also relies on being able to communicate with our customers. Any change in your address or phone number (temporary or permanent) should be reported to our office as soon as possible to avoid potential issues with deliveries, billing, etc.

Payment Information: Please keep our Billing Office notified of any changes in your billing information. This includes billing address changes, new debit/credit card information (new card number, expiration date and/or security code), and new bank information.

The holidays are approaching quickly. Here are some things to keep in mind for our oxygen patients and their loved ones.

Hydration & Moisture
Be sure to keep yourself hydrated. The best thing for helping to move mucus is to drink plenty of water. And as the furnace kicks on more, be sure to monitor yourself and not let your nasal passages dry out. This could cause a nose bleed.

Patients using blood thinners may require extra humidification at this time of year. First, start with an over-the-counter saline mist to use several times per day. Next, add a room humidifier to moisten the air. If you try these and you're still dry, call us so we can set up a humidifier directly to your oxygen concentrator. These humidifiers require some education but they will definitely help when all else has failed.

Safety
Our first goal is always safety. When oxygen is used not all of the oxygen goes in to your respiratory cavity; it also gently spills out onto your clothes, hair, chair, bedding, etc. making you and your immediate surroundings easier to start on fire.

Oxygen does not combust, but it does make something burn better. So please do not stand near a fireplace or put tubing or equipment within 10 feet of a space heater, fireplace, or even a candle. And absolutely no smoking with oxygen in use! Remember that you and your loved ones burn better while using oxygen.

Travel
If you’re traveling this holiday season to be with family, friends, and loved ones, call us to help with arrangements or answer any questions you may have. Remember that the airlines now require letters signed by your primary care physician stating the need for oxygen in order to travel with it.

At Pro2, we want to make sure that your home medical treatment is done conveniently and safely. Many of our client/patients are limited in strength or unsteady on their feet. Some are wheelchair or bed-bound. Here are some some easy and helpful tips on how to make the home safe for home care.

Fire Safety and Prevention:

- Smoke detectors should be installed in your home. Make sure to check the batteries at least once a year.
- If appropriate, you may consider carbon monoxide detectors as well. Ask your local fire department if you should have one in your home.
- Have a fire extinguisher in your home and have it tested regularly to make sure it is still charged and in working order.
- Have a plan for escape in the event of a fire. Discuss this plan with your family.
- If you use oxygen in your home, make sure you understand the hazards of smoking near oxygen. Review the precautions. If you aren't sure, ask your oxygen provider what they are.
- If you are using electrical medical equipment, make sure to review the instruction sheets for that equipment. Read the section on electrical safety.

Electrical Safety:

- Make sure that all medical equipment is plugged into a properly grounded electrical outlet.
- If you have to use a three-prong adapter, make sure it is properly installed by attaching the ground wire to the plug outlet screw.
- Use only good quality outlet extenders or power strips with internal circuit breakers. Don't use cheap extension cords.