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A Caregiver’s Guide to Bath Safety
Posted On: May 18, 2022 by Hart Medical Equipment in: Bathroom Safety
When you think of risky activities, using the bathroom, showering, or bathing is not usually at the top of the list. Bathrooms can be dangerous for everyone, but elderly people and people with limited mobility are at a greater risk of injuries, making the bathroom one of the most unsafe places in the house. As many accidents arise in the bathroom, we suggest caregivers inspect the bathroom for any potential hazards. Look for easy improvements that allow the bathroom to become a more comfortable and secure space for your patient. Continue reading if you want to learn more about bath safety. Bathroom Modifications As a caregiver, suggesting the most minor modifications can make a huge difference in someone's life. Grab bars are one of the best and simplest modifications that you can make to a bathroom. Grab bars can be installed both inside and outside of a shower. They allow for extra stability and security for the user when getting in and out of the shower or tub. InstallingRead More -
Tips for New Mom’s Preparing to Breastfeed
Posted On: April 20, 2022 by Hart Medical Equipment in: Breast Pump
Breastfeeding has so many wonderful benefits for both baby and mom. Breastfeeding allows many opportunities each day to bond with your baby, as well as set them up for success. It can be a lot of work for moms but very beneficial for your baby’s health and growth in the first few months of life. Here are some helpful tips to set yourself up for success when choosing to breastfeed. The 3 Stages of Breast Milk As you begin to prepare for breastfeeding, it is important to understand how your breast milk will change week by week to meet your newborn’s needs. 1. Colostrum The first type of breast milk is colostrum, present at the end of pregnancy and in the first few days after a baby is born. Colostrum is very important because it provides nutrients and antibodies to your newborn to fight infection. The amount of colostrum your body will make is small, but it gives your baby all the nutrients in that initial amount they need. 2. Transitional Milk Your transitionalRead More -
Demystifying Sleep Apnea and Your AHI Level
Posted On: March 16, 2022 by Hart Medical Equipment in: CPAP, General, Sleep Apnea, Wellness
If you live with obstructive sleep apnea, there is a lot you need to familiarize yourself with. You’re working to understand your sleep disorder, the equipment you need for treatment, and key terminology that could be critical to your health. One of the key elements to consider with obstructive sleep apnea is your Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI). If this is something you’ve never considered or heard of before, you aren’t alone. Hart Medical Equipment is here to help you understand the importance of AHI and how it impacts your sleep apnea treatment. What Is Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)? Obstructive sleep apnea causes your breathing to briefly cease during sleep; this pause in breathing is called an apnea event. Your apnea hypopnea index (AHI) measures how many of these events happen per hour during sleep. What Does My Apnea Hypopnea Index Score Mean? Simply put, the higher your apnea hypopnea index, the greater the severity ofRead More -
Pulse Oximeters - How to Use It Properly
Posted On: February 16, 2022 by Hart Medical Equipment in: Pulse Oximeter
If you’re a newbie to using a pulse oximeter device, then you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to use your pulse oximeter properly to better manage your health. Keep reading to learn how to use your pulse oximeter properly. What Does My Pulse Oximeter Do? Before we jump into explaining how to use the device, we will briefly discuss how the pulse oximeter works and what exactly it measures. A pulse oximeter is a device that you clip onto your finger that will measure the oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of the blood. The pulse oximeter uses an infrared light source and sensor to interpret the color of the blood via the amount of light absorbed. This produces a number which is the percentage of oxygen in the blood compared to the maximum account that can be carried. What Is Considered a Normal Oxygen Saturation Level? A normal oxygen saturation level falls in the range of 95% to 100%. If your percentage fallsRead More -
Common Signs of High Blood Pressure and How to Prevent Them
Posted On: January 19, 2022 by Hart Medical Equipment in: High Blood Pressure
One of the most dangerous things about having high blood pressure or hypertension is that you may not even know that you have it as one-third of people who have it do not realize that they do. This is because having high blood pressure does not come with any symptoms unless it is severe. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to go to your regular check-ups and find out. However, if you are interested in learning about the symptoms of severe high blood pressure, continue reading. Common Symptoms If your blood pressure is extremely high, you might experience a few different symptoms. Those symptoms could include severe headaches, nosebleeds, fatigue, confusion or even vision problems. Other symptoms can include chest pain, difficulty breathing, an irregular heartbeat, blood in your urine, or pounding in your chest, neck or ears. WhenRead More -
Caring for the Elderly: What New Caregivers Should Know
Posted On: December 1, 2021 by Hart Medical Equipment in: Caregivers, Elderly, General, Safety, Technology, Wellness
Caring for the Elderly: What New Caregivers Should Know Approximately 40.4 million adults in the United States are caregivers to seniors aged 65 and older, according to Pew Research. Among these 40.4 million, 61% are employed, with over half working their own full-time jobs. Additionally, one in five caregivers claims they administer care on a daily basis. Given this overload of obligations, new caregivers need to know how to juggle their responsibilities so that they can administer care effectively. To help, we’ve provided a few tips new caregivers can use. Know your responsibilities Though the unexpected is always bound to happen, you can reduce stress significantly by giving yourself a clear idea of what you need to do daily. Go into each day prepared by listing down any responsibilities you may have to oversee. Some responsibilities caregivers will likely have include meal preparation, housekeeping, and bathing. You may also have toRead More -
How often should you replace your CPAP supplies?
Posted On: November 17, 2021 by Hart Medical Equipment in: CPAP, Sleep Apnea
How often should you replace your CPAP supplies? If you use a CPAP or BiPAP for sleep apnea therapy each night, you should be eligible for free replacement supplies through your insurance. It’s important to inspect and replace your CPAP/BiPAP supplies as often as needed to ensure a proper fit, comfort, and cleanliness. Note: the following are the industry standard recommendations which many, but not all, insurances follow. Please be sure to check with your insurance to verify how frequently you are eligible to replace your supplies! Mask Cushions / Pillows Nasal mask cushions or nasal pillows should be replaced every 14 days. If you have a full face mask, that should be replaced every month. Mask Frame Every 3 months is when you will want to replace your mask frame system. This allows your treatment to remain comfortable. Mask Headgear Every 6 months, you should replace your mask headgear. You may feel youRead More -
National Crutch Shortage - Our Response
Posted On: October 21, 2021 by Hart Medical Equipment in: Company, Hart Serves, Wellness
Due to a national shortage of crutches, Hart Medical is accepting donations of new or gently used adult crutches to refurbish and provide to our local, partner health systems in need. If you have a pair of new or gently used adult regular or universal crutches, we are asking you to consider donating them to be used for those in need at our local health system locations. Hart Medical Equipment will be facilitating the donations by receiving, cleaning, sanitizing and refurbishing the crutches, then providing them directly to the hospitals and medical centers at no charge. Crutches can be dropped off at any of Hart Medical Equipment's locations across Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Visit hartmedical.org/locations to find the location nearest you.Read More -
A Checklist for Breast Cancer Survivor Care
Posted On: October 20, 2021 by Hart Medical Equipment in: Mastectomy
Having breast cancer and choosing to get mastectomy surgery can be scary in itself; however, not knowing what to expect after might be scary for you as well. You might not know what kind of pain you will be in or what you need to make your recovery as easy as possible. Below are some things that you may want to have ready for after your surgery to make sure you can have a speedy and comfortable recovery. Front Closure Bra with Good Compression Getting a bra hooked behind you is not always easy but after you have a mastectomy, it can present itself as a bigger issue as it can be uncomfortable or even dangerous since you have drains, ports and/or incisions that are still healing. Therefore, having a front closure bra after your mastectomy is ideal as it will not cause any extra discomfort or pain. Hooking a bra inRead More -
Oxygen Therapy – Pulse Dose vs. Continuous Flow
Posted On: September 15, 2021 by Hart Medical Equipment in: Oxygen
Each respiratory patient has different criteria for what they need from their oxygen equipment and concentrators. When it comes to oxygen delivery, two methods are considered the standard: Pulse Dose Continuous Flow Each of these delivery methods has its purpose and benefits, so how do you know which oxygen delivery method is right for you? At Hart Medical, we are driven by service excellence and our goal is to work with you and your doctor to find the right oxygen equipment to meet your needs. Part of that responsibility is making sure you understand the benefits of each type of oxygen delivery system. What is Pulse Dose Delivery? Pulse dose oxygen delivery is customized to the way you breathe, it is breath initiate and how fast the oxygen is delivered is based on how often you breathe. This ensures that no oxygen is wasted and that you are only using the oxygen as you need it. Pulse dose delivery concentrators are a great option for time spent outside theRead More
