HME Donations for Haiti Keep Coming

ARLINGTON, Va.—HME providers across the United States are
donating truckloads of durable medical equipment to the people of
Haiti, according to a report from the American
Association for Homecare.

“Because the health care infrastructure was destroyed,” said
Tyler Wilson, AAHomecare president and CEO, “the need for supplies
and funds in Haiti will continue long after the earthquake fades
from the daily news.”

The association said its members aren’t forgetting,
donating equipment and supplies ranging from beds and commodes to
wheelchairs and oxygen concentrators. Kinetic Concepts has donated
more than $2 million in wound care supplies, and Smith & Nephew
has donated more than $2 million in medical equipment, the report
said. Invacare has donated wheelchairs, walkers and other
equipment.

A number of state associations have also organized donation
efforts.

The New England Medical Equipment Dealers Association is working
with the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., on
behalf of Partners in Health and Mission of Hope in Grand Goave,
Haiti, which operates an orphanage for approximately 40 children as
well as a number of schools and churches.

The Association of Indiana Home Medical Equipment Services
contacted their members of Congress to offer assistance with the
state’s relief effort.

Premier Home Care in Louisville, Ky., has partnered with
non-profit G.O. Ministries to provide medical care, food and
shelter. Premier is donating equipment and also is working with
physicians and local businesses to obtain medical supplies and
non-perishable items to send directly to the earthquake-shattered
nation.

One of the initiatives being coordinated by the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center Home Medical Equipment is a drive to
collect used walkers, wheelchairs and crutches to be shipped to
Haiti. An earlier UPMC rescue mission resulted in transportation of
53 children from an orphanage in Port au Prince to Pittsburgh,
where they were taken to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of
UPMC for evaluation and treatment.

Raymond Arthurs, owner of First Care Medical Supplies in New
Jersey, worked with the Jersey Association of Medical Equipment
Suppliers to collect 15 van loads of wheelchairs, walkers,
commodes, oxygen concentrators, gauze, bandages and clothing. The
donations from JAMES members are being taken to the Coalition for
Haitian American Empowerment of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, which
is organizing transportation of the donations.

Collection points for medical equipment have also been set up in
South Florida by the Florida Alliance of Home Care Services and the
Accredited Medical Equipment Providers of America. The groups have
secured donated warehouse space in North Miami-Dade and South
Broward counties and are working with medical missions and other
non-profit entities to collect home medical equipment and find the
proper groups to distribute it.

Equipment in the Florida effort can be dropped off at City
Medical Services, 20815 NE 16th Ave., Unit B-34, North Miami Beach,
FL 33179.