I DON'T HAVE A COMMENT BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO HER ORIGINAL QUESTION! I AM TAKING CARE OF A 82 YR. OLD MAN WHO IS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY TO HELP HIM GET STRONGER TO PERFORM NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITIES. HE TOOK AN 8 MINUTE WALKING TEST AND WAS REJECTED ON RECEIVING PORTABLE OXYGEN. THE CLASS LASTS ONE HOUR - NOT 8 MINUTES! I HAVE A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING MEDICARES' REASONING. I WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF SO THAT HE CAN CONTINUE HIS PHYSICAL THERAPY - HOW DO I DO THAT?
What is her flow rate? The mini portable concentrators put out less than 1 liter per minute. In later COPD cases the need can be as high as 6 LPM and there is no practical way to do that with a small tank.
Rosepedal, If a patient desaturates on a six minute walk test, meaning he drops below 88%, good heavens, you do not want to put him through an hour of physical therapy routines.
DaughtersMom, what's the situation with your daughter? Does she have a stationary oxygen concentrator at home, provided by her insurance company, or by Medicaid? Typically that service would include a portable method for backup, previously the large heavy tank cylinders.
Have you asked the insurance company to switch to a more easily managed portable device, such as a portable concentrator? That would be the first step.
I AM TAKING CARE OF A 82 YR. OLD MAN WHO IS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY TO HELP HIM GET STRONGER TO PERFORM NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITIES. HE TOOK AN 8 MINUTE WALKING TEST AND WAS REJECTED ON RECEIVING PORTABLE OXYGEN. THE CLASS LASTS ONE HOUR - NOT 8 MINUTES! I HAVE A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING MEDICARES' REASONING. I WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF SO THAT HE CAN CONTINUE HIS PHYSICAL THERAPY - HOW DO I DO THAT?
Have you asked the insurance company to switch to a more easily managed portable device, such as a portable concentrator? That would be the first step.