They told us it is inconvenient to have to then call in and place the order.

Well, we heard you and we’ve just reduced the minimum amount to $100.  This should help most of you out who want to place your orders directly through our site.

But the catch was, they had no supplies; everything needed to be donated. And they were leaving on Saturday…just 4 days later.

Well, we went into high gear-stripping our warehouse of the types of supplies for which the Haitians were desperate. We packed a pallet full of syringes, needles, bandages, blood pressure cuffs for adults and children, gloves, masks and a lot more.

The pallet is now waiting to be shipped in a hurry to Florida to meet the Doctors. If we can make a difference in just one life then it is very much worth the cost and effort.

Watch the local news coverage of our efforts from WOAI, a local NBC affiliate:

So if you are looking to buy a hospital bed for your home or for a loved one, this article is a great place to get started.

Here’s a sneak peek:

If you’ve been in the hospital for any length of time, there is the possibility that your doctor will recommend you purchase a hospital bed for your home. Or you may have a medical condition that requires a bed with more features than your regular bed can deliver.

So now you need to find a hospital bed for home use. And believe me, it can get quite confusing.

Each bed has its own particular features. Some beds have a few and some have many. And unless you choose carefully, you may end up buying a hospital bed with a lot of features you don’t need which will end up costing you a lot more.

So here are some basics to help you get started:

Manual vs. Electric: Manual beds cost less and if you don’t need electric, this is a good way to save some money. But you have to keep in mind that you or your caretaker will be the one who has to…

Click here to read the rest!

UMF Exam Table - Model 5240

We just got in a UMF Exam Table to our warehouse.  Now this exam table is in amazing condition.  It’s just been at a convention as a demo unit for 2 days. Well, of course we can’t sell it as if it were brand new so now’s your chance to get this exam table at an amazing price. Model – 5240 Quantity – 1 Price – $1288.00 If you’re interested, here are all the specs: Product description: The updated design of UMF’s new 5240 examination table offers flexibility of room layout with the reversible drawer configuration, eliminating having to choose a right or left handed table. UMF has maintained the important features of the original Signature Series table, including fully articulating back section, all-steel footrest, quiet roller bearing drawer glides and more. Product Features:

• Ultra Comfort Top (vacuum formed and seamless)
• Easy-glide comfort stirrups offer 3 lateral positions: 22, 32 and 42 degrees
• Upholstered removable leg rest
• Pull-out all steel non-slip step (7″ high)
• Paper roll holder
• Plastic 9″ x 9″ drip pan
• Paper roll storage tray
• Two front storage drawers
• Two large side storage drawers (reversible)
• Owner’s manual
• No electrical outlet

Specifications:

• Two front drawers: 19″ W x 16″ D x 4.25″ H
• Two side drawers: 19″ W x 16″ D x 7″ H
• Overall width: 27″
• Length range: 58.5″ to 77.5″
• Overall height: 31.75″
• Plastic 9″ x 9″ drip pan
• Pull-out all steel non-slip step (7″ high)
• Weight capacity: 500 lbs

Aria Bat Phone to Get This Deal: 800-335-3591

So here’s a handy checklist for you.  Hopefully it will make your life a lot easier!  But if you really want to sit back and relax, give us a call.  We can get you everything you need in one, short call!

So call us at 800-330-3591 to experience old fashioned customer service.  You know, the kind where you’re call is answered by an actual person.

We value your business and during normal business hours, a live person answers every call.  And, you’ll talk to a product consultant located right here in San Antonio, Texas!

So give us a call and experience the Aria difference.

Refurbished HP Codemaster XL Defibrillator

Wow…this is a fantastic deal!  We want to sell some AEDs and Defibrillators so we’re offering you a deal you can’t refuse!

We will beat ANY quote you have on any AED or Defibrillator we have in stock.  And on top of that…we’ll ship it to you anywhere in the U.S. or Canada for FREE!

So what are you waiting for?  If you need an AED or defibrillator, now’s the time.

Call us at 800-330-3591 and one of our product consultants can help you get the lowest price of the season!

And don’t forget: During normal business hours, all calls are answered by a live person.  None of that annoying recorded voice happening here!

Click here for AEDs

Click Here for Defibrillators

Oh…and if you don’t see an item you want on our site…we can still get it for you.  Just ask!

But don’t despair.  You can get that bed you want…and need.  The easy solution is buying a used hospital bed.  Now don’t automatically say no to the idea.  Used hospital beds are not the same as used regular beds.  Basically, you would be buying the mechanism of the bed…the shell, if you will. Just add a brand new mattress and you’re good to go!

And if you’re thinking that you may not get the exact bed you want…that you’ll have more choices if you buy new, think again.  Once you start shopping for your used or refurbished hospital bed, you’ll soon discover you can find almost any brand and model you want.

Buying used versus new can easily save you tens of thousands of dollars.  Now keep in mind, this is for hospital beds…the type of beds that are actually used in health care facilities.  A home care bed will cost you a lot less but if you need all the features a full-fledged hospital bed has then looking at refurbished models is a must.

In fact, you may be able to afford a bed with more features if you buy a refurbished one.  Maybe you can upgrade from a manual bed to an electric one.  This is really crucial if you don’t have a caregiver or if the caregiver isn’t up to the task of operating a manual hospital bed.

So before you make up your mind, why not take some time to look at all of your options?  Because if you decide on buying a used hospital bed as opposed to a new one, you’ll save a lot of money and you might be able to get a better bed.

If you have questions about buying a used hospital bed, please call us at 800-330-3591.  Our product consultants can answer your questions and get you the exact bed you want at a price you can afford!

Okay, you’ve got your ambulatory, syringe, enteral, pole-mounted, and multi-channel infusion pumps. But what does each one do? What are the major differences? Well, here’s scoop:

Ambulatory Infusion Pump: This is a small infusion pump designed to be mobile. This gives patients the freedom to go about their business if they need infusion therapy on a regular basis. And because this type is so convenient and runs on a battery, emergency personnel use them as well. A well, known ambulatory pump is an insulin pump.

Syringe Pump: Syringe pumps are designed to deliver small amounts of the particular substance. Pain medication, like morphine, is a good example of what syringe pumps are used for.

Enteral Pump: This is basically your basic feeding pump. The patient would have a shunt in place so the feeding pump could be inserted to deliver nourishment.

Pole-Mounted Infusion Pump: This infusion pump is what you typically see in a hospital setting. These lack the mobility of the ambulatory infusion pump but have more features that medical personnel need. Pole-mounted pumps can be used in a home care setting but again, there will be a lack of mobility with this model.

Multi-Channel Infusion Pump: If a patient needs several things like perhaps an antibiotic and an anti-nausea medication, a multi-channel infusion pump would be used.

Well, there you have it. A basic guide to infusion pumps. And of course, if you have any specific questions about the pumps, brands or models, please call us at 800-330-3591. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

And remember, during normal business hours, your call is always answered by a LIVE person! Yes, can you believe it? We strive to provide outstanding customer service and we believe your call is important enough for a live person to answer…not an annoying electronic voice.

First, here are the bare bones basics:

• The standard size for a hospital bed mattress is 35 x 80.  Be sure to purchase Twin XL sheets because standard twin sheets won’t fit.
• If you need extra length, an extension is available on several models.
• The mattress may or may not be included…be sure to find out when you are ordering.
• Bed rails may be included or they may be an add-on.  Make sure to ask about them when making your purchase.
• If you need to buy a mattress, there are lots of choices depending on your needs.  There are standard coil springs, foam and air mattresses.

Okay, so now you need to decide what type of hospital bed you need.  There are 5 types to choose from:

Manual Hospital Bed:

This is a great choice if you’re working on a tight budget and don’t mind extra work.  The extra work comes from  having to manually crank the bed to make any adjustments. So if you want the manual type…be sure that the person who needs to operate the bed is physically capable.

Semi-Electric Hospital Bed:

Again, this is a good choice if your budget is tight.  You can adjust the head and foot of the bed with the push of a button.  And that’s a nice convenience.  But the height is still adjusted by a manual crank so someone still has to crank it up.  The great part is that these beds are typically covered by Medicare for home use.

Electric Hospital Bed:

Now we’re into the Cadillac of hospital beds!  A fully electric hospital bed allows the patient to not only adjust her head and feet with the push of a button, but the height of the bed is just as easily controlled.  The benefit here is that it makes it so much easier for patients to get in and out of the bed on their own.

Used Hospital Bed:

If you have your heart set on an all electric bed and you really have a limited budget…there’s a great option for you: buy used!  Used or refurbished hospital beds are a great way to get what you want and save money, too.

Adjustable Beds:

These beds are designed to “look” more like real beds. They come in twin, full, queen and king sizes to accommodate your preference.

Specialty Hospital Beds:

These are the fancy beds you’ll find in most hospitals. You’ll know them when you see them, too, because the price tag will be pretty hefty.  But if you’re purchasing for a hospital then you just have to bite the bullet!

I know, I know…it’s still hard to decide isn’t it?  I mean, each type of hospital bed has several different manufacturers who then sell several different models of each type.

If you still have questions, your best bet is to talk to a medical equipment expert who can help you decide which type, make and model will be best for you. Whatever you do, don’t spend thousands of dollars on a guess.  Be sure you’re getting the bed you need. Get a a hold of an expert today…call us at 800-330-3591.

And don’t forget…your calls are always answered by a live person during normal business hours.  No more getting lost in a voicemail jungle!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) released a new report today that finds 15 states could run out of available hospital beds during the peak of the outbreak, if 35 percent of Americans were to get sick from the H1N1 flu virus. Twelve additional states could reach or exceed 75 percent of their hospital bed capacity, based on estimates from the FluSurge model developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the new report, H1N1 Challenges Ahead, the number of people hospitalized could range from a high of 168,025 in California to a low of 2,485 in Wyoming, and many states may face shortages of beds or may need to reduce the number of non-flu related discretionary hospitalizations due to limited hospital bed availability.

The numbers of people who get sick could range from a high of 12.9 million in California to a low of 186,434 in Wyoming, if 35 percent of Americans were to get H1N1.

“Health departments and communities around the country are racing against the clock as the pandemic unfolds,” said Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director of TFAH. “The country’s much more prepared than we were a few short years ago for a pandemic, but there are some long-term underlying problems which complicate response efforts, like surge capacity and the need to modernize core public health areas like communications and surveillance capabilities.”

The report examines other H1N1 outbreak concerns the country faces this fall related to vaccines, antiviral medication, health care, and special needs of at-risk communities. Additional key findings from the report include:

• Last year, only 36.1 percent of adults were vaccinated against the seasonal flu, with rates ranging from a low of 30.8 percent in California to a high of 49.2 percent in South Dakota. This means that there will need to be a major upsurge in vaccinations in order to vaccinate the entire population for H1N1 compared to what states and communities have managed in the past.
• 69.5 percent of seniors (over the age of 65) are vaccinated for the flu annually, but only 24.1 percent of younger adults receive vaccinations (ages 18 to 49). Seasonal flu vaccination efforts have concentrated on immunizing seniors, but H1N1 is considered to be more dangerous for young adults and children, which means outreach for vaccinations must be very different.
• Budget cuts and layoffs in states and communities are hampering preparedness efforts. Local health departments eliminated 8,000 staff positions in the first half of 2009, which adds to the 7,000 local public health jobs lost in 2008. In addition, federal public health preparedness funding was cut by 25 percent from fiscal year 2005 to 2009.
• Nearly half of private sector workers do not have any paid sick leave benefits, which means millions of Americans will face losing their jobs if they are sick or going to work and contaminating others.
• While the federal government pays for the purchase and distribution of vaccines, payment for the administration of vaccines will be the responsibility of insurance providers, state and local health officials, or, in some cases, it could be an out-of-pocket cost for individuals.
• There are 47 million Americans without health coverage. If 35 percent of the public becomes infected with H1N1, some 15 million uninsured Americans could become sick and either go without care or seek care in already crowded emergency rooms.
• African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to have severe cases of H1N1 because they suffer from more underlying chronic conditions, like asthma and diabetes, at the same time many significant gaps remain in systems for reaching minority communities. For instance, emergency preparedness information is often disseminated on the Internet, which many people do not have access to, and there is limited availability of non-English information.

The report includes short-term recommendations to address some immediate concerns for the upcoming H1N1 season and long-term recommendations for improving the nation’s overall capacity for preparing for health emergencies. Some of the short-term recommendations include:

• Refine plans for rapid distribution and administration of vaccines for the first mass vaccination effort to be conducted in such a short time in U.S. history;
• Risk communications must be a top priority. Special efforts must be made to reach out to young adults, minorities, and other at-risk groups to get vaccinated. This should include communications in many languages;
• Vaccination campaigns must continue past the fall to prepare for a potential third wave outbreak;
• An emergency health benefit should be established to care for the uninsured and under-insured during the H1N1 outbreak;
• An emergency sick leave benefit should be made available to Americans without sick leave benefits;
• The emergency supplemental funding for H1N1 preparedness has been very important, but it is one-time funding and is insufficient to fill chronic public health infrastructure gaps, including the need to modernize surveillance systems and upgrade other technologies;
• All public and private health insurers should waive co-payment requirements for H1N1 vaccines and out-of-network care for H1N1-related illness and allow providers to bulk bill for the administration of vaccines instead of requiring cumbersome paperwork for every individual;
• The U.S. Department of Labor should communicate with the private health benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to encourage them to waive co-pay requirements for vaccines and out-of-network restrictions and to provide information to state and local health departments to help with their vaccination campaigns in communities; and
• Health providers should follow the guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on the best way to protect health care personnel; and
• Health providers and health departments should develop and disseminate strong public messages about ways to practice good hygiene and understand symptoms and remedies.

Hospital Bed Capacity at Five Weeks into a Pandemic

These estimates are for the peak of an outbreak based on CDC’s FluSurge model using expert predictions that H1N1 is a relatively mild strain of the flu, similar to the 1968 pandemic flu, and that up to 35 percent of Americans could potentially become sick with H1N1:

• 15 states would be at or exceed hospital bed capacity: Arizona (117%); California (125%); Connecticut (148%); Delaware (203%); Hawaii (143%); Maryland (143%); Massachusetts (110%); Nevada (137%); New Jersey (101%); New York (108%); Oregon (107%); Rhode Island (143%); Vermont (108%); Virginia (100%); and Washington (107%).
• 12 states would be at 75 to 99 percent of their hospital bed capacity: Colorado (88%); Florida (80%); Georgia (78%); Maine (83%); Michigan (79%); New Hampshire (84%); New Mexico (93%); North Carolina (95%); Pennsylvania (77%); South Carolina (93%); Utah (83%); and Wisconsin (75%).

The full report, including a chart with state-by-state information on illnesses, hospitalizations, and flu vaccination rates, is available on TFAH’s web site www.healthyamericans.org. The report was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.

SOURCE Trust for America’s Health

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This is an interesting article.  If only buying more hospital beds could solve this problem.  Well, if anything, this is a good reminder to keep washing those hands!