It was 2:00 am, but my 3-year-old identical twin boys could not stop coughing. As the hacking shook their small bodies, I reached for the nearby nebulizer and knew they would soon have relief.

Fortunately, their condition is not serious—an occasional wheezing brought on by colds. Just the same, I was thankful for this incredibly compact, efficient, and readily available technology. As HME providers, you probably hear anecdotes like this all the time.

While I hope my children will not require additional home medical equipment, as the new editor of Dealer/Provider it’s my privilege to get to know the dedicated men and women of home health care. I met a few of you at the recent MedTrade show in Las Vegas, and it was easy to get caught up in your enthusiasm and confidence.

And why not be confident? The much-talked-about baby boom generation will indeed be voracious HME consumers.

The only question is who will survive and thrive in the times ahead? It is my goal to highlight successful HME providers who are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. My motto is fight the legislative battles with vigor, but have a backup plan.

If respiratory care is part of your business plan, check out our special respiratory section starting on page 22. You’ll find exclusive survey results, practical advice, and tips on navigating FDA and DMERC policies for smoother portable oxygen reimbursement.

As editor, I will continue to seek articles that go beyond theory to address market realities. In practice, HME providers are on the front line of health care, bringing lifesaving devices to customers and easing the nightmares of disease, injury, and poor health. As I watched my sons fall gently back to sleep without a cough, that message truly hit home.

Greg Thompson
gthompson@medpubs.com