DME/Qxygen issues...

I had a patient last week who got one canister and one catheter for her suction machine. I was a little surprised when the family didn't know how to use it when I got there. They said the delivery person said he didn't know. Fortunately the patient didn't really need it in the 16 or so hours from the time it was delivered until I arrived. I told the family they could have either called us at the office or the company (number on the machine) but they didn't want to bother anyone. I thing they should have brought more catheters, but it seems to be a norm since you and I have both seen the same thing.

It sounds like you have a long road ahead with this patient.

Not me trav, I am per diem, doing only weekends now. I hardly ever get to see the same pt's again. Although, I did go out and do a discharge on a pt I opened 8 weeks earlier, that was nice.

I wasn't sure if this was because there wasn't a trach. But this pt also had Medicaid, and usually they get more supplies than Care, so I wonder what is up. I guess I'll have to find some teaching guides for cleaning out of suction cannisters and catheters. I have never run into this before.

Generally speaking, I have found that the initial delivery of DME supplies is intended to get the patient/nurse started. In our area, we are then responsible to get further needed supplies from our agency. They are non billable, but inventory is maintained for patient need.

Are they medicare, caid or insurance? There are tight limits on the number of items that medicare pays for. Let me know.

renerian

The pt has both Medicare and Medicaid.

Monica, that is true for us re wound care supplies, but oxygen supplies, at least where I am, are always provided by the DME. Trach care kits, suction caths, all of it come from the DME. For trach's, I know they were allowed like 30 suction kits, came in a huge box and the pt's used to get so annoyed at how they would store all of the supplies. Same for G-tube feedings, whoever supplies the feeding supplies the irrigation sets, split 4x4's, syringes, pumps, feeding bags, etc... The only thing we supply if the G-tubes and kits to change the catheter as ordered.

Found this at Aetna's site...

Home > Clinical Policy Bulletins > Medical > CPB0503

Clinical Policy Bulletins

Number: 0503

Subject: Suction Pumps

Important Note

This Clinical Policy Bulletin expresses Aetna's determination of whether certain services or supplies are medically necessary. Aetna has reached these conclusions based upon a review of currently available clinical information (including clinical outcome studies in the peer-reviewed published medical literature, regulatory status of the technology, evidence-based guidelines of public health and health research agencies, evidence-based guidelines and positions of leading national health professional organizations, views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas, and other relevant factors). Aetna expressly reserves the right to revise these conclusions as clinical information changes, and welcomes further relevant information. Each benefit plan defines which services are covered, which are excluded, and which are subject to dollar caps or other limits. Members and their providers will need to consult the member's benefit plan to determine if there are any exclusions or other benefit limitations applicable to this service or supply. The conclusion that a particular service or supply is medically necessary does not constitute a representation or warranty that this service or supply is covered (i.e., will be paid for by Aetna) for a particular member. The member's benefit plan determines coverage. Some plans exclude coverage for services or supplies that Aetna considers medically necessary. If there is a discrepancy between this policy and a member's plan of benefits, the benefits plan will govern. In addition, coverage may be mandated by applicable legal requirements of a State, the Federal government or CMS for Medicare and Medicaid members. CMS's Coverage Issues Manual can be found on the following website: http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pub06pdf/pub06pdf.asp.

Policy

Suction Pump:

Aetna considers home model suction machines medically necessary durable medical equipment for members who have difficulty raising and clearing secretions secondary to any of the following conditions:

Cancer or surgery of the throat or mouth; or

Dysfunction of the swallowing muscles; or

Unconsciousness or obtunded state; or

Tracheostomy.

Supplies:

Tracheal suction catheters are considered medically necessary supplies for suction pumps. In most cases, in the home setting, sterile catheters are considered medically necessary only for tracheostomy suctioning. Three suction catheters per day are considered medically necessary for tracheostomy suctioning, unless additional documentation is provided. When a tracheal suction catheter is used in the oropharynx, which is not sterile, the catheter can be reused if properly cleansed and/or disinfected. In this situation the medical necessity for more than three catheters per week would require additional documentation.

Sterile saline solution is considered medically necessary when used to clear a suction catheter after tracheostomy suctioning. It is not usually considered medically necessary for oropharyngeal suctioning. Note: Saline used for tracheal lavage is a non-covered supply.

The following supplies are considered medically necessary for use with a suction pump:

Oropharyngeal suction catheters

Disposable or non-disposable canister used with suction pump

Tubing used with suction pump.

When a suction pump is used for tracheal suctioning, other supplies (e.g., cups, basins, gloves, solutions, etc.) included with the tracheal care kit are considered medically necessary. When a suction pump is used for oropharyngeal suctioning, these other supplies are not considered medically necessary.

Background

A portable home model suction pump is a lightweight, compact, electric aspirator designed for upper respiratory oral pharyngeal and tracheal suction for use in the home. Use of the device does not require technical or professional supervision.

The above policy is based on the following references:

Associated Hospital Service Medicare. Suction pumps. Local Medical Necessity Policy. Portland, ME: AHS Medicare; April 30, 1999. Available at: http://www.ahsmedicare.com/medical_review_appeals/provider

/LMRP/Active/991510.shtml. Accessed 02/09/01.

American Association for Respiratory Care. Suctioning of the patient in the home. AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines. Respir Care. 1999;44(1):91-98.

Woollons S. Ambulatory suction equipment for home use. Prof Nur. 1996;11(6):373-374, 376.

So, it would seem my pt should have at least 12 cath's, 3 a week since not sterile. But, it doesn't address how many canisters. Surely one a week I would think. The thought of one a month gags me, literally.

I can't find anything on the CMS site about the number of catheters allowed for oral suctioning. But I did find NIH guidelines about suctioning procedure and cleaning of catheters...

Brief Summary

GUIDELINE TITLE

Suctioning of the patient in the home.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCE(S)

American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). Suctioning of the patient in the home. Respir Care 1999 Jan;44(1):99-104. [29 references]

BRIEF SUMMARY CONTENT

RECOMMENDATIONS

EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND AVAILABILITY

Go to the Complete Summary

RECOMMENDATIONS

MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Description

Suctioning is a component of bronchial hygiene that involves the mechanical aspiration of secretions from the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and trachea. The airway may be in its natural state or artificial (as with a tracheostomy) or surgically altered (as with a laryngectomy). The patient may or may not be receiving mechanical ventilation. The procedure includes patient preparation, the actual suctioning event, and follow-up care and observation of the patient.

Patient preparation.

Whenever possible, the patient should be encouraged to clear the airway by directed cough or other airway clearance techniques.

Whenever possible, the patient should be taught to perform this procedure for himself.

Preoxygenation or hyperinflation prior to the suctioning event may not be routinely indicated for all patients cared for in the home. Whenever possible the patient's response to suctioning during his stay in the acute care or long-term care facility should be made a part of the discharge summary, and the health care professional establishing the patient in the home should request this information.

Experience with neuromuscular patients suggests that hyperinflation when the vital capacity of such patients is

requiring only nasal or oropharyngeal suctioning;

without an endotracheal airway, whose vital capacity and muscle strength are adequate to produce an effective cough;

whose ventilatory drive has been demonstrated to stem from hypoxia;

with a demonstrated tolerance for the procedure with no adverse reactions.

Preoxygenation and/or hyperinflation may be indicated in:

pediatric patients with decreased respiratory reserve;

patients who have been documented to experience oxygen desaturation during the suctioning event as evidenced by pulse oximetry;

patients who exhibit cardiac dysrhythmias during the suctioning event;

patients who are receiving continuous supplemental oxygen.

When preoxygenation and/or hyperinflation are indicated, it is recommended that this be done manually using a resuscitation bag with supplemental oxygen, as appropriate. All caregivers should receive thorough instruction in the use of resuscitation bags and manual hyperventilation techniques; improper or imprecise use of resuscitation bags for hyperinflation can cause lung injury and respiratory alkalosis. If hyperoxygenation or hyperventilation are not required, tidal volume may be conserved by passing the suction catheter through the port cap on the swivel adapter of the ventilator circuit.

Normal saline solution should not be instilled routinely but only when specifically medically indicated (for example, to stimulate cough).

The suctioning event: Actual introduction of the suction device (catheter or oral suction tip) into the naso- or oropharynx, or into the trachea via the laryngostoma or artificial airway should be in accordance with existing Clinical Practice Guidelines.

It is common and accepted practice to use 'clean' rather than sterile technique during suctioning in the home environment, although scientific evidence to support or discount either technique in home care is lacking.

Clean (non-sterile) gloves should be used when endotracheal suctioning is performed. Gloves reduce the risk of introduction of inoculant to the patient's airway, the risk of cutaneous infection in the caregiver, and transmission of organisms to others. Gloves may not be necessary when oropharyngeal suctioning is performed.

At the conclusion of the suctioning event, the catheter or tonsil tip should be flushed by suctioning recently boiled or distilled water to rinse away mucus, followed by the suctioning of air through the device to dry the internal surface and, thus, discourage microbial growth. The outer surface of the device may be wiped with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. The suction catheter or tonsil tip should be allowed to air dry and then be stored in a clean, dry area.

Suction catheters treated in the manner described may be reused. We recommend that the catheters be discarded after 24 hours although no evidence for or against this can be found. Tonsil tips may be cleaned, boiled, and reused indefinitely. If it is feasible to clean the suction device and subject it to high level disinfection, it may be reused until its integrity is lost. The importance of mechanical cleaning cannot be overemphasized (ie, removal of mucus and other organic material).

Follow-up care: Following the suctioning event

the patient should be monitored for adverse reactions;

the patient in whom pre-procedure hyperoxygenation and/or hyperinflation was indicated should be treated by the same method(s) post-procedure.

Setting

This guideline applies only to the home care setting. Alternate care sites such as subacute, rehabilitation, or skilled nursing facilities should use Guidelines for suctioning in the acute care setting.

Indications

The primary indication for suctioning the patient cared for at home is the patient's inability to adequately clear the airway by cough. The need for airway clearance is evidenced by:

more frequent or congested-sounding cough;

coorifice rhonchi and expiratory wheezing audible to the patient and/or caregiver with or without auscultation;

visible secretions;

increased peak pressures during volume-cycled mechanical ventilation;

decreased tidal volumes during pressure-cycled ventilation;

indication by the patient that suctioning is necessary;

suspected aspiration of gastric or upper airway secretions;

otherwise unexplained increase in shortness of breath, respiratory rate, or heart rate;

decreases in vital capacity and/or oxygen saturation (as indicated by pulse oximetry), thought to be related to mucus plugging.

Contraindications

When suctioning is indicated, no absolute contraindications exist and failure to suction can prove to be more detrimental than potential adverse reactions. Routine or 'scheduled' suctioning, with no indication of need is not recommended.

Limitations of procedure

Endotracheal suctioning is not a benign procedure, and the caregiver should remain sensitive to possible hazards and complications, taking all necessary precautions to ensure patient safety. Secretions in the peripheral airways cannot be removed by suctioning. Optimal humidification of inspired gases and appropriate systemic hydration is important to the maintenance of airway integrity.

Assessment of Need

The patient should be periodically assessed by the caregiver to determine the need for suctioning when the need does not obviously present itself. For patients on long-term mechanical ventilation, this assessment should be included in the patient/ventilator system check.

Assessment of Outcome

Results and observations related to suctioning should be recorded to inform and alert other caregivers. The suctioning procedure can be considered successful and the need for suctioning affirmed by one or more of the following:

removal of secretions;

improvement in breath sounds;

decreased peak inspiratory pressure during volume-cycled mechanical ventilation;

increased tidal volume delivery during pressure-cycled mechanical ventilation;

clearing of cough;

improvement in oxyhemoglobin saturation as reflected by pulse oximetry;

subjective improvement as reported by patient;

a decrease in respiratory and heart rate and decreased shortness of breath.

Resources

Equipment: Equipment and supplies to used for suctioning the home care patient may include:

electrically powered aspirator with a calibrated, adjustable regulator and collection bottle with overflow protection. A battery-powered aspirator may be needed for the patient who leaves the home or lives in an environment subject to frequent power failures;

suction catheters, sized appropriately. Open suction systems are used most frequently. (The use of closed systems has not been demonstrated to be medically indicated in the patient who is not immunosuppressed);

tap water that has been boiled, stored in a closed, clean container, and used within 24 hours of boiling to flush the catheter. (Water directly from the tap should not be used because of the possibility of contamination.)

clean or sterile gloves as indicated; barrier protection when active infection is present or suspected;

manual resuscitator when hyperinflation is medically indicated;

oxygen source when preoxygenation is medically indicated;

sterile normal saline for instillation when medically indicated;

oral suction device (eg, tonsil tip);

sterile distilled and/or recently boiled water and cleaning solution.

Personnel: As stated previously, the patient should be trained in self-care whenever possible. In the event that the patient is unable to perform the procedure, the bedside caregivers (family members, personal care attendants, other designated care givers) should be thoroughly trained and demonstrate their ability to perform the procedure and clean and care for equipment.

Only credentialed or licensed professional staff with documented specialized training and experience in airway management procedures and patient assessment should be specified as trainers (eg, licensed and credentialed respiratory care practitioners and registered nurses). These trainers should also observe, on a regular basis, performance of the procedure by the patient and caregivers to determine the need for reinforcement and remediation.

All caregivers should demonstrate a good understanding of the procedure and the ability to perform the procedure competently, including:

knowledge of proper use and assembly of all necessary equipment and supplies;

ability to recognize that suctioning is indicated;

ability to assess effectiveness of the procedure;

ability to monitor vital signs, assess the patient's condition, and appropriately respond to complications or adverse reactions;

ability to perform the procedure with the least amount of risk of introducing inoculant into the patient's airway;

knowledge of infection control procedures and demonstrated ability to effectively wash hands and clean, disinfect, and properly store equipment and supplies.

Monitoring

The patient should be monitored to ascertain effectiveness of the procedure and to detect any adverse reaction. Variables to be monitored include:

breath sounds,

skin color--including the presence or absence of cyanosis,

respiratory rate and characteristics,

heart rate,

sputum characteristics (color, volume, consistency, odor)

blood pressure,

ventilator variables (including tidal volume, peak inspiratory pressure, respiratory rate, expiratory pressure),

oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry when medically indicated.

Frequency

The suctioning procedure should be undertaken only when indications are clearly present (Sections on Indications, Contraindications and Assessment of Need).

Infection Control

All caregivers should practice infection control procedures appropriate to the home environment. To the extent feasible, patients should be protected from visitors and caregivers with active viral and bacterial infections that are airborne or spread by direct contact.

Immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be current in both caregivers and patient. When HIV and/or hepatitis or other bloodborne infection are known to be present or when the patient's status is unknown and when infection with organisms spread by droplet infection is known or suspected, specific precautions should be instituted.

With all patients the steps undertaken are

proper handwashing before and after performing the procedure;

clean or sterile suctioning technique as indicated;

cleaning and disinfection of all equipment and supplies beginning with thorough mechanical cleaning with detergent and water and followed by one of the following

a 60-minute soak in a solution of vinegar and water with an acetic acid content > or = 1.25% (The vinegar solution should not be reused.);

quaternary ammonium compound (prepared and reused according to manufacturer's instructions);

glutaraldehyde;

boiling when equipment withstands such procedures;

proper storage of equipment and supplies between use;

proper disposal of spent supplies and infectious waste.

More info here... http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=1769