ecrole14

LOL. I was searching the subject as I work with individuals in their homes under supervision of non medical caregivers. There has been some recent discussion of making oxygen something that would not be allowed in their homes due to not having a nurse in house to manage it. In discussing this change I was told that it was a federal law that oxygen is a drug but I have not been able to find anything to support that statement. I am a bit of a doberman when it comes to my clients being told they cannot live as normal a life as possible. I hope I did not offend and apparently resuscitation is not my strongest attribute, it has been 5 years probably have some oxygen deprivation issues.

I see where some say oxygen is a medication because it requires a physician's order. Well so does PT, OT, ST, glucometers and much more. But when it comes to management, if oxygen is used in a hospital it it managed by a respiratory tech, not a nurse. In a home setting, there is not nurse to assess them all day, so anyone on oxygen would therefore require a nursing home setting. It can be turned on at a specific setting and evaluated regularly by a physician, but used daily without nursing assessment or management in a individuals home. It is ordered and paid for by insurance under durable medical equipment, not pharmacy. Just saying.