New York University Downtown Hospital
The resident played a lead role in the DME (Durable Medical Equipment) Program. During her rotation in the Rehabilitation Clinic, the resident learned that the hospital had been giving out durable medical equipment, such as canes and crutches, to the Ambulatory Surgery patients for free, further burdening the Rehab Departments already tight budget. At the same time, the resident learned that Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance cover durable medical equipment but that the hospital needed pre-authorization in order to get reimbursement. A cost-benefit analysis showed that the best way to address this issue was to set up a contract with a DME provider to whom this service would be outsourced. After researching the services of several home health care providers, the resident brought a DME provider into the hospital.