Labor Day Store Hours

Difficulty with Stairs?

When stairs become too difficult to navigate either from injuries or declining strength and dexterity, people often think it’s time to sell their home and find a single-level living arrangement.  With a stair lift, you can keep that independence, keep your home, and still access basements and second levels. 

With prices starting at $2,833.33 for an average flight of stairs, stair lifts become an economical solution for staying in your home.    The average cost to move a 4-bedroom home across town can run $2,500 and up, and the average cost to move from one major city to another can run over $10,000!  Of course this is a fair assumption a moving company is needed to help with the household move. 

Stair lifts bring safety and independence on the stairs.  They are a reliable, safe and comfortable alternative and are simple to operate.  At Mountain View Medical Supply we offer Brooks stair lifts because of their slim-line design which enables others to use the stairs as normal.  Also, they do not damage your home as the treads are attached to your stairs and not your wall, an important point to consider in the resale value of your home.

Brooks Stair lifts are built to last, with low maintenance and high reliability. They run on maintenance free DC Power packs, which are automatically recharged at the end of every trip. So even if there is a power failure the Brooks Stair lift glides smoothly to its destination. This type of power also means the stair lift is whisper quiet and incredibly smooth.

Also featured with the Brooks stair lift:

Wireless Remote Control
The lift can be 'called' or 'sent' up or down the stairs whenever it's needed, making it easy for multiple users to control the stair lift.

Safety cut-out sensors on carriage and footrest
If anything is blocking the progress of the stair lift, it will come to an immediate halt. There are 5 sensors: 3 on the footrest, and 2 on the carriage.

Swivel seat, locks in either 45° or 90° position
The seat turns and locks in either a 45° or 90° position, helping you get in and out of your stair lift, easily and safely.

Simple to use controls
Using the lift is as easy as pushing the armrest paddle in the direction of travel.

Soft start and stop system
No sudden jolts to set the user off balance.

Low voltage operation

Eliminates risk of shock

Stair lifts are priced and built to fit your custom stairs, please call 800-873-7121 for pricing.

Sources:  http://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/average-moving-cost

Better Living Corner: "I love taking a bath, but can't..."

From a recent customer:  "I love taking a bath, but can't, and I don't want a walk-in tub where I have to wait for it to completely drain before I can get out."

At Mountain View Medical Supply we carry the Lumex Splash Bath Tub Lift because it adapts to most any standard bathtub and is a fraction of the cost of walk-in tubs. 
Plus, NO REMODELING IS REQUIRED!  
The Splash Bath Lift is a lightweight, affordable bath lift with all the basic elements needed to safely lower and raise the user in the bath tub.
The Splash bath lift has been designed to offer exceptional value at a great price.
Weighing only 14.3 lbs, the Splash Bath Lift is the lightest battery-powered bath lift available. The suction cup feet have easy release tabs for releasing the suction cup from the tub floor.
Splash has a 280-lb weight capacity.

LX5033A-1 - $699.92

Click HERE for more information.

Attention Students! Back to School FREEBIES at Laurel Uniforms!

In honor of back to school, we have a promotion during the month of August just for students!  Any student of healthcare, culinary arts, special trade or any other type of education is eligible! 

Simply bring your student ID to Laurel Uniforms today!

Don't forget to Shop LaurelUniforms.com for your school supplies and uniforms!

What you should know about seniors and driving

In the United States, there are 23 million drivers aged 70 and above, and it is estimated that by 2020, more than 40 million licensed drivers will be aged 65 and older.  While older drivers are considered safer drivers because they use seatbelts, rarely speed, and are the least likely to drive while impaired, their abilities may be affected by decline in vision, hearing, cognitive function, physical changes and the effects of medications. 

A new survey of 1,000 seniors aged 75 or older from Liberty Mutual Insurance, found that 78 percent who said they drive regularly admitted to declining physical abilities.  Sixteen percent said they tired easily or had slow reaction times, 13 percent said they had trouble seeing or hearing, and nine percent reported getting lost and even feeling confused.  It’s no wonder that seniors are worried about their driving skills and maintaining their driver’s license.  Sixty-four percent feared losing their independence, 47 percent worried that being unable to drive would cause them to be less active,  45 percent were concerned that not driving would lead them to feeling isolated, while 45 percent also worried about the logistics of their transportation needs should they give up driving.

Interestingly, eighty-four percent of seniors surveyed by Liberty Mutual said they would be open to conversations about how much they should or shouldn’t be driving, but only 6 percent said they’ve actually had that kind of discussion with a relative, loved one or doctor.

If a person’s continued fitness to drive is in doubt by others, their concerns can usually be reported, confidentially, to the states licensing agency.  States typically have medical review boards composed of health care professionals who advise on licensing standards, and on individual cases in which a person’s ability to drive safely is in doubt.  After reviewing a person’s fitness to drive, the agency may allow the person to continue driving as previously instated, refuse to renew the license, suspend the license, or restrict the license.  Typical restrictions may include prohibiting of nighttime driving, requiring additional mirrors on the vehicle, or limiting driving to specified places, or a limited radius from the driver’s home.

Most states have a regular renewal period for all drivers that range from 4 to 10 years, with the exception of Arizona, where all drivers’ licenses are valid until the age of 65.  About half of the States require older drivers to renew their license more frequently, usually every 2 to 5 years.  Where the renewal cycle is not shorter for older drivers, licensing agencies have the authority to shorten the renewal cycle for individual license holders if their condition warrants.  The age at which more frequent renewals is required varies anywhere from 60 years old to 85 years old.

Identifying challenges that senior drivers face is the first step toward driving as long, and as safely possible.  AAA has a website dedicated to senior drivers at www.seniordriving.aaa.com, where you can research licensing laws for your state, find refresher course classes, get feedback on how certain medications can effect driving, and how your choice of vehicle fits your abilities.  This website also has resources for Family and Friends to help keep seniors safe when it comes to driving.

Sources:  http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/post--most-seniors-admit-to-driving-with-impairments; National Conference of State Legislature/Traffic Safety Trends: State Legislative Action 2012; www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/laws/olderdrivers; www.seniordriving.aaa.com

Top Customer Picks for skin cream and cleansing

Here are a few products that are our customers top picks!

This long lasting formula helps protect and prevent chafed, chapped and cracked skin. 

SQ3248-09, 8oz bottle - $5.23

This cleanser has low foam for easy rinsing and an exceptionally mild formula that won't irritate the eyes. 

MI4502-48, 8oz bottle - $3.08

Shop more top picks HERE

Nurses’ top 10 songs to unwind

Nurses’ top 10 favorite songs to unwind to after a long shift

1. Bob Marley, “Three Little Birds”…“Don’t worry ‘bout a thing, ‘cuz every little thing gonna be alright.” Sometimes that little reminder is just what I need…and it makes me think of being on a beach, worry-free.
—Meghan D.

2. “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar…with dance moves and all!!!
—Lisâ A.

3. Well, I’ve been retired for a while, but back in the day during my 20-some-mile drive home, I fell in love with ACDC ‘cause it was wild and raucous enough that I could crank it up, sing at the top of my voice, thump the beat out on the steering wheel and just “get it all out” so that I was once again sane when I got home to my family! LOL!
—Susan K.

4. Peace and quiet leaving and “Welcome to the Jungle” arriving.
—Pamela E.

5. Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy.” The funny thing is…I work in a mental hospital and, until now, never even associated the two!
—Patti Ann W.

6. “Nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, goodbye!”
—Clo V.

7. Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” I actually got pulled over by the police one night after a long shift for blaring it too loud…ha ha ha…such a great stress-reliever song!
—Kelley R.

8. Johnny Paycheck, “Take This Job and Shove It.” Just kidding! I love my job, but some days…
—Rhonda S.

9. “I Will Survive.”
—Myra P.

10. Um, is the sound of wine hitting the glass considered a song?
—Nurse Natty P

Source:  http://scrubsmag.com/nurses-top-10-favorite-songs-to-unwind-to-after-a-long-shift/

Better Living Corner: "My compression socks need help staying up"

I seems surprising that a garment that is meant to be "tight" would have trouble staying "up", but sometimes they do!  Blame it on anatomy:  Everyone is built differently!  Fortunately, there is a fix for that.  It Stays is a body adhesive that helps keep your compression garments "up", urological leg straps in place, or general clothing issues from becoming an embarrassing story. 

SI581I300 - $9.85  Clear 2oz bottle is airline travel approved size, washes off with water and is flexible and pliable.

More dogs are lost on the 4th of July than any other time of year

Be sure to take a current picture of your pet just in case they are lost during 4th of July celebrations!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Less Exercise Associated with Male Statin Use

Adapted from Author David Stauth, published June 11, 2014 on www.disabled-world.com/news 

Almost one-third of older Americans take statins, usually to reduce their cholesterol levels, but a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine raise concerns about a decline in much-needed physical activity among men. To be fair, the research did not identify why men who took statins exercised less, it just confirmed they did. Possible causes could include side effects of statins such as muscle pain and disruption of the mitochondrial function in cells, which could contribute to fatigue and muscle weakness.
In an analysis of 3.071 community-living men in the United States, age 65 or older, researchers found that men who took statins averaged about 40 minutes less of physical exercise per week, compared to those who weren’t taking the medication.
“For an older population that’s already pretty sedentary, that’s a significant amount less exercise,” said David Lee, an associate professor in the Oregon State University/Oregon Health & Science University College of Pharmacy, and lead author of the study.  That would equate to the loss of 150 minutes a week of slow-paced walking, Lee said.
“We’re trying to find ways to get older adults to exercise more, not less,” Lee said.  “It’s a fairly serious concern if use of statins is doing something that makes people less likely to exercise.”
Muscle pain is found in 5-30 percent of people who take statins, Lee said, and some people also report feeling less energetic, weak or tired.
Of some significance, the study also found that new statin users had the largest drop in physical activity.  An increase in sedentary behavior, which is associated with all-cause mortality and also death from cardiovascular disease, was also observed in statin users.
This research followed men for almost seven years after initial baseline studies were done, and compared changes in physical activity among users and non-users of statins.  In parts of the experiments, men wore accelerometers for a week to track by the minute their level of activity.
“Given these results, we should be aware of a possible decrease in physical activity among people taking a statin,” Lee said.  “If someone is already weak, frail, or sedentary, they may want to consider this issue, and consult with their doctor to determine of statin use is still appropriate.”  Lee said.  “This could decrease the benefit of the medication.”

Indepenence Day in America!

Did you know John Adams believed that July 2^nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American Independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4^th events in protest?

When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.  By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in Thomas Paine’s bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published in January 1776.  Originally published anonymously, “Common Sense” played a remarkable role in transforming a colonial squabble into the American Revolution.  This 47-page pamphlet sold some 500,000 copies (the population was estimated to be 2,500,000 in 1776), powerfully influencing American opinion when Paine wrote the following:  “Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America.  This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe.  Hither they have fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still.”

On June 7, 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.  Amid heated debate, Congress postponed vote on the motion and appointed a five-man committee – including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York – to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

On July 2^nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively).  On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and parade…games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and Illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.”

On July 4^th, the Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence.  Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2^nd, from then on the 4^th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4^th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees.  Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.

Note of interest: The population in America in 1776 was estimated to be 2.5 million.  In President George Washington’s first term in office, he had only 5 Cabinet members and about 1,000 federal workers in his employ.  Today almost 2.5 million Americans work for the federal government with a total U.S. population of approximately 317 million.

Sources:  http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th; http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-paine-publishes-common-sense;

New Dansko Shoes!

These just in!

Tatum PRO XP by Dansko

Slip resistant and features a removable memory foam foot bed!  

Come try on a pair today!

The 5 stages of a nurse vacation

We thought this was cute, from our friends over at www.Scrubsmag.com: 

The 5 Stages of a Nurse Vacation

Because nurses typically work three days a week, we can schedule ourselves to have extended time off without taking vacation. (We’re awesome, I know.) For example, if I work Sunday, Monday and Tuesday this week and work Thursday, Friday and Saturday of next week…that leaves me with eight days off without using my vacation time.

Yes, this is quite the glorious perk of being a nurse. However, these nursey vacations, whether they are enjoyed on a sandy beach, historical landmark, mountainous peak, or on my comfy living room couch, still always contain the same five stages of grieving. Here they are, outlined below. 

Stage 1: Denial

No, I am not a nurse. Do not ask me to do anything nursey. I don’t want to look at that new mole on your leg, oh close friend of mine. I don’t care that your dad’s blood pressure is 10 points less than it was last week and I don’t care if he goes to see his PCP.  I will avoid large crowds because larger crowds mean more people that could potentially need CPR. 

Stage 2:  Anger

I can’t believe I wiped other people’s butts more than my own this week! I can’t believe a thin piece of latex was all that lay between my hand and feces! I hate that I didn’t pee for 13 hours on Tuesday! Why did I go into debt for school to clean up POOP!? 

Stage 3:  Bargaining

Alright God, if you make it so that I never have to wipe another butt (other than my own) again, I promise to never hide in an unconscious patient’s room again. I promise I’ll never “forget” to start a bowel prep until an hour before shift change. And I definitely won’t fart and blame it on my intubated and sedated patient. 

Stage 4:  Depression

Who am I kidding? This is hopeless. I’m going to have to go back to work. All of my patients are going to be detoxing, poop will be everywhere, and they’ll all be allergic to all pain medications except Dilaudid, and are nauseated and nothing will work but Phenergan. Oh, and they’re itching too so they’ll need some Benadryl to complete their cocktail. Every two hours. My life is over. 

Stage 5:  Acceptance

Awwww look at that old lady getting groceries! She’s so cute and needy! She needs ME! I want to help her and walk her to her car. I hope she took her meds today. I bet she takes aspirin, Lisinopril, Colace, and Simvastatin every day. She reminds me of that patient I had last week that cried when I left for the night. Aaaahhh darnit. I cannot deny who I am. I love who I am. I am a nurse.

What You Wash Your Medication Down With Matters!

Did you know fruit juices can cause significant drug interactions?  Many people assume their medication will work no matter what they swallow it down with it, but some drink and drug combos can be hazardous to your health.  

Acidic drinks, such as fruit juice or soda pop, may chemically destroy certain kinds of antibiotics, including penicillin and erythromycin.  Grapefruit juice alone negatively interacts with more than 50 medications, including statins which are widely used to lower cholesterol.  And since the effects of the citrus juice last more than 24 hours, simply taking your meds at a different time won’t solve the problem.

Milk can interfere with a number of medicines.  For example, milk blocks the action of tetracycline if both are ingested within an hour of each other, preventing the treatment of infection.  Milk is alkaline so, for example, if it is taken with Ducolax (laxative) which has a coating designed to dissolve slowly in the intestines, it may dissolve prematurely within the stomach and cause irritation.  Calcium in any dairy products can interfere with the effectiveness of thyroid medication.  

Caffeine from coffee, tea or energy drinks can pose a serious health threat when taken with stimulants such as ephedrine, amphetamines or asthma prescriptions.  Green tea (with vitamin K) can decrease the effect of blood thinners such as Warfarin and Coumadin.  The tannin in tea can undo the benefits of iron pills.  

Sports drinks such as Gatorade are high in potassium and can be dangerous when coupled with some heart failure or hypertension drugs.  

Energy drinks high in sugar and stimulants such as caffeine aren’t good for anybody, but combining them with antidepressants can cause hypertension, headaches, fast heart rate and even stroke.  Some drinks add things like ginkgo biloba for enhancement, but ginkgo biloba taken with aspirin can cause bleeding.

Of course alcohol presents one of the most common interactions.  Beer, wine and hard liquor should be avoided when taking just about any type of medication, especially antidepressants or other drugs that effect the brain.  Mixing alcohol with over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers can increase your risk of stomach bleeding or liver damage.  

The very best beverage to take your medication with is WATER!  It will not interact with your medication or reduce its effectiveness!

What can you do to prevent drug interactions?
1)  Read the label of your medication thoroughly to verify how you should take your medication and heed any warnings.  If you have any questions, talk with your pharmacist and doctor.

2)  Make a complete list of all your prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and any other drugs you may take.  Review this list with your doctor and pharmacists.

3)  Use one pharmacy.  This way your pharmacist has a record of all your prescriptions and can advise you effectively. 

4)  Do some research on your medications. 

a)  Walgreens has a great drug vs drug interaction tool since it offers correct dosage options that other tools do not.  www.walgreens.com/pharmacy/checkdruginteractions

b)  www.drugs.com offers a complete A-Z index on over 24,000 medications in the USA.  For example, searching “Coumadin” provided pill and injection information, side effects, news regarding Coumadin, and further down the page was “Coumadin drug interactions”.  Clicking on that provided a wealth of interactions specific to Coumadin, including the “5 alcohol/food interactions”.

Finding drug vs beverage interactions is a bit more difficult than drug vs food, and far more difficult than finding drug vs drug interactions.  The information is out there, you just have to be persistent and dig deeper.  Live well and be well! 

HME Providers Look for Escape, "Just take my business over"

Adapted from HME News, HME Providers Look For Escape, by Leah Hoenen; Friday, April 25, 2014

We have blogged many times about Competitive Bidding for the HME/DME (Home Medical Equipment/Durable Medical Equipment) Industry.  (The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 200, effectively known as H.R. 6331, or simply, Competitive Bidding)

Medicare Competitive Bidding and What it Means For the Consumer

We at Mountain View Medical Supply are a small, family owned and operated business and cannot competitively bid against the likes of CVS or Walgreens, so we made the decision to exit the Medicare/Medicaid provider program in 2009.  You see, the government Competitive Bidding program was tailored for large scale providers with many branch locations, so the mom-and-pop providers who couldn't compete or win bids, are struggling to survive.  As a result, some HME providers are asking other providers to purchase their businesses.  

"If CMS wanted to tear the industry apart and take the 'mom and pop' out of it, this bid has been successful," said Terry Luft, a vice chairman at Harrisbug, PA-based Dynamic Healthcare Services (DHS).  In April, DHS completed its third buy of this year, and after an acquisition is publicized, the company often receives several phone calls from other companies looking for an exit strategy, he said.  

In June 2011, Homecaremag.com took a poll asking providers, "Will you bid in Round 2 of Competitive Bidding?"  A shocking 60 percent of HME participants said they are trying to sell or close their HME businesses before Round 2 of competitive bidding.

Majority of Providers Want Out

Our HME/DME industry as a whole has been very vocal with Competitive Bidding concerns in Washington D.C., but not only did CMS continue with Round 2 bidding, a re-bid of Round 1 was launched in the first quarter of this year.  It is now clear that if Competitive Bidding has not reached your area, it is coming soon for those who have to go through Medicare/Medicaid for HME/DME.  

For those who can pay out of pocket, visit your local mom and pop shop!  Mountain View Medical Supply is one of the "lucky ones" who diversified by adding a second business (Laurel Uniforms & Apparel).  And even though it has benefited our business somewhat, it saddens us that several of our competitors have closed their doors in the Denver Metro area.  

"President Obama is committed to helping America’s small businesses grow and prosper." - The White House 

Happy Memorial Day!

Attention New Ostomates: FREE Information Booklet!

Published by Mountain View Medical Supply, this informative booklet is written for the new ostomate, and their supporters, to help them through this life changing experience.

AND ITS FREE!  Click HERE to request your free copy!

Inside this information-filled booklet, you will find: 
Glossary of Terms - learn about "convex", "cut to fit", "flange" and any term related to ostomies. 
Finding & Buying Ostomy Supplies - Finding local supplies, online supplies and guidelines on what you should expect from your ostomy supplier.  Also, how to calculate and save on your ostomy supplies!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) - Most frequently asked questions from new ostomates.
Insurance Coverage....read more and order your FREE copy>

We are a locally owned and operated Small Business!

Shop and Support small businesses!  We are the heartbeat of America!

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FREE GIFT to Celebrate Nurses Week & Nursing Home Week, Plus...

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