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Portable X-Rays Changing Lives - Sharon's Mother
Independent portable x-ray providers live in the communities they serve and become an integral part of elder care in that community's nursing homes and other facilities housing frail and vulnerable patients.
Independent portable x-ray providers live in the communities they serve and become an integral part of elder care in that community's nursing homes and other facilities housing frail and vulnerable patients.
Sharon's Mother
Sharon Reilley's mom, Barbara Nolan, was diagnosed with dementia and required nursing home care. While there, Barbara needed both chest x-rays and a venous Doppler ultrasound. Fortunately a portable x-ray provider was able to provide these services at bedside. “I was concerned that transporting my mom would cause a delay in her treatment if she had pneumonia or a potentially life threatening blood clot in her leg” stated Sharon.
Unfortunately, not all services are able to be delivered bedside. Barbara Nolan did have to travel for radiation treatments and wheel chair transport and an aide to accompany her had to be arranged by the nursing home. Like many patients with dementia, Barbara became very uncomfortable in an unfamiliar setting. “Mom grew hostile and combative. It was disruptive to the other patients and the office, but also a huge stress on my mom and those trying to care for her” noted Sharon.
Portable x-rays mean faster treatment, and avoid the risk of injury and illness that could result from transporting a patient in advanced stages of dementia. And they avoid cost, as well. In Barbara's case, Medicare did not cover the cost of the wheel chair transport for the radiation treatments. Each trip was $100 for a total of $700, not including the cost of the aide's time. “It gave myself and family such peace of mind to know that my mom would be treated promptly, efficiently and with her safety in mind with portable x-rays” Sharon concluded.