One of the things we’ve noticed in our business is that oxygen cylinders are of critical importance in the home healthcare industry. A recent article in Executive Healthcare Management noted that there are approximately 1.8 million long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) patients in the United States at any given time.

Some additional statistics from the publication:

• 72% of all home LTOT users are prescribed both a stationary and portable system
• Medicare home LTOT users average about 12 months of therapy with 22% remaining on oxygen for more than 36 months
• Home oxygen use has been increasing modestly (9-11%) nearly every year

Oxygen use in the home is becoming more prevalent, and comes with several precautions; however, one of the most important elements is ensuring the supply is steady and available. The lifespan of a cylinder varies depending on the size, flow rate, and available cylinder pressure. Ensuring the patient in need is aware of exactly how much oxygen is left in a cylinder is vital. That’s why we created the Critical Alert, which displays a low pressure warning both visually and audibly, removing a lot of anxiety from an already tenuous and sensitive situation.