Buy from Savon Medimart for Less

It may be less expensive and more convenient to buy your medical supplies from Savon Medimart.  With changes in Medicare and with private insurance high deductibles and co-pays, you can buy direct from Savon Medimart at far lower prices.  It’s a smart alternative to the hassle and expense of dealing with insurance companies.  Savon Medimart is a sister company of Boardman Medical Supply which has been supplying DME services to the Tri-County area for over 30 years.  

“Large insurance conglomerates control what medical equipment suppliers can charge and what the reimbursement rate will be on our products,” explains Robin Savon Ivany, general manager and second generation owner of Savon Medimart.  “Contracts with insurance companies have forced DME suppliers to charge much higher prices so that the insurance companies can remain competitive.  Savon Medimart has opted to eliminate insurance contracts in order to give the savings back to our customers by drastically reducing prices, thus saving our customers a great deal of money.”

Savon Medimart is focused on helping patients to be able to get the products they need while also paying less than if an item had been submitted to an insurance company.  New Medicare regulations may require Medicare patients to switch to an out of state or out of area DME company that is a contracted Medicare Competitive Bidding Round 2 Recompete provider effective July 1, 2016.  For Medicare patients submitting DME claims, you may not be able to get the same supplies as you are getting now.  These new DME providers may not have the items you want, or the selection.  Call Savon Medimart now to see how to save on your medical supply needs.

Savon Medimart has locations in Girard, Boardman, Warren, and Twinsburg.  For more information call toll free 1-855-545-6685 or visit the website www.savonmedimart.com.

Help Parents with Mobility Issues

For those of us with aging parents who wish to stay in their own home as long as possible—there’s no better peace of mind than knowing they are safe and happy.

Each year in May and June, we see an influx of shoppers seeking products to make life easier for Mom and Dad, just in time for Mother’s and Father’s Day. People are getting the hint that flowers for her will die in a few days, and does he really need another barbecue apron?

Help Them Hold onto Independence and Mobility

To help parents with mobility issues venture out safely and securely, there is a wide selection available of scooters, wheelchairs, lift chairs, walkers, crutches and canes.

Fear of falling is also a major concern for seniors. Accidents in the bathroom are a major cause of injury. Products on the market to make this room as safe as possible include step-in tubs, grab bars, shower benches and raised commodes.

We offer a host of practical solutions to overcome barriers and make home living more manageable. If you’re not sure what Mom or Dad might need, feel free to stop in one of our stores and ask a sales consultant for advice.

Visit our website  www.savonmedimart.com to locate a store near you.

Sleep Apnea Leads to Major Health Problems

Savon Medimart's sister company, Safety First Sleep Solutions, can reduce the risk of sleep deprivation related accidents by offering affordable, low cost testing and treatment solutions for sleep apnea with sleep therapy experts available 24/7 to assist with any questions or problems.  SFSS uses a convenient, in-home low cost testing system that enables patients to be tested in the comfort of their homes.  A large component of the program is educating truck drivers, and the industry, on sleep apnea to help them become healthier.

At this time, the program is geared towards truck drivers, but it can be used for any shift workers, factory workers, pilots, bus drivers, railroad engineers or anyone where sleep apnea can cause poor productivity and put themselves and others at a great risk for accidents.  We want to help employees and companies keep the number of employee related accidents to a minimum.

The most important reason for recognizing and treating sleep apnea is to prevent future health incidents such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, impotence, stroke and heart attack.  Treating sleep apnea early in life enhances your future health and longevity.  When we sleep at night our airway is normally open, like a straw, allowing air to easily flow in and out. Oxygen moves through the lung tissue into the blood stream attaching itself to red blood cells.  These cells carry oxygen to your major organs to keep your body healthy and functioning properly.  With sleep apnea, the airway is narrower (snoring is a sign of a narrow airway) and becomes obstructed, causing the exchange of oxygen to not occur correctly.  In untreated sleep apnea, the exchange of oxygen does not occur causing the organs to not be properly oxygenated.

Think of it this way:  Vehicles require oil to keep the engine running properly.  The engine will be destroyed if the oil is dirty and disgusting.  Drivers would never allow this to happen.  The same can be said for oxygen rich blood and organs.  Untreated sleep apnea causes malfunctioning organs which causes many health related issues.  

Robin Ivany, Savon Medimart VP says: “Not only does untreated sleep apnea cause countless accidents, left undetected, it can lead to a plethora of other major health problems.  It just makes tremendous financial sense for companies to be proactive with this health issue.  This condition creates such a tremendous liability for companies, mostly because most people that actually have sleep apnea do not even know they have it.  There are no blood tests, for instance, to detect such a condition.  People are dangerously sleep deprived while they routinely operate vehicles or machinery throughout the day.  This is even a problem for employees that sit at a desk all day.  It is a huge productivity issue.” 

Put Your Insurance Card Back In Your Wallet

What makes Savon Medimart stand out from the rest when it comes to medical equipment and supplies?   SMM is dedicated to selling quality medical grade equipment and supplies to our customers at a discounted rate.  Medical equipment prices are constantly changing because of large insurance conglomerates that control the cost and reimbursement of products.   The majority of DME (durable medical equipment) companies are at the mercy of the insurance companies deciding if they want to cut their reimbursement rate or not.  During the past few years our industry has taken drastic cuts in reimbursement, some in excess of 49%.  Many companies have closed their doors because they can’t cover the cost of the product let alone additional overhead costs.   DME companies are being forced out of business at a drastic rate.  As a business owner, I knew I had to change the way we do business, not only for the livelihood of our business, but for the customers involved.  Customers are dealing with these ramifications on a daily basis.  Many customers are unable to find providers to take on their needs because the population of DME companies has dwindled so drastically over the past few years.  

My plan was to stay in business by changing our model.  We opted for a “no insurance contract model”.   Savon Medimart does not accept insurance payments of any kind and opted to be a cash and carry business.  We accept cash, checks and major credit cards.  Our prices are much lower compared to a DME company who is mandated to charge you higher prices because of insurance contracts.

Insurance companies not only cut our reimbursement but they have also made it almost impossible to get good health insurance coverage without paying an arm and leg.  More and more middle class families are unable to pay insurance premiums and have opted to go to the Marketplace to find more reasonable options.  “Cheaper” is not always better when it comes to insurance.  However, not being able to pay the rent and buy food for your family is not an option either, so off to the market place they trot.  Affordable options, yes, but let’s talk about deductibles.  The average deductible from the Marketplace can ranges anywhere from $3000.00 to $10,000.00.  This insurance will cover your family during a catastrophic event, but most healthy people don’t end up spending up to $10,000.00 on medical bills in a year.  Hence, buying your medical equipment and supplies from Savon Medimart proves to be a better option for individuals with outlandish deductibles.  Why pay more money for coinsurance fees when you can purchase discounted items for much less money out of your pocket. 

Know your insurance options before you hand over your insurance card to purchase your medical equipment and supplies.  Don’t be afraid to ask the right questions.  Know how much your insurance will pay for a product and ask the DME company how much they will be billing for those products.  Once you have the information you need, call Savon Medimart and see how much less you will be spending on the exact same products.  You will end up saving money in the long run.  Also, feel free to submit your own claim to the insurance company so that it can be added to your deductible.  Every penny counts when it comes to insurance deductibles.  Let Savon Medimart not only save you money but educate you on the products that will benefit you and your family. 
Savon Medimart prides itself on taking care of our customers by first making sure they get the products and services they need, but most importantly, at the lowest most affordable rate possible.  Put your insurance card back in your wallet and visit us for all your home medical needs including portable oxygen concentrators, Cpap and BiPap, nebulizers, lift chairs, hospital beds, bathroom safety aids, braces, tens units, ice packs / cold therapy, scooters, wheelchairs and bandage supplies and much more.  Visit one of our three locations in Girard, Twinsburg and Boardman or call us at 855-545-6685.

Article by Robin S. Ivany
Vice President/General Manager of Savon Medimart

First Aid Kits

From personal settings to professional offices, a well-stocked first aid kit is a handy thing to have.

Whether buying a kit or making your own, pass the first test of readiness by keeping a first aid kit available in the appropriate nooks and crannies of your life. You should have one in your car, at your office, and in your home. Students should have handy a mini kit for their backpacks.

Stock the kit with emergencies in mind. At minimum, include adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, a pair of latex gloves, and a roller bandage along with adhesive cloth tape.

Students can get by with the minimum, which will help to address a scrape or cut. Parents who are on-the-go should consider additional components, like medicine, to round out their first aid kits. Include antihistamines to treat allergies and swelling, pain and fever medicines, anti-nausea medicine for motion sickness, or antacids for an upset stomach. Add calamine lotion to save the day from an unfortunate encounter with poison ivy, and hydrocortisone cream for other types of skin issues. If you are heading out for especially robust activities like hiking or boating, be sure to add lotions with aloe or soy to help soothe any unfortunate sunburns, and stock up on thin, gel bandages that flex with your feet but stay put over late-day blisters.

First aid kits are more than practical—they are personal, so think about the special needs of your everyday life. Even at the office, it quickly becomes apparent to the staff which employee houses a first aid kit that includes ibuprofen or a spare stash of saline solution. You will benefit from having these supplies for your personal needs, while your friends will appreciate your preparedness when they have their own run-ins with a bee sting or a random burn from the office coffee pot.

You can find out more information about first aid kits by calling Savon Medimart 1-855-545-6685.

Good Lighting is Essential for Home Safety but Often Overlooked

Proper Illumination is one of the most important elements in a room. It’s amazing the impact lighting has in our homes and in our lives. It is one of the most important elements in any room, yet it is frequently overlooked. Good lighting can create exciting moods, maximize successful performance of daily tasks and help create a beautiful energy-efficient home. Our ability to see, and therefore remain independent through the years, is compromised by bad lighting.

Good lighting can make the difference between seeing and not seeing especially for seniors—and for millions of people with any form of vision impairment. It can make daily living tasks and activities much easier to perform and provide a safer, accident-free living environment. Good lighting will benefit people of all ages and levels of ability.

Vision deterioration for most adults with good eyesight often begins around age 40. More than 120 million Americans wear corrective lenses. One out of every four children ages 5 to 12 has a vision problem, and more than 92 percent of people ages 70 and above wear glasses. With the aging population in America, nearly 10 million people may have some form of macular degeneration by the year 2030—more than double the 4 million-plus already diagnosed with the disorder.

Seeing is Believing

Home lighting can have a profound effect on quality of life. Proper lighting design can compensate for many age- and health-related changes in the visual system. A 60-year-old needs four to six times as much glare-free light as a normal-sighted 20-year-old to perform the same visual tasks with equal speed, accuracy and safety. Lighting also makes a significant contribution to our physical and psychological well being. Properly designed lighting in homes will significantly reduce the negative effects of the natural physical changes to which we are all subjected as we age, as well as help increase personal independence, promote well-being and prevent injuries.

Lighting Basics

In general, higher levels of energy-efficient, glare-free illumination should be placed throughout the entire house including hallways, stairs and closets. Every area should have good general illumination in addition to task lighting where it’s needed. Natural filtered daylight is a good indirect ambient light source.

The successful development of reasonably priced, high quality LED lighting has become the best source of artificial illumination suitable for residential use, as it successfully converts electricity to light with much greater efficiency than any other lighting, and generates very little heat, resulting in lower cooling costs—an added benefit during summer months. High-quality LED products will produce long-lasting light, which is important for aging-in-place.

Changing burned out light bulbs is time consuming and can be a real danger. The risk of an unintentional fall from a ladder or chair while removing and replacing bulbs is dramatically reduced or eliminated by switching to long-life LED lighting. Incandescent bulbs last about 750 hours, halogens about 2,000, compact fluorescent about 8,000 and full-size rapid start electronic ballast fluorescent around 11,000 hours. However, LED lamped or powered light fixtures will last for 45,000 hours or more.

Cool operation and substantial energy savings are other excellent reasons to use LED fixtures and lamps whenever possible. Because there are a large amount of substandard imported LED lighting products on the market, it is wise to market only quality products produced by reputable manufacturers such as Philips, Cree, Osram-Sylvania, GE and Progress Lighting. These brands are often better made than many other imported types, and will most certainly provide long-lasting trouble-free life. Select LED lamps in the 3,000 kelvin color temperature, which enhances natural skin tones and works great in residential living environments.

You should evaluate every room or area in the home for a combination of good general illumination in addition to specific task lighting, including the kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedrooms. Natural indirect or filtered daylight is a good source for supplemental general light. Ceilings should have good overall illumination with no shadows.

The way our homes are lit makes a difference in so many areas, but it is imperative that safe, reliable illumination be in place in order for seniors to age at home without risk. The good news is that this is possible without sacrificing performance or design.

Article by Laurence Weinstein

Introducing the NEW iWALK 2.0 Hands Free Crutch

Introducing the NEW iWALK 2.0 hands free crutch alternative. The iWalk is a temporary lower leg prosthetic which allows you to walk with your hands free.  You can live a normal and active life that would be impossible with conventional crutches.  Savon Medimart has a certified fitter available to make your experience with the iWalk a great one!  It's not for every, so to help determine if iWalk is right for you, you should consult with your physician or visit www.savonmedimart.com for more information.