[emiller]

What do you do in a situation where a patient does not return your oxygen equipment? We have an order to d/c but can not get the patient to the door or answer any phone calls?

[Liz]

I would try and call to leave a message stating that they will be sent to collections for the equipment (message because they will not answer) . Also, send out a Pre-collections letter in the mail and have a copy of everything in the file. If you can't get ahold of a relative or the pt, then I would send them off to collections. There really isn't anything else you can do at that point. Our collection agency even sends out a pre-collect notice so the pt has an opportunity to either pay or return items within 30 days. Hope that helps!

[Regina]

The manager of the office at our other location has been successful in contacting the sherriff and having him go to the house with our driver. That would only work in small towns though, I imagine. Good luck!

[kdickinson]

Get the local Sheriffs department involved. Start by sending a certified letter to the patient informing them of the situation. Inform your patient that your company has no choice but to contact the local Sheriffs department if no contact has been made within specified timeframe. You can also send a driver out to the patient residences to recover the equipment only if you have a D/c order on file. Only send your staff if the residence is safe. This may help determine that the patient still lives at this residence. Don’t send the patient to collects yet, try and recover your equipment.