Dynamic Design

End-users of home medical equipment have varied needs. But increasingly, as a consumer group, they are demanding HME and rehab products that look attractive and fit into their lifestyles.

Fortunately, the market is prepared. Manufacturers in virtually all product categories are investing time and money in innovative technology that meets end-users' clinical needs while placing a new emphasis on design.

The shift can be attributed to a more active and educated customer base, according to Lawrence de la Haba, vice president of marketing for Graham-Field Health Products, Atlanta. “More people who use these products are living more active lifestyles,” he says. “For instance, more people now prefer rollators if they are out. They are more colorful, they are more useful and they feature accessories such as a basket, a bag and handbrakes. Not only are they more functional but they also look much less medical than walkers.”

An aesthetically pleasing product look can even add to the user's compliance, says Doug Francis, executive vice president of Port Washington, N.Y.-based Drive Medical. “For a therapist, the main concern when they send patients home with a piece of equipment, for example a walker, is that they will be embarrassed about the product because they see it as a sign of getting old. If you can make [a product] look more like something that is attractive and young and vibrant, you've got a better shot of [patients] actually using it to follow their plan of care,” he explains.

While function is still the absolute priority, fashion is also becoming a driver according to Neal Curran, vice president of technology and intellectual property for Invacare Corp., Elyria, Ohio. Curran says the demand for products that are not clinical in design is increasing. In particular, he cites bath safety items and others that are predominantly visible in the home as targets for eye-appeal with consumers.

“There is an increased demand by users for products that don't look as rough or as clinical as far as the design, particularly in the bath safety area where you look at grab bars, tub bars or shower chairs,” says Curran.