Introduction

Healthcare equipment and medical supplies (also known as armamentarium) are designed to help in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of conditions, like illnesses or injuries.
In addition, they are necessary to ensure a healthy, safe, sanitary and sterile work environment.

The commonness of illness associated with unhealthy lifestyles, the advances in healthcare technologies, the ever-increasing volume of hospital, surgical and outpatient medical procedures, the increase in public and private healthcare spending, the implementation of stricter infection prevention standards and an aging population are expected to keep demand for these products and services strong.

The goods and services provided by this industry are the pillars of modern medical care.
They are essential to the smooth functioning of hospitals and other healthcare facilities as well as to the quality of life and well-being of home care patients.

What Do Medical Supply Websites Offer?

The medical supply industry is an important part of the overall healthcare sector.
It provides all types of disposable and durable supplies for home or patientcare facility setting.

Common product categories in this field include:

• Assistive Furniture & Aids
• Bariatric Care
• Bath & Shower Safety
• Catheter & Urology
• Clinic Supplies
• Daily Living Aids
• Diabetic
• Diagnostic
• Emergency & First Aid Kits
• EMS / EMT
• Exam Room Equipment & Furniture
• Incontinence Care
• Infection Control
• Lab Equipment & Supplies
• Mobility Aids & Ambulatory Care
• Needles & Syringes
• Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women’s Health
• Orthopedic Therapy
• Ostomy
• Pain Relief
• Patient Care
• Pediatrics
• Rehab Management
• Respiratory
• Stethoscopes
• Surgical Supplies
• Wheelchairs
• Wound Care

Target Audience

Providers of medical supplies serve a diverse audience, which includes:

• Home Patients
  As more and more patients are receiving care at home, new self-treatment solutions become available for use every year.
  Such innovative technologies make it easier for patients to manage their healthcare needs and regain independence, safety and mobility.
  The ongoing care process requires proper access to consumable medical supplies, durable equipment, specialty items and professional life-enhancing products.
  Those means are essential to successfully recover from injuries and surgeries or help cope with various chronic conditions and disorders.

• Hospitals
  In order to provide excellent patient care, hospitals need to procure and maintain a wide scope of clinical equipment, furniture and disposable supplies.
  Since hospitals are required to provide complete and comprehensive care for almost any type of ailment, injury or health condition, they need to possess a huge variety of equipment and supplies.
• Clinics
  Medical clinics as well as their personnel, can’t do their jobs without the necessary specialized tools which is required to examine, diagnose and treat patients.
  The challenges of running a busy and successful physician office never stop and the right products offer simpler and better ways to run a practice efficiently.
• Healthcare Professionals
  Doctors, nurses, caregivers and other medical specialists who work in a variety of healthcare organizations, come in close contact with patients and fully understand their individual clinical needs.
• Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF)
  Nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities and hospices provide a variety of services and supports, both medical and non-medical in nature.
  These institutions offer extended care and assistance with the basic daily living activities over a substantial period of time and are given to people who are unable to manage their life on their own, especially older or chronically ill.
• Clinical Labs
  Hospital, physician office and independent diagnostic labs offer crucial on-site testing capabilities, which enable to collect biological samples, process them and accurately report analytical results in a timely manner.
• Seniors
  As each individual grows older, it may become extremely challenging to move around and manage even the simplest and most banal essential daily living tasks.
  Senior care products help the elderly remain independent in their own home for as long as possible, age with grace and dignity and improve their overall quality of life.
  Using the right solution can help make life a lot easier and may allow a senior to be less dependent or in need of less assistance from their primary caregiver.
  Many of such items and services are fully or partially covered by Medicare, Medicaid or privately held insurance plans.
• The Disabled
  Assistive, adaptive and rehabilitative products and accessories make it easier for disabled adults and children with limited mobility to stay active and enjoy greater levels of freedom and independence in their daily life.
• Others
  Other typical customers of online medical supply ecommerce sites include academic education institutions, nursing schools, government agencies, caregivers, students, survival and emergency preparedness enthusiasts as well as private consumers and their families.

Disposable vs Durable Products

There are two main types of healthcare products: durable medical equipment (DME) and disposable medical supplies.

Disposable or consumable medical supplies are non-durable healthcare items or materials, which are not intended for repeated use – but for a single use only.
Examples for common items include adult diapers, disposable gloves, wipes, surgical masks, etc.

Durable medical equipment is non-disposable in nature and designed for repeated use, prescribed or ordered by a physician, used to serve a specific medical purpose and can be used continuously at home.
Examples for such products include hospital beds, blood testing monitors, oxygen equipment, walkers, canes, patient lifts, manual wheelchairs and power mobility devices.

Paying for Medical Supplies with PayPal

Even though PayPal is one of the most popular payment methods on the internet, many online wholesale medical equipment and supply distribution websites have not adopted it yet.
However, a fair number of players in this market do accept PayPal and hopefully, their number will increase with time.