Options for home oxygen therapy equipment: storage and metering of oxygen in the home

Home oxygen therapy equipment options have increased over the past several decades, in response to innovations in technology, economic pressure from third-party payers, and patient demands. The delivery of oxygen in the home has evolved from packaged gas systems containing 99% United States Pharmacopeia oxygen provided by continuous-flow delivery to intermittent-flow delivery, with oxygen concentrators delivering < 99% oxygen purity. The majority of published papers indicating the value of long-term oxygen therapy have been based on continuous-flow delivery of 99% United States Pharmacopeia oxygen. The lack of research on new home oxygen therapy devices requires more clinical involvement from physician and respiratory therapist to evaluate the performance of oxygen devices used in the home to ensure the patient is provided adequate oxygenation at all activity levels. New standards of care are required to address the need to have consistent titration of long-term oxygen therapy to meet the patient's home needs at all activity levels. Consistent labeling of metering devices on home oxygen equipment will need to be developed by professional medical societies to be implemented by standards organizations that direct industrial manufacturers. Home oxygen therapy will need professionally trained respiratory therapists reimbursed for skills and service to ensure that patients receive optimal benefits from home oxygen equipment to improve patient outcomes and prevent complications and associated costs.