CMEDS is a provincial program that is available to families with children qualifying for the At Home Program. CMEDS recycles equipment funded by the At Home Program, and provides families with recycled equipment across BC. As the equipment manager, HME will process requests for deliveries of equipment with direction received by the provincial government.
Please note that HME can provide equipment for post-operation equipment requirements as does Red Cross. You may contact Red Cross or MCFD for more information.
MCFD Role
The MCFD is responsible for approving all equipment loans from the program, as well as qualifying families to access the equipment.
HME is responsible for setting up and delivering approved loans of equipment, picking up equipment, and servicing all At Home Program equipment over 2 years or outside the manufactures warranty period. These equipment loans include the following types of equipment:
Biomedical equipment (see biomedical section of website for further information)
For clients in the lower mainland and Southern Vancouver Island, HME does the equipment delivery, setup, pickup of equipment and servicing.
For clients outside lower mainland and Southern Vancouver Island, the CMEDS program uses local dealers in those areas to provide services.
CMEDS Hours of Operation
MCFD and HME operate the CMEDS program Monday to Friday from 8:30-4:30pm. MCFD adjusters are available to approve equipment/process requests and send to HME during these hours of operation, and HME processes them during this time. CMEDS is not open on the weekends, and the program does not offer emergency after hours or weekend support. Please note the program is also closed for all Canadian Statutory holidays.
New Loan Request Form
The MCFD requires that therapists prescribe all equipment. In order to access equipment, a prescribing therapist must fill in and submit the CMEDS Equipment Request Form directly to the ministry. Once the MCFD receives, reviews and approves the form, they submit the form to HME, where we process the equipment. If equipment is available, HME will contact the therapist and inform them the loan is available of equipment. If equipment is not available, HME will let the MCFD know, so a quote can be submitted to the AHP once the appropriate equipment has been determined by the therapist.
Families or therapists must complete the Repair Request Form, and must submitted to HME or a local dealer indicated on the form for the repair request to be conducted. Please note it is important to note the age of equipment (equipment under 2 years or inside the manufactures warranty period must be repaired by the selling dealer) and if the equipment was funded by At Home Program (only equipment funded by At Home Program is eligible for repair). If families or therapists cannot fill in the form, please call HME to arrange a repair request or email HME.
Please note that the following are examples of repair requests that are not eligible for repair:
Damages caused by client or third party damage are not covered (i.e.: wheelchair hit by car, item damaged by airline/commercial transport). For those items, the clients or party that caused it/other funder (ICBC) must cover the repair
One flat tire repair is covered each year. After one flat tire, it is the client responsibility to have it repaired
Damage caused by misuse (i.e. item left out in rain and electronics are damaged)
Lost items are not covered (i.e. missing leg-rests), these should be quoted to the MCFD
Damage caused by fire or floods should be claimed on home owners insurance
All adjustments/changes are not covered, these should be quoted to MCFD at home program
Clients must put air in tires on their own, this is not a service that is offered
Please see the CMEDS Repair Request Form that may be completed and sent to CMEDSrepairs@hmebc.com Note: Form can be filled in electronically (fillable PDF). Requests without form will not proceed.
For all Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island clients, submit the CMEDS repair request form directly to HME at CMEDSrepairs@hmebc.com or call at 604-821-0075 or 250-386-0075 for Southern Vancouver Island. Do not use any other dealers in the Lower Mainland or Southern Vancouver Island (including Nanaimo), the repair request must go to HME for these zones to the above email address. For clients outside Southern Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland, select the nearest out of town dealer from the list below and submit the repair request form to the closest dealer. If you have questions, please email the CMEDSrepairs@hmebc.com email address for assistance.
Equipment Return Process
When a client is complete with an MCFD loan equipment or trial, the product (s) need to be returned for recycling for other families (if in good condition). Here is the process to return equipment:
Process for Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island Clients (including Nanaimo)
1. If the client is in the lower mainland or on Vancouver Island, the the client or therapist can return the equipment to HME (see address below) or to the nearest CDC (Please check with your CDC if they allow a drop off). For out of town clients see “List of Sub dealers” section below. (No form needed for drop off.)
Victoria Child Development Centre735 Cordova Bay Rd, Victoria, BC V8Y 1P7
2. If the client is unable to return the heavy items please arrange equipment return pick up. Clients or therapists may complete the form and submit for pickup. The following items are eligible for at home pickup
Hospital beds
Portable lifts (we do not recycle fixed ceiling track lifts)
Floor lifts
Mattresses
All other items must be dropped off to HME or nearest CDC (Please check with your CDC if drop off is allow). Small items (bathroom safety) or parts are not eligible for pick up due to the costs of returning small items (must be dropped off).
3. If you are aware that the equipment is damaged or very old, please contact HME at (604) 821 0075 and ask for the coordinator. We will then review and see if we will not pick up the equipment (client may dispose).
Process for Clients outside Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island
1. Refer to the nearest local dealer (listed below) and arrange for the client to return the equipment to the local dealer office or drop off to the following CDC offices:
Starbright Child Development Centre
1687 Strathcona Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 4E7
Starbright Children’s Development Centre
1546 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6R9
O S N S Child Development Centre
550 Carmi Ave, Penticton, BC V2A 3G6
NONA Child Development Centre
2802 34 St, Vernon, BC V1T 5X1
2. If the client is unable to return the heavy items please arrange equipment return pick up. Clients or therapists may complete the form and submit for pickup. The following items are eligible for at home pickup
powerchairs, tilt chairs and manual wheelchairs
Hospital beds
Portable lifts (we do not recycle fixed ceiling track lifts)
Floor lifts
Mattresses
3. If you are aware that the equipment is damaged or very old, please contact HME at (604) 821 0075 and ask for the coordinator. We will then review and see if we will not pick up the equipment (client may dispose).
Please see CMEDS Equipment Return Formto request an equipment return (loan or trial) to CMEDS program, you may complete and send it to cmedsreturns@hmebc.com. You only need this for pick-up not if client or therapist drops off equipment. Note: Form can be filled in electronically (fillable PDF).
Items not recycled by CMEDs and will not be picked up:
Overhead ceiling lifts (fixed track) – CMEDS will not remove
Lift chairs
Tricycle
Bikes
Custom seating
Modification vs Adjustment vs Repair
What is a modification and what is an adjustment? What does it mean anyways?
At a high level the major differences between an adjustment and a modification is:
Adjustment:
An adjustment is a non-permanent change to equipment that can be accomplished onsite with basic tools and does not require new parts to be completed. These can be completed at the time of original delivery, or within a reasonable time frame from the original delivery date (i.e. 30 days)
An adjustment can be requested on the CMEDS Repairs Request form
Adjustments can be performed by HME for CMEDS equipment
Modification
A modification is a permanent alteration to equipment that requires new parts on the base product
For any modification requests made within 14 days of equipment delivery, modifications will be permissible through CMEDS if the parts are available in the recycled pool. If the parts are not available, and/or it is past 14 days, then the request should quoted by any MSA dealer to AHP
A modification request needs to submitted to the At Home Program for approval with a quote, and Letter of Justification from the prescribing therapist for the requested components
A modification may be quoted by any MSA dealer, as it is not through the CMEDS program
Please note that CMEDS has a limited stock of recycled parts harvested from equipment that has been written off. CMEDS does not purchase parts for modifications, therefore if accessories are not available from the pool, please refer to AHP funding
Please note that CMEDS will not “down” other pieces of fully assembled equipment/systems to adjust or modify a piece of equipment that is with a client
Adjustments
Modifications
Tightening/repositioning a headrest
Changing the width of a chair (if requires new parts)
Adjusting the angle of a backrest or back canes if the product allows
Requesting waterfall armrests when the wheelchair has full length armrests
Lengthening legrests
Changing from plastic footplates to aluminum angle adjustable footplates
Raising the STF if parts are not required (usually up to 1” of change can be accomplished without parts)
Changing STF if parts are needed (i.e. changing caster and wheel sizes.
Changing the dump in the wheelchair
Changing casters/wheels from solid polyurethane to air inserts
Changing center of gravity (if applicable to chair)
Changing the back canes on a chair (taller or shorter)
Repair
A repair of equipment is typically a service request to repair equipment to return it to a usable and safe condition
Repairs resulting from general use of products, such as tuning up the equipment
A repair is completed through the CMEDS program (contact HME or the local dealer listed in the Repair Request Form if outside of HME’s service area)
Lost/damaged (caused by misuse) items are not considered repairs under CMEDS
Replacing a lost anti tipper or wheel lock extension is NOT a repair
CMEDS covers one flat tire per year, otherwise these are not a repair
List of Sub dealers
HME is using an approved list of subcontractors for clients located outside of the lower mainland and Southern Vancouver Island. Please review the attached list for the nearest CMEDS provider near you.
Kootenay Columbia Home Medical Equipment – Castlegar 630 17 Street Castlegar, BC V1N 4G7 Phone: 250-365- 7772 Fax: 250-365- 7791 Toll Free: 1-866- 515-7772
PG Surg Med – Kamloops Unit 9, 111 Oriole Road Kamloops, BC V2C 4N6 Phone: 236-425- 1235 Fax: 236-425- 1238 Toll Free: 1-844- 259-8576
PG Surg Med – Kelowna 200-1546 Harvey Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6G2 Phone: 236-420-7288
PG Surg Med – Prince George Unit 1, 1749 Lyon Street Prince George, BC V2N 1T3 Phone: 250-564- 2240 Fax: 250-564- 2243 Toll Free: 1-800- 663-2963
PG Surg Med – Vernon 4205 25th Avenue Vernon, BC V1T 1P4 Phone: 250-549-7288 Fax: 250-549-7281 Toll Free: 1-866-942-7288
North Coast Home Medical Equipment 4443 Keith Avenue, Terrace BC V8G 1J7 Phone: 250-638- 1301 Fax: 250-638- 0174 Toll Free: 1-866- 638-1301
Kootenay Columbia Home Medical Equipment – Cranbrook 250 Slater Road Cranbrook, BC V1C 5C8 Phone: 250-426- 6600 Fax: 250-489- 2400 Toll Free: 1-800- 661-4022
Northern Vancouver Island Dealers
Island Mediquip – Courtenay #9-204 Old Island Highway Courtenay, BC Phone: 1-250-871-0366 Fax: 1-250-871-0365
