Diagnostic
Diagnostic Medical Equipment and Rapid Tests for Skilled Nursing, DME, and Home Care Providers
Geriatric Medical supplies diagnostic equipment and rapid tests in wholesale volumes to skilled nursing facilities, long-term care communities, DME/HME providers, and home care agencies nationwide. Our catalog includes blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, thermometers, pulse oximeters, patient scales, and rapid flu and COVID-19 tests, along with the consumables that go with them, so your team can source vital signs equipment and point-of-care testing from one distributor.
Whether you're equipping nursing units, outfitting home health clinicians, or restocking tests ahead of respiratory season, our team can help you select equipment and testing supplies that fit your care setting and order volume.
Diagnostic Equipment Questions from Providers
What diagnostic equipment does Geriatric Medical carry for facilities and providers?
We carry vital signs equipment including manual and digital blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, thermometers, and pulse oximeters, along with patient scales and rapid diagnostic tests for flu and COVID-19. We also stock the related consumables, such as replacement blood pressure cuffs and thermometer probe covers. Equipment is available individually, and consumables and tests are available in case quantities for facility and provider ordering.
What type of patient scale does a skilled nursing facility need?
Most skilled nursing and long-term care facilities need more than one type of scale because residents have different mobility levels. Standing scales work for ambulatory residents, wheelchair scales allow residents to be weighed without transferring out of their chair, and chair or bed scales are used for residents who can't stand or be easily transferred. Because routine weight monitoring is a key part of resident care, facilities often place scales on each unit so weights can be taken consistently.
Should we use manual or digital blood pressure monitors?
Both are common in post-acute care. Digital blood pressure monitors are faster, easier for staff to use consistently, and display readings automatically, which makes them a good fit for routine vital signs rounds. Manual sphygmomanometers used with a stethoscope are often kept as a backup and for situations where a clinician prefers to confirm a reading by auscultation. Whichever type you use, selecting the correct cuff size for each patient's arm is essential for an accurate reading, so facilities typically stock multiple cuff sizes, including large adult and thigh cuffs.
How do we keep shared diagnostic equipment from spreading infection between residents?
Shared equipment like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and pulse oximeters should be cleaned and disinfected between residents according to the manufacturer's instructions and your facility's infection control policy. Disposable thermometer probe covers and single-patient items such as disposable blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes help reduce cross-contamination, and dedicated single-patient equipment is commonly used for residents on transmission-based precautions or in isolation rooms.
Do you carry rapid flu and COVID-19 tests?
Yes. We carry rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 and influenza, including combination tests that detect COVID-19 and flu A/B from a single sample. Tests are available in professional-use formats for facilities and clinicians performing point-of-care testing, and availability of specific formats varies by manufacturer and season.
Does our facility need a CLIA certificate to perform rapid flu or COVID-19 tests?
In most cases, yes. Facilities that perform professional-use rapid tests on residents or patients, even tests classified as CLIA-waived, are generally required to hold a CLIA Certificate of Waiver and follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. Requirements can vary, so check with your state survey agency or CLIA program office to confirm what applies to your facility before you begin testing.
How should rapid test kits be stored, and do they expire?
Yes, rapid test kits have an expiration date printed on the box, and they should be stored within the temperature range listed on the kit's labeling. Kits stored too hot or too cold can produce unreliable results. Rotating stock so older lots are used first and planning orders around expected demand, especially ahead of flu season, helps facilities avoid both shortages and expired inventory.
Do you offer case pricing on diagnostic supplies and rapid tests?
Yes. Rapid tests and diagnostic consumables such as probe covers and cuffs are available by the case, with volume pricing available for facilities and providers ordering at scale.
Can we order diagnostic equipment and rapid tests through EDI or a punchout catalog?
Yes. Geriatric Medical supports EDI ordering and punchout catalog integration for accounts that manage purchasing through their own procurement, EHR, or ERP systems, so diagnostic equipment and rapid tests can be ordered the same way as the rest of your catalog without manual re-entry.