Supplies Page

Here are some tips to remember when choosing your type of ostomy supplies:

1. Always consult with your ET nurse first for information and recommendations for your particular situation.
2. Remember that every person is different and you need to find what works best for you.
3. You are free to experiment with different manufacturers of the same product or different types of products.
4. Call the manufacturer's toll free 800 number and request product samples, or ask your supplier for a sample.
5. Check with your supplier for suggestions for new products. Ask if they have an ET nurse available to answer questions.

Problems with your pouching systems generally split into two categories:

Problem: Defective product - e.g., pinholes or tears in pouch material, broken tail clips, damaged flanges/wafers.
Solution: Contact either the manufacturer or the place of purchase. Request either a refund and/or a replacement    product.  Write down the lot numbers from the box and return it for new products.
 

Problem: Product Incompatibility - e.g., an allergy to the tape or materials in the wafer or pouch, leakage due to the wafer not sticking or developing after weight change, etc.
Solution: Contact your ET nurse for trouble-shooting the exact cause, and for finding a more appropriate system. If you find you've recently purchased a large amount of a particular product that is no longer appropriate for you, contact the place of purchase for their policies on exchanges or credit. They often will also suggest alternative products to try on a no obligation basis.  

Custom-Fitted Pouching Systems: 

It is sometimes necessary for individuals to have ostomy products custom-fitted for their particular need. Whether it is for the wafer of a two- piece system or a special one piece pouch system, ask your ET nurse for recommendations. Remember what works for one person does not always work for another.  

Listed below are major manufacturers of ostomy products -- e.g., pouches, wafers, etc. For additional manufacturers, consult the Advertisers Index in the Ostomy Quarterly Magazine or check with your ET nurse.

Coloplast, Inc.
1955 West Oak Circle
Marietta, GA 30062-2249   Tel: 800-533-0464

ConvaTec, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
P.O. Box 5254
Princeton, NJ 08543-5254   Tel: 800-422-8811 (ET nurse on staff!)

Cymed Ostomy Co.
1336-A Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94702      Tel: 800-582-0707

Hollister Inc.
2000 Hollister Drive
Libertyville, IL 60048-3746   Tel: 800-323-4060 (ET nurse on staff!)

Marlen Manufacturing & Development Co.
5150 Richmond Road
Bedford, OH 44146-1331   Tel: 216-292-7060

Nu-Hope Laboratories, Inc.
P.O. Box 331150
Pacoima, CA 91333-1150 Tel: 800-899-5017

Torbot Group, Inc.
1367 Elmwood Ave.
Cranston RI 02910   Tel: 800-545-4254 (ET nurse on staff!)

VPI, A Cook Group Company
127 South Main Street, P.O. Box 266
Spencer, IN 47460-0266 Tel: 800-843-4851
Non-Adhesive Ostomy Systems (urostomy, colostomy, ileostomy)

There are three major categories of ostomy supply dealers. Before you choose a particular supplier, you should be aware of the different services and choices each type offers:

·     Medical/Surgical Supply Houses - These companies specialize in selling all types of medical supplies. If they focus on ostomy products, they may offer special services such as ostomy nurses on staff, product recommendations, and troubleshooting advice. They will have a large amount of frequently used supplies in stock, but can also special-order items. You generally purchase products by shopping at their store.

·     Mail-order Companies - These companies operate on a national level, similar to any mail-order catalog. Once you receive a catalog, you can place an order by phone or by mail. Due to the large volume of supplies they sell, mail order supply houses often provide a discount on prices. They may also have ostomy experts available for consultation. They do provide an easy way to purchase supplies.

·     Local Drugstores - Due to consolidation and specialization in the industry, fewer and fewer chain drugstores will special-order medical supplies, but some of the remaining independent stores often will provide such customized service. They may or may not carry a number of different brands. However, they may charge higher prices due to smaller volume.

There are several different ways to find suppliers of ostomy products:

Ask your ET nurse for recommendations.

Look in your local Yellow Pages directory under "Medical Supplies," "Surgical Supplies," "Hospital Supplies," "Ostomy Supplies," etc.

Check the Advertisers Index of the Phoenix Quarterly Magazine. 

Don't forget to check your medical insurance policy, which may limit the suppliers you may use and receive reimbursement.

Choosing a particular ostomy product supplier is a matter of individual preference. When shopping for ostomy supplies, as for any consumer product, you can shop for service as well as for price.

Remember that you have rights as a consumer and that you can change your supplier at any time, insurance permitting. The following issues are important to consider when evaluating an ostomy products supplier:

Range of brands carried - Do they carry only the most popular items, and do they special-order items and new products?

Price - It sometimes pays to "comparison-shop." Mail-order companies often discount from the list price, but charge shipping and handling costs. Some may not carry products from every manufacturer. Smaller local pharmacies may not be able to discount, may carry less inventory but may provide other services

Ease of Use and Accessibility - Is it easier for you to walk or drive to the local pharmacy or pick up the phone and place a catalog order? Will the local surgical supplier or drugstore deliver? If you prefer to purchase only a few items at a time, think about the shipping and handling costs charged per order by mail-order companies. Also, find out how quickly you can obtain a product on an emergency basis.

Special Services - Ask if there are ET nurses for consultation and advice and if they can do special orders. Some suppliers are a wealth of information on ostomy products and their use. Remember, it never hurts to ask!

Insurance Reimbursement - Do they handle direct billing to your insurer? Will they give you appropriate receipts to receive reimbursement if you file the claims yourself? Are they approved by your HMO to purchase supplies from and still receive reimbursement? Do they accept Medicare assignment or charge you the additional difference between the Medicare payment and the list price? (See the Insurance Issues page for more complete information on insurance reimbursement issues.)

Unused Supplies - If your stoma size changes, or you switch to a different brand, find out if you can return your unused products for credit or a refund. Most suppliers will allow this but policies do vary. You could also donate surplus ostomy products through Friends of Ostomates Worldwide to its SHARE program, which sends these supplies to needy ostomates overseas.

Complaints - Ask how they handle returns or replacements of defective products. Some suppliers may accept them, others may tell you to call the manufacturer directly.