From Frustration To Transformation – One Man's Vision To Revolutionize The Durable Medical Equipment Industry

Too often, older adults have a difficult time accessing the critical Durable Medical Equipment (DME) they need. The process can often be long and frustrating, making it feel outdated and in need of a major overhaul. That's what David Gelbard discovered when his father faced significant delays in getting a walker after back surgery. 

Despite advancements in healthcare technology, Gelbard was surprised to find that the DME industry was still reliant on inefficient paper and fax orders and was prone to errors and delays. He knew things had to change. He founded Parachute Health in 2017 with the goal of revolutionizing the system and bringing it into the 21st century.

Parachute Health's DME ePrescribing platform simplifies and digitizes the entire ordering process, ensuring patients receive the equipment they need quickly while reducing costs for clinicians and suppliers.

"ePrescribing is redefining durable medical equipment delivery and is where the future of the industry lies,” Gelbard said. “Our solution streamlines processes, enhances patient care, and boosts efficiency for suppliers, clinicians, and patients alike. By partnering with industry experts, we’ve created a compliant, patient-focused system that is more than an improvement — it’s a transformation of the DME landscape."

Clinicians using Parachute Health save an average of two to three hours per week by avoiding the administrative burden of fax-based orders, the company reports. The platform seamlessly integrates with electronic health records (EHR), simplifying the process.

“It’s easy,” said Sepideh Seifnourian, a social worker at New York City’s Upper East Side (UES) Rehabilitation. “Easy to navigate and to place orders faster and with confidence, especially during the discharge process. I love it — I just love it.”

Parachute Health reports that it has already served over 5 million patients and now handles nearly 20% of all DME orders in the U.S., partnering with more than 220,000 clinicians, 66,000 clinical facilities and 3,000 supplier locations nationwide.

“The true measure of our success at Parachute Health is in the millions of patients we’ve served and the countless hours we’ve saved for clinicians. Every step we take is aimed at enhancing the care experience and empowering patient recovery,” Gelbard said.

This year, Parachute Health, in partnership with Optum, became the first platform to integrate the prior authorization process at the point of care, well ahead of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate for electronic prior authorization by 2027. Parachute is also expected to launch new artificial intelligence (AI) features to better ensure that orders include all the data required by insurance companies later this year. 

Photo credit: Mark Alhadeff

TMX contributed to this story.

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