On this page: How it works | Who we serve | What it connects | Management vs. billing | How to choose | FAQs
Sources: CMS FY 2026 hospice final rule · HRSA nurse workforce projections
- 01
Assess the patient
Nurses answer a short patient questionnaire in the Nurse Portal, and the rules engine recommends the equipment and supplies that match the answers.
- 02
Place the order
The nurse confirms the recommended items, selects the ordering physician, and submits. Priority rules and a configurable cut-off time set the delivery date automatically, so priority items ordered before the cut-off are scheduled for the same day.
- 03
Deliver on schedule
Orders flow into transport planning, where routes, delivery windows, and customer tracking links are set through the Descartes routing integration.
- 04
Track equipment by patient
The equipment list shows every item on rent or awaiting delivery for each patient, so nurses and coordinators work from the same record.
- 05
Request the pickup
When a patient no longer needs an item, the nurse selects it, adjusts the quantity, and submits a pickup request.
- 06
Bring outside vendors into the same workflow
Purchase orders, pickups, and order notes for vendor-supplied equipment are exchanged with vendor systems through web service integrations.
- 07
Stay on top of every patient
When nurses log in, the portal opens on their patient alerts and a configurable dashboard, and they can log service calls against any item on rent.
- Lower equipment cost per patient, because idle and unreturned items are visible and recovered sooner.
- More nursing time at the bedside, because ordering takes minutes on a phone instead of calls and faxes.
- Fewer late deliveries, because priority and cut-off rules schedule each order the moment it is submitted.
- Lower labor cost in operations, because orders, pickups, and vendor updates move without rekeying.
What DME Management Software Connects for Care Providers
| Capability | What RentalResult does | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse ordering | A patient questionnaire recommends the right items, and the nurse submits the order with the ordering physician | Orders are complete the first time |
| Inventory and purchasing | Owned stock, rented stock, and purchase orders share one view | You know what is available before a patient waits |
| Equipment tracking | Every item is tied to a patient from delivery to pickup | Fewer units go missing, and more return to service |
| Delivery and pickup | Priority rules, cut-off times, routing, and tracking links run on one schedule | Patients are not left waiting on a bed or a concentrator |
| Outside vendors | Purchase orders, pickups, and notes sync with vendor systems | Vendor activity sits next to owned equipment |
| Service requests | Nurses log service calls against on-rent equipment from the portal, and coordinators get email updates when a call is created or changes | Equipment problems are tracked against the item and the patient until they are resolved |
DME Management Software vs. DME Billing Software
Search for DME software and most results describe billing platforms built for DME suppliers. Care providers need something different. DME billing software helps a supplier submit claims and collect from payers. DME management software helps a provider get the right equipment to a patient, keep it accountable, and control what it costs. RentalResult is DME management software, and it works alongside the clinical and finance systems you already run.
| Question | DME management software | DME billing software |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | Hospice, home health, post-acute, and hospital teams that order equipment for patients | DME suppliers that bill Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers |
| Core job | Ordering, delivery, tracking, pickup, vendor management, and cost control | Claims, eligibility checks, documentation, and collections |
| Success measure | On-time delivery, return-to-ready time, and equipment cost per patient | Clean claim rate and days in accounts receivable |
| Daily users | Nurses, coordinators, dispatchers, and operations leaders | Billing specialists and intake staff |
| Example | RentalResult | Supplier billing platforms |
How to Choose DME Management Software
Use these six questions to compare platforms before you book a demo.
Nurse-first ordering
Can a nurse place a complete order for a patient in minutes from a phone or tablet?
Patient-level tracking
Does every item stay tied to a patient from delivery to pickup?
Delivery control
Does the system set priorities, cut-off times, and routes, or does dispatch still work from spreadsheets?
Vendor coverage
Can orders filled by outside vendors run in the same workflow as owned equipment?
Integration
Does it connect to your clinical, finance, and logistics systems through documented interfaces?
Fit with your process
Will it adapt to how your teams already work, or force nurses into a new process?
RentalResult was built around each of these requirements, and VITAS Healthcare runs its DME program on it.
Book a Demo
More from the DME library
- WhitepaperModern DME ManagementRead the whitepaper
- GuideWhat Is Hospice DME Tracking?Read the guide
- GuideHow DME Tracking Increases ROI for Home Healthcare and HospiceRead the guide
- GuideHow DME Management Software Cuts Down on Correction CostsRead the guide
- GuideHospice Care Made Easier: Top 10 HME/DME Software FeaturesRead the guide
- GuideReducing Healthcare Costs Amid Economic PressuresRead the guide
- GuideWhat Are DME Trackers?Read the guide
- GuideDigital Healthcare: Transforming DME ManagementRead the guide
- GuideDoing More with Less: DME in Hospice CareRead the guide
- GuideHow Hospice DME Providers Can Maximize ROIRead the guide
- GuideUsing DME Tracking as a Document Tracking SystemRead the guide
DME Management Software FAQs
What is DME management software?
DME management software is a system that manages durable medical equipment across the full cycle of assessment, ordering, delivery, tracking, pickup, and return. It gives care providers one record of every item, the patient using it, and what it costs.
What is the difference between DME and HME?
DME, or durable medical equipment, is reusable equipment prescribed for medical use, such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, and oxygen concentrators. HME, or home medical equipment, is DME used in a patient’s home. RentalResult manages both in the same system.
What is the best DME management software for hospice providers?
The best DME management software for hospice lets nurses order equipment from a phone, ties every item to a patient, schedules delivery and pickup automatically, and brings outside vendors into the same workflow. RentalResult does all four, and VITAS Healthcare runs its DME program on it.
How does DME management software improve patient service?
It shortens the time between a nurse’s assessment and equipment at the bedside. Nurses order from a phone, tablet, or browser, priority rules set the delivery date as soon as the order is submitted, and coordinators follow the delivery in the same record.
Can nurses order DME from a phone?
Yes. The RentalResult Nurse Portal runs in a mobile browser on a phone or tablet with a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Nurses can view their patients, complete a questionnaire, submit orders, and request pickups.
Can DME management software manage outside vendor orders?
Yes. RentalResult sends purchase orders, pickups, and order notes to integrated vendor systems and receives status updates back, so vendor-supplied equipment is tracked next to owned equipment.
Does RentalResult handle DME billing or claims?
No. RentalResult is DME management software, not a claims billing system. It manages ordering, delivery, tracking, outside vendors, and equipment cost, and users can open a patient’s record in your external clinical application directly from RentalResult.
How does DME management software lower operating costs?
It lowers operating costs by recovering equipment sooner, cutting manual order handling, and bringing outside vendor orders into the same system, so providers stop paying for equipment no patient is using.
Does DME management software fit existing business processes?
Yes. RentalResult is configured around established workflows, including questionnaire rules, order priorities, cut-off times, and user permissions, so teams adopt it without disrupting patient care.