FAQ
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about home oxygen therapy
Home oxygen therapy can raise many questions – both for those starting treatment and their loved ones. On this page you will find answers to the most common questions about home oxygen therapy.
General information on home oxygen therapy
Oxygen therapy is needed when the lungs can no longer deliver enough oxygen to the bloodstream. This may be due to a long-term lung disease, such as COPD, or other conditions that impair lung function. Extra oxygen helps the body to get the oxygen it needs.
Home oxygen therapy means that a person receives supplementary oxygen in their own home – safely and as prescribed by their doctor. Oxygen is administered by a special device such as an oxygen concentrator, a liquid oxygen device or a bottle of medicated oxygen, and breathed in through an oxygen whisk or mask.
Treatment is always planned on an individual basis according to the doctor’s instructions. Its aim is to help you breathe easier, increase your ability to cope and support you in living as well as possible at home.
You can’t. Oxygen is classified as a medicine and its use requires a prescription and an individual treatment plan. Treatment is always carried out in collaboration with healthcare professionals, safely and under supervision.
Oxygen therapy should not be stopped or interrupted on your own. Stopping without medical advice can be harmful or even dangerous. If the treatment seems difficult or if you have any questions, it is important to contact your doctor or care team. If necessary, the situation will be reassessed and any changes to treatment will always be made in consultation with health professionals.
The medical oxygen and how to order it
Medicated oxygen is a special type of pure oxygen that is used as a treatment on the prescription of a doctor. It is manufactured to strict quality standards and is an official medicinal product. Medicated Oxygen is usually supplied in a pressurised bottle or in a container of liquid oxygen. Its use always requires a prescription and an individual treatment plan.
You always need a prescription written by a doctor to order medical oxygen. Once we have received the prescription and the order form, Customer Service will contact the client to make practical arrangements, such as the delivery date and any necessary orientation.
For more detailed ordering instructions and order forms, please see the page: Ordering home oxygen therapy products.
Medical oxygen is delivered to the home according to the individual needs of the client, taking into account Woikoski’s driving days to the location. The customer must order the medication appliance from the Woikoski Customer service for home oxygen therapy. Our goal is to make getting oxygen as easy and hassle-free as possible for you.
Once the patient has received a prescription, the first order can be placed either from the healthcare centre or by guiding the patient through the ordering process. In the future, the client or their family member can place orders directly with Woikoski Medical. More detailed ordering instructions and order forms can be found on the website: Ordering home oxygen therapy products.
Yes. The rent of the the cylinder and medical oxygen is covered by Kela’s basic reimbursement and accumulates towards Kela’s medicine cap, i.e. the annual deductible.
The costs of treatment contribute to Kela’s medicine ceiling, i.e. the annual contribution. When the annual deductible is met, bills can be sent by proxy directly to Kela from Woikoski Medical.
For more information, visit the Kela website: https://www.kela.fi/medical-oxygen
Equipment and use
A mobile oxygen concentrator is a small and lightweight battery-powered device that delivers supplemental oxygen to a mobile patient. It works by enriching oxygen from the surrounding air. Lightweight and reliable, the portable oxygen concentrator is easy to carry in a shoulder bag or backpack. They are also ideal for longer journeys – and are approved for air travel.
An informal statement from the treating service is required for the supply of a mobile acid enrichment device to a private person.
The Freestyle Comfort travel oxygen concentrator is approved for air travel. Most airlines will accept travel oxygen concentrators on board, but you should always inform them in advance. The airline has its own requirements, including the battery life of the mobile oxygen concentrator. The battery life of the Freestyle Comfort varies between 2 and 8 hours (depending on battery size and flow rate), and spare batteries may also be included.
If you are travelling by air, remember to check the airline’s instructions. Well in advance of your planned flight, you should obtain permission from your doctor to fly and contact the airline.
A liquid oxygen appliance is a home device or portable liquid oxygen container containing liquid oxygen at a very cold temperature (-183 °C).
When the liquid oxygen vaporises, it becomes a breathable gas. Liquid oxygen allows a large amount of oxygen to be stored in a small space, making it particularly suitable for people with a high or constant need for oxygen. An oxygen nasal cannula or mask is also required to administer liquid oxygen.
If you experience any problems with your home oxygen therapy device, please contact Woikoski Medical’s home oxygen therapy customer service the next business day.
Customer service for home oxygen therapy
We are open on weekdays from 8.00-15.30
kotihappihoito@woikoski.fi
045 788 15403
Text messages cannot be sent to this service number.
If your bottle of medical oxygen unexpectedly runs out during the night, contact Woikoski Medical’s Home Acid Care customer service the next business day.
Customer service for home oxygen therapy
We are open on weekdays from 8.00 to 15.30
Text messages cannot be sent to this service number.
The sufficiency of a bottle of medical oxygen depends on the size of the bottle and how much oxygen you use per minute. The table shows the estimated use times for different sizes and pressures (200 bar) of medicated acid bottles at different flow rates when. When the flow rate remains the same throughout use and the bottle is full at the start.
Nasal cannula
An oxygen nasal cannula is a soft, plastic tube with two small nose pieces that are inserted into the nostrils. They carry extra oxygen directly to the airways. The nasal cannula is connected to an oxygen device such as an oxygen concentrator, a bottle of medicated oxygen or a liquid oxygen device.
- Gently place the nose part of the nasal cannula against the nostrils
- Put the hose behind your ears – this will keep the oxygen nasal cannula in place.
- Tighten the oxygen hoses under the chin so that they stay in place, but there is no kink in the hoses.
- Adjust the oxygen device to the flow rate prescribed by your doctor.
It is usually best to change your oxygen nasal cannula every 2-4 weeks. The frequency of replacement is individual, depending on the amount of use. For more detailed instructions, please contact the treating unit.
The hose length for an oxygen nasal cannula is usually 1.2-2 metres.
Safety and use in everyday life
Medical oxygen can be used safely at home by following the instructions and safety regulations of your doctor and Woikoski Medical. The user of the liquid oxygen equipment is always given a guidance visit at the start of treatment, and a comprehensive information package with important safety instructions is included in the first delivery.
If you have any questions or need more information, our customer service team will be happy to help.
Customer service for home oxygen therapy
We are open on weekdays from 8.00-15.30
Text messages cannot be sent to this service number.
Not under any circumstances. Smoking during oxygen therapy is dangerous and completely forbidden. Increasing oxygen levels increases the risk of fire, as oxygen promotes the combustion reaction.
You can’t. Open flames and various sources of sparks must not be in the same room as oxygen equipment and a person using oxygen.
Yes – small and lightweight home oxygen therapy devices are precisely what make it possible to move around outside the home.
Diseases and assessment of the need for treatment
People with asthma do not usually need home oxygen therapy. Asthma is an episodic disease in which breathing becomes momentarily difficult, whereas home oxygen therapy is for long-term oxygen deprivation. Asthma treatment is mainly based on medication and controlling inflammation in the lungs.
An exception may be severe asthma where lung function is permanently impaired – in this case, the doctor will assess whether home oxygen therapy is suitable for the patient on an individual basis.
Yes – in some cases, home oxygen therapy may be necessary after COVID-19. If the disease has caused permanent lung damage or long-term respiratory depression, the need for supplementary oxygen may continue during the recovery period. Home oxygen therapy is always started on the basis of a doctor’s assessment. Most people recover without long-term treatment, but for some people home oxygen therapy can be an important support to help them recover and make everyday life easier.
Usually not. Supplementary oxygen is not usually needed to treat sleep apnea, because the problem is not lack of oxygen but respiratory failure.
Yes – but it is a different type of treatment from long-term home oxygen therapy.
Horton’s neuralgia, or cluster headache, can be relieved by breathing pure oxygen at a high flow rate (usually 7-15 litres per minute) in the early stages of the attack. This is done as a so-called seizure treatment, not as a continuous treatment.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor may prescribe a home oxygen tank for your seizure needs.