Roberts Home Medical in Baltimore: Medical Equipment and Supplies for Discharge and Recovery
Roberts Home Medical is a locally operated medical supply company serving Baltimore and surrounding counties with equipment rental and sale for post-hospital care, mobility, wound care, and daily living needs. The business handles both insurance billing and out-of-pocket purchases, making it a practical starting point for patients transitioning from acute care to home recovery.
What Roberts Home Medical actually is
Roberts Home Medical stocks and rents mobility devices (walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds), respiratory equipment (oxygen, CPAP machines), wound care supplies, and daily-living aids. The company operates as a rental-first model for high-cost durables (hospital beds, wheelchairs) and sells consumables (bandages, incontinence products, compression stockings). It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance plans when prescriptions are in place. The storefront location in Baltimore allows same-day or next-day delivery for many items, an advantage over mail-order suppliers for patients who need equipment immediately after discharge.
Equipment types, rental costs, and pricing
Hospital bed rentals typically run $50 to $90 per month for basic manual models; electric beds with head and foot adjustment run $80 to $130 monthly. Wheelchair rentals start around $40 per month for standard manual chairs; power wheelchairs rent for $150 to $250 per month depending on features. Walker rental is generally $15 to $25 per month. Oxygen equipment varies by device: portable tanks rent for $30 to $60 monthly, while home concentrators (machines that extract oxygen from room air) rent for $60 to $100 monthly. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines for sleep apnea rent for $40 to $70 monthly. Prices are subject to change and insurance coverage; always confirm rental terms and insurance responsibility with Roberts directly before equipment arrival.
Purchase options include compression stockings ($25 to $60 per pair), wound dressings ($1 to $8 per item depending on type), ostomy supplies ($50 to $150 per box), and incontinence products sold by the case. Many patients find purchasing consumables locally prevents shipping delays on items needed weekly or twice weekly.
How Roberts compares to other Baltimore medical supply options
Roberts competes primarily with national mail-order suppliers (Amedisys, Byram Healthcare) and big-box retailers (CVS, Walgreens). National suppliers offer lower prices on small consumables through bulk purchasing but typically involve 3 to 7-day delivery, a significant lag for patients who just left the hospital. Roberts' strength is in same-day or next-day delivery on large equipment and supplies within Baltimore city and county lines. For patients on fixed income, national mail-order prices on ostomy or incontinence supplies are 20 to 30 percent lower than local retail; for patients needing equipment tonight, Roberts avoids the cost and stress of overnight shipping.
Medicare-approved durable medical equipment suppliers in the Baltimore region include Apria Healthcare (respiratory focus, multiple locations, strong on oxygen and CPAP) and some hospital-based equipment programs. Apria tends to specialize deeper in respiratory equipment; Roberts holds a broader range of general post-discharge supplies under one roof. A patient needing oxygen, a walker, and wound dressings the day after discharge benefits from a single Roberts visit; the same patient might spend time coordinating with Apria for the oxygen and a second vendor for other items.
Who Roberts suits and who it does not
Roberts is ideal for patients discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, Sinai Hospital, or Mercy Medical Center who need equipment immediately and want local support. It works well for people with Medicare or Medicaid who qualify for equipment coverage and want no-hassle insurance filing. Patients who regularly rotate through different equipment (renting a walker for 2 months, then returning it for a cane) find the rental model cheaper than buying outright.
Roberts is a poor fit for patients ordering specialty prosthetics or orthotics, which require fitting and fabrication and are better handled by licensed prosthetists. It is also not suited for patients seeking medical advice; the company supplies equipment but does not offer clinical consultation on whether a particular device suits a patient's condition. That conversation belongs with the prescribing physician or a hospital discharge planner.
What a first visit involves
Call ahead or visit with a prescription from a physician or discharge planner. Bring insurance card and photo ID. Staff will confirm insurance coverage, estimate out-of-pocket cost, and discuss rental duration or purchase. For large equipment (hospital bed, power wheelchair), the company typically delivers and sets up at no extra charge within the Baltimore area. Consumables are available for immediate purchase. The visit takes 15 to 30 minutes for straightforward orders; insurance authorization can delay items requiring pre-approval.
Hours and logistics
Roberts operates Monday through Friday during standard business hours (verify specific times by phone before visiting, as hours occasionally shift with staffing). The company does not operate Saturdays or Sundays, a limitation for patients discharged on weekends; in those cases, hospital discharge planners can often arrange temporary equipment through the hospital's own supply system or emergency weekend rental programs. Parking is available on-site or on the street near the storefront location. Delivery coverage extends throughout Baltimore city and most of Baltimore County; patients in outlying areas (Harford, Anne Arundel counties) should confirm delivery eligibility and any additional fees.
Roberts Home Medical fills a gap between hospital discharge and home setup that national mail-order and retail chains cannot match within Baltimore. For anyone leaving the hospital needing equipment today, not next week, it remains a sensible first call.
