Pride Hires AAHomecare Lobbyist
Seth Johnson, vice president of government affairs for the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), has left the association to join Pride Mobility Products Corp, Exeter, Pa, as director of government affairs.
Seth Johnson
At AAHomecare, based in Alexandria, Va, Johnson lobbied Capitol Hill, the administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on major home care policy issues, including DME competitive bidding, the DMERC power wheelchair clarification, billing fraud and abuse, and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. Before serving AAHomecare, Johnson spent 5 years on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to two members of Congress.
“[Johnson] brings a wealth of practical political experience from his years in Washington,” says Mark Miller, vice president of marketing and industry relations. “He combines an understanding of the home care industry with a proven ability to get things done.”
Kevin Quaglia, general manager of industry relations, will continue to serve Pride and Pride providers with a focus on industry relationships with consumer groups, clinicians, organizations, and provider, state, and industry associations.
HME Insider
The home health care market has been lacking an easy-to-operate, attractive commode chair, according to Eric Chen, division manager at Lifecare, El Monte, Calif. Recognizing that unmet need, Lifecare designed the EZ-Up lift chair. Dealer/Provider spoke with Chen about the product he says will revolutionize the lift chair market. Eric Chen
Q What are the three biggest problems with toilet lifts on the market today?
A The lift chairs on the market primarily rely on mechanical devices to uplift. The mechanical device, or the pneumatic pumps, activate only at the later stage of the standing-up motion, when the person is already almost upright. It is not very helpful for the most needed and the most difficult part of the motion, which is the beginning of standing up. The lifting power is inconsistent throughout the uplift motion. Most lift chairs in the market require tension adjustment to accommodate different users for different weights. Without adjusting the tension, the lift chair will not function properly. It is quite a hassle for multiuser families. Mechanical lift chairs look institutional, bulky, and unappealing to home users. Most models on the market are made of steel and can be heavy and difficult to set up. Q How has your company addressed those concerns?
A LifeCare recognizes the need for a simple, functional uplift chair. By analyzing the natural human motion and weight movement, we came up with the idea to simply utilize the user’s weight-shifting to easily “lift up” the user with minimal arm strength. Our EZ-Up lift chair helps in every part of the standing-up motion. And because of its self-propelled design, our lift can accommodate up to 250 pounds without any tension adjustment. The front-loaded springs also ensure a soft landing when sitting down. Since we eliminate the use of mechanical pumps, EZ-Up has a clean, streamlined design that not only looks good but also will complement any home décor. EZ-Up’s frame is made of high-quality hard anodized aluminum with a high-density polyurethane material seat for ultimate comfort. EZ-Up lift chair is easy to use and stylish, and, best of all, requires no tools to assemble. It can be used as a raised toilet seat (over the toilet) or as a stand-alone commode. It also can be used as a shower chair. The unit is completely rust-free, and safety suction leg tips come standard. Q What demographic will be best suited for using LifeCare’s EZ-Up?
A Anybody who is in the market for a lift chair, except for quadriplegics, paraplegics, and severe arthritic patients, can enjoy the benefits and convenience of EZ-Up. It is ideal for those who are arthritic, diabetic, or postillness with limited mobility and anybody who needs assistance sitting down or standing up in a toilet or shower. |
O2 Conserver Sales Drive CHAD Fiscal Growth
Chad Therapeutics President and CEO Earl L. Yager attributed the company’s improved revenue and net earnings for both the fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2004, to higher sales of oxygen conservers.
“The success of our conservers has restored CHAD’s traditional leadership in this important market segment, and we will continue to build on that platform,” Yager says.
The Chatsworth, Calif-based company in May announced that for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, revenue increased 14% to $5,351,000 from $4,699,000. Net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 were $209,000, or $0.02 per diluted share. This compares to a net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 of $841,000, or $0.08 per share, which included a noncash charge of $934,000 for the write-off of an intangible license fee asset.
For the 12 months ended March 31, 2004, revenue increased 10% to $21,541,000 from $19,541,000. Net earnings for fiscal 2004 were $1,001,000, or $0.10 per diluted share. This compares to a net loss for fiscal 2003 of $433,000, or $0.04 per share, after the $934,000 noncash charge mentioned above.
Yager expressed faith in the company’s new Sage SMART™ oxygen therapeutic device—which recently received US Food and Drug Administration approval—to further boost fiscal growth in 2005. He also noted progress with the company’s efforts to expand into the sleep disorder market with new devices being developed.
“If these current sales and expense trends continue,” Yager says, “we expect CHAD to generate net earnings of between $1,900,000 and $2,100,000, or $0.18 to $0.20 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.”
ResMed Partners With American HomePatient
In May, San Diego-based ResMed signed a dual primary supply agreement with American HomePatient Inc (AHP), based in Brentwood, Tenn, to purchase products that treat sleep-disordered breathing.
“American HomePatient is one of the largest and most respected companies in the home medical equipment industry,” says Keith Serzen, senior vice president of sales, marketing, and clinical education. “ResMed is very proud of its relationship with AHP, and we are extremely pleased with being awarded this agreement, which will allow us to continue to supply them with leading edge technology products.”
American HomePatient provides home health care equipment at 286 centers in 35 states.
Invacare Power Chair Wins Second Honor
After recently securing a Medical Design Excellence Award from Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine, Invacare and its Storm Series® TDX5™ power wheelchair in June won the 2004 NorTech Innovation Award. The NorTech program recognizes products and companies in northeast Ohio; Invacare is based in Elyria, Ohio. The TDX5 (Total Driving Experience) incorporates five core technologies: center-wheel drive; stability lock, which prevents forward tipping or rocking; SureStep™ suspension technology, which keeps all six wheels of the TDX5 on the ground and enables users to climb thresholds of up to three inches in height; MK5 electronics, a system that simplifies programming and adds performance adjustments to meet the needs of users with different driver control preferences; and TrueTrack technology, which prevents the wheelchair from veering off course, regardless of terrain or obstacles.
Invacare engineers and product management associates who were honored with the NorTech Award include Gerry Goertzen, Roland Mentessi, Dan Strothard, John Bertrand, Mike Albers, Dan Watson, Dale Pulver, Mark Sullivan, Barb Riles, and Hymie Pogir.
Byram Acquires Washington Medical Product Supplier
Byram Healthcare Centers Inc, Milford, Conn, in May acquired Choice Medical Supplies, which serves Northwest and Northern California. Terms of the transaction between Byram and the Bellevue, Wash-based company were not disclosed. The combined company will serve nearly 250,000 customers and generate annual revenues in excess of $100 million, according to Byram.
In Brief
The Board of Directors of Invacare Corp, Elyria, Ohio, declared a cash dividend of $.0125 per share on the company’s common shares and $.011364 per share on its Class B common shares payable July 19, 2004, to shareholders of record on July 1, 2004. • Altimate Medical Inc has received ISO 13485:2003 certification. The Morton, Minn-based company chose SGS International Certification Services Inc as its registrar and was officially certified on April 19, 2004. • Roscoe Medical, Strongsville, Ohio, now offers a line of cylinder carts and racks that can store and transport M6, C, D, E, and other size medical cylinders. • Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa, in May announced that it will make an offer to acquire the issued share capital of the United Kingdom-based sleep and respiratory product company Profile Therapeutics plc for a total of approximately $44.6 million. The acquisition has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is subject to a UK procedure that is similar in form to a tender offer in the United States. Completion of the acquisition is expected around the end of the second quarter of calendar year 2004. • Respiratory Distributors Inc, Foley, Ala, has appointed Keith Trowbridge to CEO and president. Trowbridge previously was president of Liberty Medical Supply, a Port St. Lucie, Fla-based subsidiary of Polymedica Corp. |
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