Sunrise Medical Expands Distribution
During the next 12 to 18 months, Sunrise Medical, Longmont, Colo, will deploy an expanded distribution center (DC) strategy across the United States. These centers will increase Sunrise’s overnight delivery coverage from 30% of the country to over 80% once the plan is fully implemented. The newest Sunrise DC, located outside of Boston, will increase and expedite delivery coverage to Sunrise’s East Coast customers. “By locating distribution centers close to our largest customers, we can assist them in minimizing their on-hand inventory needs,” says Allen Traylor, vice president of North American manufacturing and distribution. The addition of these new distribution centers is part of an ongoing corporate initiative to increase value and services for Sunrise customers.

ResMed to Educate Cardiologists at ACC Session
ResMed Corp, Poway, Calif, is boosting awareness and recognition of the link between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). As part of this initiative, ResMed is helping sleep laboratories and HME providers develop relationships with cardiologists. Due to the significant correlations of SDB and CVD, ResMed is also working to build relationships between physicians in the cardiovascular and sleep medicine communities with the goal of implementing practical solutions for sleep apnea in the private practice setting. To establish these relationships and educate health care professionals, ResMed will be exhibiting at booth #3943 at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 54th Annual Scientific Session in Orlando, Fla, from March 6 through 9, 2005.

AuthentiDate Enters Strategic Relationship with HealthFusion
AuthentiDate Holding Corp, Schenectady, NY, has entered into a strategic relationship with HealthFusion® Inc, San Diego, to extend the reach of CareCert, AuthentiDate’s Web-based solution that automates and speeds the process of securing and credentialing electronic health care forms. According to transaction agreements, AuthentiDate’s Trac Medical Solutions (TracMed) will develop an interface with HealthFusion’s system and software to provide registered physicians with a more cost-effective and time-efficient way to handle a variety of administrative functions with insurance companies and other payors. “Thousands of physicians and physician assistants can benefit from our electronic forms processing solutions, which offer an easier and more efficient alternative to the traditional time-intensive paper process,” says Jeffrey Frankel, president, TracMed.

John Durkee Joins medSage
MedSage Technlogies LLC, Pittsburgh, announced that John F. Durkee has agreed to join medSage as vice president of North American sales. Durkee has served in senior executive roles in the home health care industry for over 12 years. He also created the first web-based Internetwork for the HME industry in 1996. Durkee previously served as national sales manager at American Breathing Care Plus Inc, a national respiratory pharmacy.

Invacare Acquires Australian Health Care Company
Strengthening its presence in Australia, Invacare recently acquired Australian Healthcare Equipment Pty Ltd (AHE), a company with operations in Sydney and Melbourne that designs and manufactures beds, related furniture, and pressure care products. AHE currently markets three Australian brands, Murphy Healthcare Furniture, Hendicare, and Bosshard Medical. Invacare also announced that it has entered into a new revolving credit facility for a 5-year term. The $450 million credit facility replaces the previous $325 million facility and also has a provision to allow Invacare and its banks to increase the facility by $100 million to $550 million.