Graham-Field Health Products Opens Los Angeles Distribution Center
Graham-Field Health Products Inc, Atlanta, officially opened its doors to its newest distribution center (DC) in Pico Rivera, Calif. The grand opening signals a return to the West Coast with a key strategic placement of their 32,000-square-foot facility. More than 50 local dealers attended the grand opening, representing several dozen DME dealers in the Southern California area. “Our customers in the immediate vicinity of the DC have the added benefit of will-call on critical-need products, allowing them to reduce inventories at their own warehouse facilities,” says Roy Reese, western regional vice president, sales. “We have had several dealers who were on the verge of warehouse expansion, and our facility has provided a cost-effective alternative for their growth plans.”

The Flinchbaugh Company Under New Ownership and Management
The Flinchbaugh Company Inc, York, Pa, owner of Butler Mobility Products, is under new ownership and has implemented a restructured management team. Gregory Jenkins and Kurt Weber are the new owners of The Flinchbaugh Company and aim to bring their experience to its management and operations, as well as to sales and marketing of the Butler Mobility Products line. “We want Butler Mobility Products to be recognized for its longevity as a US manufacturer of quality products and its continual commitment to the market,” says Jenkins.

Harmar Lift Increases Independence for Drivers of Pick Up Trucks
Harmar Mobility, Sarasota, Fla, recently launched the AL800, a mobility lift that picks up a power chair or scooter and deposits it from the pickup bed directly to the driver or passenger side door. “With the popularity of the pickup truck, it was a natural for Harmar to design a lift that would appeal to pickup truck drivers,” says Chad Williams, president of Harmar. “Pickup truck owners don’t want to have to give up their trucks because of mobility needs. With the AL800’s lift and turn capabilities delivered at the touch of a button with the handheld control, they don’t have to.”

Inogen One Oxygen Concentrator Named Product of the Year
Inogen, Goleta, Calif, recently won the 2005 Oxygen Therapy Product of the Year Award in recognition of the company’s development of the Inogen One Oxygen Concentrator. Frost & Sullivan presented the award at the Excellence in Medical Devices & Healthcare Awards Banquet, which honors world-class companies for outstanding performance and achievements in the medical industry. “The Inogen One is redefining the oxygen therapy market by not taking the traditional approach of creating a stationary or a portable product,” says Alpesh Gandhi, Frost & Sullivan research analyst. “Designed to perform as both a stationary and a portable device, the Inogen One system presents an opportunity for spontaneity and more active life both at home and on the road.”

AAHomecare Partners with MedFORCE Technologies
MedFORCE Technologies Inc, Monsey, NY, has been named the document imaging solution provider of choice for American Association for Homecare and its members and will be providing AAHomecare with Med-FORCE Scan document imaging software for the DME/HME industry. MedFORCE Scan allows for various levels of authority for accessing, updating, and printing patients’ files, and can produce HIPAA disclosure reports on-demand. Electronic Remittance Notices can be automatically imported into patients’ files and Explanations of Medical Benefits can be printed for a specific patient, simplifying coinsurance billing and claim follow-up. “We recognize the importance of our members implementing solutions such as MedFORCE Scan to help improve process efficiencies while realizing significant financial benefits,” says Kay Cox, AAHomecare president and CEO. “With major reimbursement changes and the challenges we face as an industry, we could not be more pleased with the timing.”

Key Additions to Brightree Leadership Team
Brightree®, Duluth, Ga, a company focused on Internet-based business tools for HME suppliers, introduced several key additions to its executive leadership team. Dave Cormack was appointed as president and CEO, a role that he has held in an interim capacity for the past 3 months. Cormack is a senior executive and entrepreneur with a successful international track record of building customer-centric organizations. Also announced was the appointment of Rick Chitty as chairman of the company. Over the past 20 years, Chitty is best known as founder and CEO of IQ Software, which he took public in 1992 and sold in 1998. “Both Cormack and Chitty are software industry veterans who I have known for many years, and have been advising me for a number of months,” says Steve Elrod, founder and executive vice president of Brightree. “Between them, they have founded three very successful start-up companies and managed two public companies. Dave and Rick are not only bringing their expertise to Brightree, but are also personally investing in the company to significantly enhance and improve our products and services.”

Several other key personnel announ-cements were made as well. Mike Durn-wald was named chief technology officer; Mark Blount was announced as vice president of sales and marketing, and Jorge Garzón was named director of software development. “In the few weeks that Dave and Rick have been here, they have wasted no time in assembling a world-class management team. They have recently appointed three outstanding individuals to the executive team,” says Elrod.

Respironics Secures Supply Agreement with CoTherix
Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa, has secured a long-term supply agreement with South San Francisco-based CoTherix Inc. Respironics will provide CoTherix with its ProdoseTM breath-actuated pulmonary drug delivery device for the US launch of CoTherix’s recently FDA-approved product, VentavisTM (iloprost) Inhalation Solution, for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (World Health Organization Group I) or PAH, in patients with New York Heart Association Class III or IV symptoms. “The breath-actuated technology found in the Prodose is crucial to ensure dose accuracy for Ventavis,” says Curtis Ruegg, PhD, CoTherix senior vice president, Technical Operations. “In the future, we look forward to helping Respironics bring the next generation of Adaptive Aerosol Delivery technology in the I-nebTM device to PAH patients using Ventavis.”

Progress Continues Toward ABC/BOC Unification
Leadership of the American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc (ABC), Alexandria, Va, and the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification Inc (BOC), Baltimore, are continuing negotiations toward unification. Through a due diligence process, the assets, holdings, and positions of each organization are being disclosed to one another. This important step will allow the joint negotiation team to establish criteria for successfully merging the strengths of each board, setting the foundation for an efficient transition to a unified organization.

VGM Hosts Heartland Conference
VGM will host the fourth annual Heartland Conference from May 31 to June 3, 2005, in Waterloo, Iowa. The event will feature seminars on home care industry topics, including reimbursement, accreditation, and compliance. Vendors will also be exhibiting at the conference.

Graham-Field Introduces Lumex AireLift Transfer System
Graham-Field Health Products Inc, Atlanta, recently introduced the Lumex® AireLift Transfer System to its line of health care products. The Lumex AireLift System utilizes patented technology to lift a patient, making it safer and easier to transfer a patient in the prone position. The Lumex AireLift reduces the risk of injury to the highly vulnerable caregiver that may result from patient handling. “As part of our Technological Transfer Program, the new Lumex AireLift is the perfect complement to our extensive line of patient lifts,” says Angela Mayfield, director of product management, Graham-Field. “The technology employed in the AireLift is simple, easy to use, and very effective in reducing the amount of force required to lift and move a patient. It has the potential to greatly reduce the incidence of back injuries related to the transfer of patients.”

MED Group Adds Members
The MED Group, Lubbock, Tex, announces the newest additions to its Full Service Network: Atlantic Respiratory Services, Charleston, SC, with Tamara Williams, president; Klingensmith HealthCare, Ford City, Pa, with David Knepshield, president; Florida Medical Equipment Services LLC, St Petersburg, Fla, with Kim Kasper, president; and Sentara Healthcare, Chesapeake, Va, with Scott Bartow, DME director. The MED Group also welcomes the newest addition to its Purchasing Network, Columbine Medical Equipment, Ft Collins, Colo, with Eric Taylor, general manager.