From left: State Senator Jeff Atwater; J. Richard Damron Jr,CEO, Home Diagnostics; Fla Rep Adam Hasner; and Fla Governor Jeb Bush.
Governor Bush Congratulates Home Diagnostics
Governor Jeb Bush applauded Home Diagnos-tics Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Fla, for its development and recent FDA approval for the Sidekick™ diabetes testing system. “Home Diagnostics has evolved its business into one of Florida’s most compelling success stories, and the launch of the Sidekick Diabetes Testing System stands as testimony to the strength and innovation of Florida manufacturing and its ability to compete on an international level,” said Governor Bush. “This organization is one of a growing number of Florida-based companies that play a critical role in our economic make-up and consistently contribute skilled, high-paying jobs to our State.”
ResMed Announces Management Promotions
ResMed Inc, San Diego, is starting off the new year with new faces in several management positions. Adrian Smith has assumed full-time responsibility for management of the company’s European operations, and Brett Sandercock was appointed CFO. Smith’s full-time appointment to COO of Europe is part of an enhanced leadership structure designed to support ResMed’s continued international growth in key markets. Smith served as ResMed’s CFO since February 1995 and in November 2004 assumed the additional responsibility of COO for Europe. Sandercock has worked closely with Smith in ResMed’s finance department since 1998, most recently as vice president, treasury and finance. “Adrian and Brett have significant history and experience with the company and a long-standing working relationship, which will ensure a smooth transition into their expanded roles,” said Peter C. Farrell, PhD, chairman and CEO.
Invacare Wins Award for HomeFill Marketing Program
Invacare Corp, Elyria, Ohio, was recognized recently at the 2005 MM&M (Medical Market-ing & Media) Awards for its successful HomeFill™ II cooperative marketing program. MM&M recognized the program as the “Best Use of Direct Marketing to Consumers,” which acknowledges the role creative ideas play in effective direct communications. The program for the HomeFill II Oxygen System is an advertising cooperative developed to help HME providers grow their oxygen therapy business. Providers who use this program can customize the television commercials and print advertisements to effectively communicate the freedom and independence that the HomeFill offers oxygen patients. “Invacare’s HomeFill marketing program is a great tool to help providers grow their oxygen business,” said John Ledek, vice president of Invacare Respiratory Products. “These tools allow HomeFill providers to grab the attention of the approximately 1.5 million oxygen patients in the United States as well as their physicians. Participating providers have dramatically grown their business by marketing a consumer preferred product that frees patients to live life without being dependent on weekly deliveries of oxygen cylinders.”
Sunrise Opens New Distribution Center
Sunrise Medical, Longmont, Colo, has opened a new distribution center (DC) in Indianapolis, which is designed to increase and expedite delivery coverage to customers in mid-America and the mid-Atlantic. This is the third new Sunrise DC opened in the past 11 months as part of an expanded DC strategy that will increase the company’s overnight delivery coverage in the United States from 30% to more than 80%.
Roscoe Medical Acquired By River Associates
Roscoe Medical, Strongsville, Ohio, has finalized a recapitalization of the company with River Associates LLC, a private equity investment group based in Chattanooga, Tenn. The transaction is part of the succession plan begun by Roscoe’s owner and founder, Rochelle Thuener, which allows for her retirement as well as transition of partial ownership to the company’s current management team. “Our new partnership with River Associates will allow Roscoe Medical to enter a new phase of growth that will do nothing but improve our service to home medical equipment dealers,” said Thuener. “Our customers can expect to see expanded product lines and new services in the coming years that will help them better serve their patients and make their jobs easier.”
Conference Schedule Set for “Focus on the Future”
Essentially Women® has announced that Focus On The Future 2006, the sixth annual Educational Conference and Tradeshow, will be held in North Charleston, SC, on April 24-April 26. The conference provides members with solutions for successful business development and management and will also feature a trade show with more than 70 exhibits. Among featured presenters are Miriam Lieber who will discuss “A Healthy Operation Leads to a Profitable Business” and Jeffrey S. Baird, JD, chairman of the Health Care Group of the Amarillo, Tex-based law firm of Brown & Fortunato PC, who will present “Innovative Marketing: Within Legal Parameters: There Are Boundless Opportunities.” More information can be found at www.essentiallywomen.com.
Invacare Supports Mike Utley Foundation
Invacare Corp, Elyria, Ohio, recently sponsored Mike Utley’s trip to the Super Bowl in Detroit. Utley was a Detroit Lions offensive guard paralyzed during a 1991 NFL game. Since his injury, Utley started the Mike Utley Foundation to provide financial support of selected research, rehabilitation, and education programs on spinal cord injuries—and to offer motivational and emotional support to disabled individuals.
Joe Bundick, PA State Board Chairman for the March of Dimes, left, and John Miclot, president and CEO of Respironics Inc.
Respironics Donates Half Million
As part of a national partnership, Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa, will donate $500,000 over the next 3 years in support of the March of Dimes’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Support® Project. Through this project, which is part of the Prematurity Campaign, the March of Dimes provides information and support to families who have a baby born early or with a medical condition. NICU Family Support addresses the needs of mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, and the extended family of newborns throughout the NICU stay, during the transition home, and in the event of a newborn death. Respironics is one of three national sponsors for this March of Dimes project. “Through our Children’s Medical Ventures (ChMV) business unit, part of our mission is to enhance the safety and well-being of babies and their families by providing resources that improve both the short- and long-term outcomes of neonates,” said John Miclot, president and CEO of Respironics. “We are privileged to partner with the March of Dimes, and to be a national sponsor of the NICU Family Support Project.”
Posey Signs Contract With Consorta, Amerinet
In a 3-year agreement starting January 1, 2006, the Posey Co, Arcadia, Calif, will supply its line of restraint, restraint alternative, and fall management health care products to Consorta Inc, Schaumburg, Ill. Consorta members will also have access to Posey’s complete line of wheelchair cushions, limb restraints, gait/transfer belts, and fall prevention monitors. The Posey Co also signed a similar 3-year agreement with Amerinet Inc. “Amerinet understands how important a healthy operating margin is for every health care provider, and our group purchasing portfolio is always the foundation of our partnerships for margin improvement,” said Angela Miller, senior contract manager, Amerinet. “This contract not only provides savings for both our acute care and non-acute care members, but offers a variety of training programs that can be customized to meet the needs of each member.”
Sunrise to Change Freight Policy
In a letter to its home care customers, Sunrise Medical announced that it will be modifying its freight policy. The letter states that the changes being made are due to escalating fuel costs, which has impacted the company’s business. To reduce transactional costs, Sunrise will implement the following policy:
• All orders (parts and products) placed on Sunrise’s Web site or via electronic data interface, regardless of order amount, will receive free freight.
• All non-Web orders over $1,000 will receive free freight.
• All non-Web orders under $1,000 will be subject to a handling charge based on order value per the following schedule: $10 handling fee for orders between $1 and $250, $25 handling fee for orders between $251 and $500, $35 handling fee for orders between $501 and $750, and a $45 handling fee for orders between $751 and $999.
Bruno Appoints New CEO
Michael R. Bruno, founder and chairman of Bruno Independent Living Aids, Oconomowoc, Wis, relinquished the title of CEO and placed his son, Michael R. Bruno II, president of the firm, in that position. Michael R. Bruno, Sr, stated that his son, who has served as president for the past 10 years, was overseeing all facets of the business on a day-to-day basis, and he believed the title of CEO was appropriate and deserved.
ResMed’s Farrell Earns Award
Peter C. Farrell, PhD, chairman and CEO, ResMed Inc, San Diego, was named the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® national award winner in the Health Sciences Category. Ernst & Young recognized Farrell for leading ResMed from its inception 16 years ago into a major manufacturing force for medical equipment to treat sleep-disordered breathing.
Medline Launches Respiratory Division
Medline, Mundelein, Ill, has launched a new respiratory division. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve experienced tremendous growth in respiratory sales, averaging close to 30% per year,” said Dennis Cook, Medline respiratory division president. “We want to provide our customers with the best service, so we really needed to invest in this market.”
Medline’s respiratory group will include a team of engineers working on a series of new products. The new division will offer continuing education, and its staff will include several clinicians serving as product managers. The clinical expertise will help both Medline engineers and customers to better understand this complex product area. “It is imperative that we have the expertise in-house to make sure we are providing our customers the technical know-how to provide better care for their patients,” said Cook.
In Brief medSage Technologies LLC, Pitts-
burgh, has added Jerry Connelly to the company as its new president and CEO... Noble House, Deerfield Beach, Fla, has integrated real-time Medicare patient eligibility in Noble*Direct, their DME office software solution. Noble House clients are now receiving real-time patient eligibility and deductible status resulting in time saved calling Medicare... Harmar Mobility, Sarasota, Fla, launched a new Web site (www.harmar.com) with a nationwide dealer locator, easy-to-navigate product sections, and an updated Dealer Section where current Harmar dealers can place orders and receive current updates on products and promotions. DP
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