Way of life Mobility Aids: Increasing – and betting on HME suppliers 

ST. PETERSBURGH, Fla. – Way of life Mobility Aids is increasing its footprint past Florida and its product portfolio past mobility aids with long-time business exec Doug Francis as its new chief. 

The corporate lately opened a 40,000-square-foot distribution heart in Memphis, Tenn., and launched a conveyable oxygen concentrator in December. 

“Memphis opens up distribution to an enormous piece of the nation,” stated Francis, president and CEO. “We will service about 80% of the nation in two to 3 days from there.” 

Francis was previously a principal and co-founder of Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare. He left the corporate in 2018, took just a few years off, fashioned Rhythm Healthcare and then merged it with Way of life Mobility Aids. 

The POC is the primary of a household of merchandise that Way of life Mobility Aids will launch within the COPD illness administration area. Up subsequent: a 5-liter stationary oxygen concentrator in February and a variety of aerosol remedy gadgets within the first quarter, Francis says. 

“We’re increasing into extra clinically complicated areas,” he stated. 

Way of life Mobility Aids has additionally “recalibrated” its current product portfolio, increasing its vary of rollators and updating its vary of wheelchairs, Francis says. 

“We wished the portfolio to be much less retail centered, and extra relevant to Medicare and reimbursement,” he stated. 

What actually units aside Way of life Mobility Aids from its rivals, nevertheless, is the corporate’s dedication to HME suppliers, Francis says. The corporate received’t promote direct to shopper or to big-box retailers, opting as an alternative to give attention to growing applications to assist suppliers with their income development, money circulation and different components of their enterprise.  

“We’re drawing a line within the sand about who our buyer is – the supplier,” he stated. “There’s huge enterprise available with Amazon and Walmart, however that’s not our buyer. We’re going to align with and construct applications for the supplier.” 

Francis believes HME suppliers can beat an Amazon or a Walmart on most days – in the event that they reframe how they see themselves. 

“We’ve been transactional; we’ve been keen to ship the prescriptions,” he stated. “However we haven’t thought to capturing every little thing else. There’s nonetheless huge alternative for development if we get this proper and seize the chance in its entirety.”