At Home with Dealers
Company Name: Rands Pharmacy and Surgical
Location/Contact Info:
1843 Hooper Ave
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 255-3211
Fax 732-255-8082
www.randsrxandsurgical.com
Date Established: November 1983
Types of products sold: DME, pharmacy, ostomy, urological, wound care, complete post-mastectomy boutique and full line of compression stockings, including petite to queen size. We rent wheelchairs, walkers, commodes daily, weekly and monthly.
Size of Company: 20 employees, $7 million. Rands Rx and Surgical is family owned and operated by the Fratangelo family. The pharmacy added the surgical section due to meet customer needs. As time went on, the needs of the "aging in place" customer grew and Rand's partnered with Health Resources Unlimited LLC, owned by Celeste Chapoutot.
Home Health Products spoke to Celeste Chapoutot, president.
What sets your store apart?
What sets our store apart from many others is that we pride ourselves in helping the public. Health Resources Unlimited is the one-stop center. If we don't provide the service you need, we can guide you to the proper resource. Our center offers many educational flyers, information on adult day care, assisted living, rehab centers and referrals to professionals who come to your home. I meet with clients by appointment in the store or at their home to educate them on how to "navigate through the aging process." I will connect clients with all the home products and professional services they may need. Many people can stay home longer with the proper medical and rehab equipment, home health aides and the visiting physician who come to you.
Also, we deliver equipment and supplies, set up and educate the client on the proper protocol and we bill your insurance with the proper documentation and prescription.
Tell us about your Post-Mastectomy Boutique.
Our latest addition of our compression therapy department is a Post-Mastectomy Boutique. We renovated our store and added a beautiful fitting room to ensure each lady gets the privacy and comfort she needs. Health Resources Unlimited (HRU) has worked with ladies wearing compression sleeves as well as providing the in-home lymphedema pump. I have worked with many lymphedema clients and saw the need for this department. It is very rewarding to help someone find the perfect prosthesis and undergarment. Fittings are done by appointment at the store. I will also do fittings in the privacy of a client's home if she is house bound.
What segment of your business is growing?
Due to the changes in Medicare reimbursement of wheelchairs and cushions, we have seen a large interest in some products that help the patient be more independent and also help the caregiver. Some of these items include transporters that weigh only 15 lbs. and start at $200 to get patients out to appointments, the mall, etc., and easily fit in the car. Walkers with wheels, a seat and basket, are another great aid. We have great cushions for the chair and wheelchair, starting as low as $20. All bath safety items are also very popular items.
Describe the educational component(s) of your business.
We now have a complete resource center to educate our customers on many health-related issues. Our on-site staff is educated in many areas such as diabetic supplies, ostomy and incontinent products, all types of braces, lymphedema and compression stocking fittings.
How are referral sources working for your business?
I am a medical equipment and referral consultant. My referral network includes medical doctors, dentists, podiatrists, physical and occupational therapists, elder law attorneys, social workers, live-in and hourly aides, short- and long-term care, adult day care, assisted living and respite care.
And finally, please tell us a fun fact about your store or about you!
In our store, the personality of our clients and how they interact with the staff makes our store truly unique. Each staff member tries to understand the needs of our customers and they are trained on how to handle each situation as best as they can. We understand many customers are overwhelmed with the health problems of their loved ones, insurance issues and so we take pride in putting a smile back on their faces. We also educate our clients, and many clients have given us some helpful hints.
This article originally appeared in the September 2006 issue of HME Business.