Invacare HME Group Is Back
In response to ongoing changes in the home medical equipment industry, Invacare Corp. has announced that it will proactively restructure its North American HME business into a more cost-effective and efficient business model. The company's rehab, respiratory, standard and sleep product divisions will be reorganized into an umbrella organization called the HME Group.
Carl Will has been appointed group vice president, HME Group.
Previously, Will was responsibile for Invacare's institutional and standard products. Under his leadership, both groups have shown growth. Will will report to Gerry Blouch, president and COO.
Lou Slangen, senior vice president, global market development, says, "The HME Group combines our rehab, respiratory, sleep and standard product divisions into one business under one leader. With Carl as the group vice president of the HME group, he will have complete exposure to the combined businesses, which will make the group more agile and efficient. In addition, combining the group allows us to present a formulary of HME products to our customers, which will make both Invacare and our customers more efficient and cost-effective in the world of lower reimbursement."
Also reporting to Will are Mark Sullivan, vice president and category manager, rehab products; Judy Kovacs, vice president and category manager, standard and home care products; and John Ledek, vice president and category manager, respiratory products.
Ann MacGregor, former vice president and category manager, sleep products, will be leaving Invacare to explore other opportunities. All sleep product activities will be consolidated with the respiratory products division, led by Ledek.
"The HME Group proved to be a cost-effective and efficient business model, and at a time when the industry continues to change and evolve, it was important for Invacare to return to this structure," said Blouch. "Carl Will is a proven performer and will make an excellent leader of this group. Invacare's institutional products business is doing very well, and much of that is due to Carl's leadership. In addition to his strong capabilities, he will be surrounded by a solid group of Invacare veterans, including Mark Sullivan, Judy Kovacs and John Ledek. This group knows the industry well, and I am confident that this HME Group will bring a lot of value to the company."
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This article originally appeared in the January 2007 issue of HME Business.