Briefs

Drive builds bridge to referral sources PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. - Drive Medical Design & Manufacturing has hired a licensed physical therapist, Priya M.Das, to spearhead the development of a new rehab-specific sales organization within the company. Drive currently markets its K0001 - K0005 series of manual wheelchairs to HME dealers. But, since referral sources also play a role in brand selection, Drive plans to make sure its brand's story is told in those professional settings. “We're confident that we have product differentiation in the marketplace,” said Drive's vice president of marketing, Ed Link. “Sharing that with the dealer is just one avenue. Sharing with a therapist gives us a strategic advantage because [PT/OTs] are seeing firsthand why our product is different.” Financials Invacare earned $15 million on sales of $300 million in the second quarter of this year, up 10% over last year. Respiratory products sales are up 41% due to strong concentrator and HomeFill II sales. Standard products declined 12%. … Chad Therapeutics returned its best quarterly revenue performance in six years. The company earned $224,000 on sales of $5.7 million. Conserver sales climbed by 21% over the same quarter last year… Respironics sales climbed 24% to $177 million in the second quarter, up 24% over last year. Domestic sleep therapy sales were up 22%. The company's DSO dropped to 65 days, its lowest in five years. Net income for the current quarter, after restructuring and acquisition-related charges, was $14.6 million Outtakes Medical Industries America is about to ship the one millionth SportNeb nebulizer compressor manufactured in its facility in Adel, Iowa… The Van G. Miller Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament raised a record $30,441 for Adults, Inc. Because VGM underwrites all the costs of the event, all monies raised go directly to Adults, Inc., a Waterloo-based agency that helps adults with disabilities. In the seven years Van Miller has sponsored the golf outing, it has raised $177,398.