Home fill? No problem

ST. LOUIS - Responsive Respiratory Inc. (RRI) has expanded into the market for parts and accessories for home filling oxygen systems to keep up with home medical equipment providers who are shifting to non-delivery models.

RRI announced recently that it now offers cylinders, valves, conservers and patient set-up kits (includes cylinder carrying case) for use with home filling systems.

“We're looking at customers going in that direction and we're thinking, 'We're losing that business; how do we come out with a product to continue to serve them?'” said Sara Lippold, marketing manager. “Our customers are loyal; they want to stay with us.”

RRI can now step in to help providers in a number of ways, including providing parts when home filling systems malfunction,

saving them from having to ship the entire system back to the manufacturer, and providing parts when providers want to use existing cylinders for home filling systems, company officials say.

An added bonus: RRI's products are 20% to 30% cheaper, they say.

“We're offering them a second source that's affordable,” Lippold said. “Providing and maintaining these systems is expensive.”

RRI also provides a personal touch: The company's home filling cylinders and bags, like its other cylinders and bags, can be personalized with a provider's name and logo.

“It's a great advertising vehicle,” said Mike Harrington, vice president of sales.