Provider changes his mind about HME

ROSEVILLE, Minn. - The first time Mark Hamman's mother asked him if he would eventually like to take over the family's home medical equipment business, he didn't even have to think about it.

"I immediately said, 'No, thanks,'" he said. "I had no medical background and had never run a business."

But on June 1, Hamman took over the reins, when Susan Wingert, founder and CEO of Pediatric Home Services, retired.

Hamman, president, says his mother's question stuck with him over the years.

"I was finally ready to make a switch and this was a hell of an opportunity,” he said.

Hamman has actually "dabbled" at PHS over the years. As a "young punk" he hauled massive oxygen concentrators up and down stairs. He officially joined the company in 2004 as a sales and contract manager. Since then, he has learned the business from the ground up, rotating through every division in the company, with the exception of IT.

"We've been working toward this," said Hamman. "Mom really put me through a process to learn the ins and outs of the business."

PHS was founded in 1990. Today, the provider employs 140 and offers care to more than 1,000 medically fragile children. In addition to infusion, respiratory and specialty pharmacy services, PHS recently added private duty nursing.

"Now, when a customer needs a child cared for in the home, we can handle it from start to finish," said Wingert. "They make one call and our teams go to work."

While Hamman's immediate goals are to continue with PHS's commitment to patient care and safety, he says he plans to eventually look at adding other services like rehab, occupational and speech therapy, and mental health.

"The last nine years have been fantastic," he said. "I love this place, the mission of what we do. It's satisfying, stressful, difficult and challenging, and I am looking forward to the next 25 years."