Provider rolls into Florida

ATLANTA - Air Products Healthcare's rehab division plans to break into the Florida market next month, increasing the number of markets it serves to seven. Air Products Seating and Mobility plans to open a Fort Meyers, Fla., location April 1, said Bill Boyce, division president. The rehab division, which has its main office here, already has a presence in Maryland, Illinois, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania (in Bethlehem and Blue Bell). All locations carry the Air Products Seating and Mobility name. "Rehab-dedicated hospitals and related facilities draw from a larger geographic reach, sometimes from many states away," Boyce said. "Branding under Air Products Seating and Mobility will eliminate the confusion for our patients and referral sources." About a year ago, Air Products Healthcare carved out Air Products Seating and Mobility as a separate division. It made the move because "rehab is a different business model," said COO Dave Hunter. "With the majority of DME, respiratory and even infusion, business revolves around receiving a call and delivering a product or service to the home," he said. "With rehab, we're sending out certified technicians, ordering equipment, assembling it, delivering it to patients and fitting equipment to patients." As part of "pulling out the rehab pieces," Air Products Healthcare consolidated Air Product Seating and Mobility's back-office operations, including purchasing, billing and cash collection, to Atlanta, Boyce and Hunter said. "Our field locations focus on the local patient and referral sources," Boyce said. "Our rehab technology suppliers, rehab technicians/delivery support and field coordinators remain in each location. Local demographic intake, repair/modification work and any crossover coordination with our sister division remains a local responsibility."