COPD Respiratory keeps it all in the family

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Out of Clark McInroy's 12 employees, five of them are related by either blood or marriage.

McInroy has been in the respiratory business for nearly 40 years and has owned COPD Respiratory Services in Wyoming for the last 12.

“It's more difficult than it was 20, 30 years ago,” said McInroy.

COPD Respiratory services offers oxygen, CPAPs and nebulizers to patients within a 100-mile radius.

Daughter and office manager, Patricia McInroy, got her start in the family business at 3 years old, handing her mother tools, while she fixed the oxygen equipment. She now manages the billing department and all the headaches that come with it.

“I am the person that's in the middle of all of the government changes,” she said. “Once they put me in charge of the business, that became my responsibility to teach them (about the new regulations).”

Patricia McInroy still credits her parents with instilling a strong work ethic in her.

“She's very structured when it comes to all the paperwork, said Clark McInroy. “That was one of my struggles. My desk was always piled high and I'd lose stuff.”

This isn't lost on Patricia, who said her parents still prefer the way things used to be: on paper.

“Since I've come on, we've instituted an Internet based system for charting, billing and anything related to our patients,” she said.

Clark McInroy is content with his legacy.

“I've taught my children that this can be a rewarding business, but it's hard work,” he said. “Mom and dad are still here, but we've taken a step back and we're letting them direct things.” HME