Reliable Medical: ‘We’re finding the right markets’  

MINNEAPOLIS – Reliable Medical Supply closed on two acquisitions and opened five new locations in a busy first quarter of 2023. 

The company acquired Tusk Mobility in Northpoint, Ala., and Capstone Medical Partners in Lakewood, Wash., two upstart complex rehab providers, and opened new locations in California, Indiana, Tennessee and Florida (Tampa and Orlando). 

“Between the two acquisitions, our team grows by nine ATPs, and with the de novo locations, that’s an additional eight ATPs,” said Katie Stevens, CEO. “We’re not talking a huge addition, vis-a-vis the Orbit Medical acquisition last year, but it’s more of the slow and meaningful growth that we’re known for.” 

Reliable Medical in December acquired Chicago-based Orbit Medical, which serves patients in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin from five locations. 

Clinical connections 

Milton and Charlotte Watkins started Tusk Mobility after spending years working as occupational therapists in the home health market. In just a few years, they’ve grown the business significantly, Stevens says, and now, as part of Reliable Medical, they’ll be able to scale. 

“It’s a small but well-run and growing business, and is geographically positioned for expansion into other markets,” she said. “They have clinical expertise and connections from their former careers as therapists, and they’re thriving because they’re responsive and attentive to customers.” 

Early intervention 

Curtis Buck and Brandon Boyer have focused Capstone Medical Partners on serving skilled-nursing facilities, a business model that Reliable Medical can apply to its locations in the Texas and Ohio markets, where there’s a large SNF population, Stevens says. 

“They’re catering to the needs of these facilities, in terms of identifying who’s at-risk,” she said. “They’re providing custom solutions but in an expedited manner through smart inventory and other processes. They’re really making the lives of the clinicians easier and addressing concerns earlier, in terms of both identifying needs and serving those needs.” 

Balanced approach 

Reliable Medical has already targeted a few markets for growth in the second quarter, Stevens says, with a goal of continuing to balance inorganic and organic growth, depending on the availability of payer contracts, ATPs and other criteria in a given area. 

“We’re finding the right markets to be in and the right people to bring onboard,” she said.