Letter To the Editor:
I read with interest the very well-written article by Joseph Rini entitled “It’s a great time to be a manufacturers rep” [November 2014 Repertoire], and I cannot agree more with the points that Joe makes regarding the many changes that have already taken place, or that are yet to come, in the healthcare industry.
Certainly, the Affordable Care Act has been a primary catalyst in bringing about many of these changes, but there are many other areas within the supply chain that are causing everyone – particularly those of us on the supply side – to review every aspect of sales, marketing and delivery of products. The independent medical representative can be, is, and should be an important part of the process.
HIRA – Health Industry Representatives Association – is the only association within the healthcare industry that is solely devoted to the independent medical representative and the companies who choose to market their products through this group of seasoned, knowledgeable and experienced individuals. Through our ongoing educational programs, Annual Conference and ever-expanding industry network, we are working hard to ensure that our members meet and exceed the requirements and standards that Joe so ably discussed in his article. Nowhere else can you find the sales organization that can deliver as effectively as the independent rep, who only gets paid when he or she sells something.
To learn more about HIRA, its membership, and its programs, please go to our website hira@hira.org.
Charlie Higgins
Executive Director
HIRA
Midmark announces addition of new casework project manager to medical division
Midmark Corporation announced the addition of Ron Brazas to the medical division salesforce as project manager. He will report to Dave Cantwell, national sales manager, casework products and services, and will be responsible for continuing the growth of Midmark Clinical Solutions and the new Synthesis™ Casework Collection. Brazas will be responsible for casework products and services in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. He comes to Midmark from Carter & Sloope, Inc. where he held the position of project engineer. His extensive experience in design, project development and construction management will make him a valuable asset for Midmark and its customers. Brazas holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a specialty in environmental engineering from Mercer University in Macon, Ga., and is a state board certified professional engineer.
Healthcare job growth rebounds in 2014
According to the U.S. government, healthcare job growth rebounded in 2014 with near-average hiring after five years of below-average growth. The fourth quarter show an increase over Q3, with the addition of 36,000 jobs a month on average. That’s compared with Q3 average monthly hires of 27,000 employees. Healthcare ended the year with 14.9 million workers, accounting for roughly 1 out of 10 U.S. jobs.
Henry Schein acquires ADS Florida LLC
Henry Schein Inc (Melville, N.Y.) acquired ADS Florida LLC (Naples, Fla.) and its parent company, Professional Transitions Inc (Naples, Fla.). The acquisition expands the geographic reach of Henry Schein’s practice transitions offerings to dental practice owners looking to buy or sell their practice. ADS Florida will become part of Henry Schein Financial Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Henry Schein Inc. In addition to practice transitions, HSFS offers an array of business solutions for healthcare practitioners, including equipment leasing and financing, and patient and practice credit card services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Welch Allyn celebrates its 100th anniversary
Welch Allyn (Skaneateles Falls, N.Y.) announced that 2015 marks its 100th anniversary. “When we introduced the world’s first direct-illuminating ophthalmoscope in 1915, it fundamentally changed the way physicians diagnose diseases and care for patients,” the company said in a release. “We’ve come a long way since then, but our vision remains the same — help transform care wherever patients and healthcare professionals connect, with measurable improvement in value, so all can thrive. We invite you to take a step back in time with us, visit the new www.welchallyn.com site, and see what 100 years of medical device innovation looks like from the eyes of the pioneers who helped build our legacy and shape an industry. Read the blog, watch videos, check out our photo gallery and interactive timeline, and see just how far a century of care has taken us.”
CMS announces 89 ACOs join Medicare Shared Savings Program
More than 7.2 million patients will now be served by accountable care organizations (ACOs) with the addition of 89 new participants in the CMS (Baltimore, Md.) Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) on January 1, 2015. Along with their predecessors, the new ACOs will earn a percentage of savings for hitting quality-of-care and patient health benchmarks. They will also share in some of the risk, which could lead to penalties if patient health falls below program standards. The Medicare Shared Savings Program has already realized $417 million in savings between the MSSP and the Pioneer ACO Program, a separate program for organizations with more experience in coordinated care. The full list of new ACOs is available at www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/sharedsavingsprogram/Downloads/MSSP-ACOs-2015-Starters.pdf
Abbott Labs completes acquisition of Topera Inc
Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, Ill.) completed its acquisition of Topera Inc (Menlo Park, Calif.), a private, medical device company focused on developing electrophysiology technologies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation. Abbott acquired all outstanding equity of Topera for $250 million upfront, plus potential future payments tied to performance milestones.
Bovie Medical Corporation sets new standard on ESU generator warranty
Effective January 1, 2015, Bovie Medical Corporation (Clearwater, Fla.) doubled its standard warranty on all electrosurgery generator (ESU) products from two years to four years. The four-year standard warranty is available on all Bovie brand ESUs including Aaron, Icon, and IDS. For more information on Bovie electrosurgery products, visit www.boviemed.com.