CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (November 16, 2004) – Air Products Healthcare has been selected the winner of the 2004 HME Excellence Award as the "best home respiratory provider in the country." The award, sponsored by HME News and VNU Expositions in cooperation with the American Association for Homecare, was presented in late October at the annual Medtrade show in Orlando, Fla.
Air Products Healthcare, the U.S. homecare subsidiary of Air Products (NYSE:APD), was highly rated against several of the award criteria, including strong sales growth, community involvement and low employee turnover. One judge even noted: "If I were a patient, I wouldn't hesitate in dealing with them."
The HME Excellence Awards seek to identify the nation's premier providers of home medical equipment, home respiratory therapy and rehab supplies. Now in its third year, the Best Provider awards program has become the most coveted form of recognition in the homecare industry.
"This is a tremendous honor for our entire homecare team,'" said Bob Cucuel, chief executive officer of Air Products Healthcare. "Each of our local companies contributed to this exciting achievement, and I am very proud of our competent and caring employees who dedicate their lives day in and day out to providing quality services to our patients."
Air Products Healthcare provides patients with an extensive range of home respiratory therapy products, including home oxygen therapy, respiratory medications, sleep apnea therapies, home mechanical ventilator programs, and disease management programs, as well as medical equipment, such as hospital beds and wheelchairs. Additionally, the company provides complete home infusion services and rehabilitation, and assistive technologies through its pharmacy and rehab divisions.
Air Products entered the U.S. homecare market in October 2002 with the acquisition of American Homecare Supply of Conshohocken, Pa., and has since acquired 12 smaller homecare companies. Sales of Air Products' U.S. homecare business are approximately $225 million. Today, with more than 60 branches and roughly 1,800 employees serving over 250,000 patients throughout the eastern half of the U.S., the company is among the top six providers of home respiratory products and services in the country.
The Air Products Healthcare family of companies includes:
• A&J Care
• American Homecare Supply, Georgia
• American Homecare Supply, Western New York
• AMHealth Group—Genox Homecare and Collins I.V. Care
• COPD Services
• Denmarks Home Medical Equipment
• DependiCare
• Home Health Care Services
• Mid Atlantic Health Care/Home Infusion
• Mosso's Medical Supply
• Rx Pharmacy Services
• Vanguard Home Medical Equipment
• Young's Medical Equipment
About Air Products' Global Healthcare Business
Air Products is an experienced provider of homecare services with a market position in 14 major countries meeting the needs of approximately 400,000 patients worldwide. The company is #2 overall in Europe and is the leading provider of respiratory care, home medical equipment and infusion therapies in Spain, Portugal and Mexico, as well as the Northeast/mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. Air Products is also a global supplier of gases and services for hospitals and clinics, and provides helium and related °KeepCOLD® Cryogenic Fill Services for more than 7,000 magnetic resonance imaging magnets (MRI) at over4,000 customer locations worldwide. Global healthcare sales were $625 million in the company's fiscal year 2004.
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment and is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices. The company has annual revenues of $7.4 billion, operations in over 30 countries, and nearly 20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com. |
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