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HandsFree HME Calls on Providers, Others to Join Initiative

Safe-driving initiative for the HME industry has yielded more than 100 pledges; needs many more.

By David Kopf, editor of HME Business Jul 29, 2010

Team@Work LLC and the members of its HandsFree HME intiative are calling on providers and other industry constituents to join the industry-wide safe-driving initiative. With more than 100 pledges collected so far, Team@Work says it is pleased with the response received thus far, and is optimistic that hundreds more industry members will join before the summer is over.

The campaign provides the materials for business owners, managers, and co-workers to engage all employees, including those who drive company vehicles and those who drive their personal vehicles.  Organizations, associations, and groups are encouraged to promote safe driving to their members.

Drivers are asked to take the pledge to drive hands-free, by visiting www.handsfreehme.com, where there are resources available for business owners, managers, and co-workers to engage employees and clients in a discussion on the dangers of distracted driving. Interested parties can also get more information by calling Team@Work at 260-493-7965 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              260-493-7965      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Safety: The No. 1 Concern
Distracted driving affects every operator on the road.  Recent headlines have included a Boston trolley driver who crashed while he was texting his girlfriend, the Chatsworth train collision that killed 25 passengers (due to the operator texting 45 messages while operating) and five teenage cheerleaders from Western New York who  died in a fiery crash as a result of distracted driving.

While cell phone use in general is cause for distraction, text messaging had the greatest relative risk with drivers being 23 times more likely to experience a safety-critical event when texting.  While the supposition is that teenagers are the pimary texting offenders, adult drivers are also to blame for the increase in traffic accidents due to texting behind the wheel.

“A commitment to hands-free technology use is the greatest means to reducing the ever increasing statistics,” read a statement from Team@Work. “Hands-Free HME is a movement to bring awareness to the HME industry and to encourage safe technology use in company and personal vehicles.”

Continuing Education for HME Sales

A recent article in HME News Online asked this:

“What does it say that providers who specialize in respiratory products and services–long thought to be the bread and butter of the HME industry–are now thinking about embracing hospital beds, walkers and other run-of-the-mill products and services?

Well, things aren’t what they used to be, providers say.”

The article goes on to mention that the industry as we knew it is changing.  No longer do you have O2 suppliers only, or DME suppliers only-now more and more businesses are going the route of the “one-stop-shop”.  It makes sense that if a referral source could interface with ONE provider, the HME would be the ONE provider who would get all of their referrals.  This is the reason why Wal-Mart or Meijer have put the locally owned mom-and-pop or independent grocers out of business.

As a sales person, this means you need to continue to branch out with your knowledge base and your own continued education.  If you’re familiar with the inner workings of the O2 business (O2, CPAP, BiPAP, etc.) what do you know about other DME that your company is looking to provide?  Do you read the trade journals-HME News, HME Business, etc.?  Can you speak intelligently about other disease states?  And as you master the basic knowledge of new products and services, do you also have an understanding of patient types and reimbursement regulations?  If your answer is no to any of these questions, you need to spend more time hitting the books, trade magazines, websites, and other resources so you can be the expert.

Vacation Vow:  Make new habits today

This blog post is from the archives of Coach’s Corner (blog by Team @ Work/ Coach Kristen) from Sept 24, 2009.  Enjoy!

I’ve been away for 2 weeks on vacation to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday. It was nice to have a reunion; I hadn’t seen my brother or his family for 3 years. When I returned home to “normal”, I realized there was a new normal. I had lost two weeks on my calendar (to a nice resort in St. Pete Beach, I might add), the weather has changed slightly, school is in full swing, the kids are in their warmer clothes and fall classes at the local YMCA started. So we jumped right back into a hurried pace with new schedules and new habits.

Vacations serve as a forced break from our routines. They (should) allow us to walk away from our day-to-day focus on work, home, and other obligations. We get out of the routine, so it would be a great time to begin a new normal when we return.

What new “habits” would you like to begin after your next vacation?

Personal:

  • Lifestyle changes
  • Exercise routine
  • Budget restrictions or allowances
  • Diet
  • Relationships

Professional:

  • Educational opportunity
  • Additional training
  • Re-evaluation of goals and priorities
  • Boundaries for time and emotional investment
  • New schedule

It takes 30 + days to form a new habit. Why not start after a nice break?

(*Follow up note:  Coach Kristen started a new exercise routine after this break and is pleased to share that she’s lost ~ 18 lbs.  See?  Starting a new habit now can pay off in just a few months!!  What do you plan to do-share it here!!)

Our own Ty Bello featured on HME News.  Click on link below:

POST from our very own Director of Member Services, Kristen Bissontz

“The Path to Professionalism is a Simple One”

I had a friend who was part of the OSU Marching Band.  Apparently, the Ohio State University takes their marching band seriously.  The director had a motto to ensure the team members were on the bus ready to go on time, every time.  “To be early  is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is to be left.”  And there were a few sorry souls left behind as the buses  pulled out.

Sales Professionals need to adopt this motto as well.  As our workplaces become more “casual”, our attitudes shouldn’t.  Common courtesy dictates that we be timely.  Being late is a matter of trust.  If you’re late to work, late for appointments with customers or referral sources,  to meetings and with projects; your boss and colleagues will associate that trait with you.  You are the “face” of the company you represent to outsiders.   When it’s time to decide on a contract or for a promotion, everyone will think twice before giving you the opportunity.  Your company may lose business because the referral source doesn’t want to take a chance on a “company” (you) that isn’t 100% trustworthy.  Who can trust the person who can’t manage his or her time?

You have control over your time-yes, emergencies do arise and grace abounds when that happens.  But when it happens all the time, you get left behind.