Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/45026
18 Commentary 2011 HME EXCELLENCE AWARDS Best HME Provider Alpine Home Medical grows through failures BY JENNIFER KEIRN, Contributing Editor Editor's note: This is the first of three profiles on the 2011 HME Excellence Awards winners for Best HME Provider, Best Home Respira- tory Provider and Best Rehab Technology Provider. SALT LAKE CITY – Anyone looking for three steps to HME success won't get it from Jay Broadbent. "There is no easy 1-2-3 and you'll grow," says Broadbent, president of Salt Lake City-based Alpine Home Medical Equipment. "We've tried so many things and failed. It's trial and error." Your Patients Deserve the Most Comfortable Name in Back Pain Relief! Most of Alpine Home Medical's branches also have retail stores. Broadbent will share his failures, too. Like the time he signed up his team to exhibit at the Utah State Fair. "It was 10 days straight, and we had to man it from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.," he recalls. "We were pooped. We didn't get a single sale from that thing." His willingness to risk failure origi- nates in Broadbent's business philosophy: "If you're not growing, you're dying." That focus on growth has paid off— Broadbent estimates that Alpine Home Medical is growing about 40% a year and they've just secured a large state contract. "It's a big deal for us as a company," he says. "We're adding four more branches and close to 20 people to take on this contract." That's in addition to Alpine Home Medical's current 100 employees in seven branches throughout Utah. The 14-year- old full-service provider also has a retail store in most of its branches. The company uses open book manage- Order Now! 888.978.7999 Visit www.thebioback.com Email: sales@medolutions.com How do you fi nd your perfect HME job or the perfect candidate? A niche job board is the answer. Whether you're looking for the perfect candidate, or the perfect job, the HME Career Center is the place to fi nd both. This specifi c online job hub focuses solely on connecting home medical jobs with experienced HME professionals. It's as easy as just signing up. You can post jobs, post resumes, set alerts and more! Start making your connections today! hmecareercenter.com Follow us! new jobs postings job seeking advice tips on resumes, interviews & more The Meeting Place for HME Jobs and People Connect with your niche at: hmecareercenter.com "There is no easy 1-2-3 and you'll grow. We've tried so many things and failed. It's trial and error." Jay Broadbent, president ment, allowing all employees to look up its P&L statement at any time. "It's where can we do better? How can we reduce costs?" says Broadbent. "I'm always amazed at the (providers) who don't know their business, who don't break down their financials every month and look at their strengths and weaknesses." Alpine Home Medical also empha- sizes their role as a community partner, which is embodied by the company's B In Motion Foundation. It sponsors a yearly bicycle race to raise money to give wheel- chairs to uninsured patients. "It ties us back to our community," Broadbent says. "We're homegrown and that rings true in our market." HME WWW.HMENEWS.COM / NOVEMBER 2011 / HME NEWS