Every company has a reason to explain its existence and survival in a challenging and harsh business environment. This is especially true in home healthcare where Competitive Bidding has forced so many companies to either rethink their business approach or shut their doors.

Sometimes the difference between prospering or failing tilts on ever so small differences: a customer service problem fixed here… a finance problem fixed there… just the right person being put in just the right job… storewide teamwork an operational hallmark. The list could go on for pages.

I asked Victoria Marquard, this magazine’s editor, to give me five bullet points as to what she thinks constitutes the “OxyGo® Difference”. Here’s what she said and we hope you, our valued reader and (hopefully) customer, agree. Please let us know.

1. PROVIDER LOVE

We really love our providers. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Our Customer Care team has literally run out of their offices into the warehouse to check on products from shipping, our salesman take a personal interest in providers. We show that too by the programs we have. We want to partner with providers and help them with marketing, help them with earning cash sales in this climate and really see them succeed.

2. SHARED SUCCESS

We pass along sales to our providers. We have patients call us, and when they say they have been using a certain provider for tanks, but want an OxyGo unit… we call the patient’s provider and help the provider close that sale and keep that customer.

'13  We do co-op advertising

'13  We do truck wraps

'13  We design marketing material for providers

3. INNOVATION

We’ve introduced OxyCare Total Advantage™ (patient financing) and I see that as part of the overall OxyGo Difference. It’s a great way to get some cash sales! Patients may really want and need homecare equipment, but the cost is out of reach for them. It’s expensive and they are used to insurance covering it.

Our OxyCare Total Advantage plan is a creative way for the patient to get their equipment NOW… the provider to get full payment NOW… and the patient pay in installments. It’s a great way to get into retail and cash sales easily! This is a good answer to the pain of competitive bidding that is really forcing so many providers to shut down.

4. ENDLESS ENTHUSIASM

Part of the OxyGo Marketing Difference, I think, is that we try to have fun with our customers. I wish everyone could win the great contest prize we offer in this magazine every month, for example. It exemplifies how our marketing material is driven by fun—and useful-to-read content, content, content.

5. THE TOTAL PACKAGE

I know in the end that in any business, great success always comes down to the abilities and personalities of everyone pulling together. I like to think that with OxyGo and OxyGo FIT POCs, our quick customer service, tech support and customer-friendly attitude—coupled with the best POCs anywhere in the world as a lead product—makes the difference.