Congratulations, Courtney Wooge!

ProMed Territory Manager Courtney Wooge is a married man! He recently tied the knot with his new wife, Shannon. Congratulations, Courtney! (Pictured are Courtney, Shannon and their three sons, Jake, Tanner and Zach.)

ProMed Memorial Day Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed on Monday, May 28, 2012 in honor of Memorial Day.

Customers who typically order on Monday for Tuesday delivery should place their orders by noon on Friday, May 25. All regular Monday deliveries will be made on Tuesday, May 29 and all Tuesday deliveries will be made on Wednesday, May 30.

If you have any questions or concerns, we invite you to contact our Customer Care team at 800.648.5190.

Happy Halloween from Team ProMed!

Team ProMed wishes you and yours a safe and happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Ramona!

ProMed had an adorable trick-or-treater stop by today! Amy Gollan's daughter, Ramona, was the prettiest little Rapunzel we've ever seen.

Team ProMed has some great Halloween fun planned for Monday. A special lunch, a costume contest, pumpkin carving...we can't wait!

Congratulations, Carly Carlton!

Team ProMed congratulates our Director of Innovation and Technology, Carly Carlton, on the birth of her daughter! Olivia was born on Friday, September 30 and weighed in and 8 pounds, 15 oz.

Congratulations, Lindsey Rolando and Chris Baron!

Team ProMed congratulates Lindsey Rolando and Chris Baron on their September 24 nuptials! Lindsey and Chris met here at ProMed, where she is a pricing analyst and he is a picker in our  warehouse. Best wishes, you two!

Congratulations, Pam West!

Team ProMed congratulates Pam West on the birth of her first grandchild. Kerrigan Reese Simpson was born on August 13 and weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Her proud parents are John Simpson and Courtney West.

Congratulations, Ted Walsh!

Team ProMed congratulates Ted Walsh on his recent marriage! Ted and Christy were married on July 2.

New ProMed Distribution Center Up and Running - and Impressing Customers!

Since 1968, Professional Medical has operated out of the Chicago suburbs – and now we’re growing! We’ve opened a new distribution center in Solon, Ohio, located at 30305 Solon Road. This strategically located facility will allow us to provide our customers in Ohio and the Northeast with even faster service. In many cases, orders will be delivered within one day.

We’ve been receiving great feedback on the service provided by our ProMed Express truck drivers based out of the new facility, including the following note from Sue Shrodes, the Central Supply Manager at Samaritan Care Center in Medina, Ohio:

“I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know what an AMAZING job your truck drivers are doing with deliveries since the opening of your Solon warehouse using ProMed drivers. First of all, they are very professional, very courteous, very helpful in every way – all deliveries have been made before 4:00 p.m. as requested. In our limited storage area, they are careful to stack all boxes out of the way of computers and walk paths. They always pull the packing list and have it posted on the top box, easy to find.”

This new location is just another way that ProMed helps make improving care easier! To learn more about the Ohio distribution center, we invite you to contact your ProMed territory manager or call our Customer Care team at (800) 648-5190.

Kudos on a Great All-Around Effort from Team ProMed

Samaritan Care Center, Medina, Ohio

ProMed's number one goal is to ensure that we are doing everything possible to help make improving care easier for our customers. That's why it means so much to us to receive letters like this one, which was sent to Regional Sales Manager Ted Walsh:

Good morning Ted, hope you are doing well today.

I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know what an AMAZING job your truck drivers are doing with deliveries since the opening of your Solon warehouse using ProMed drivers. First of all, they are very professional, very courteous, very helpful in every way – all deliveries have been made before 4:00 p.m. as requested. In our limited storage area, they are careful to stack all boxes out of the way of computers and walk paths. They always pull the packing list and have it posted on the top box, easy to find.

I also want you to know what a pleasure it is working with Scott Stachowiak. He stops in each month to check our needs and let us know the latest Professional Medical has to offer – he is always professional, knowledgeable and never pushy!

Also Natalie Lenz and Leanne are wonderful to work with on every level.

Almost daily I have vendors trying to become our suppliers….but I can tell you as long as you have great people working for you providing excellent service, it will be tough for anyone to take your business away!

Have a great day.

Sue Shrodes, Central Supply Mgr.
Samaritan Care Center, Medina, Ohio

Tom Stuart Promoted to Senior Picker

Team ProMed congratulates Tom Stuart on his promotion to Senior Picker! Tom has been with ProMed for just over three years and in that time has shown us time and time again how much of a hard-working, versatile employee he is. He has proven on many occasions his willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done by picking, receiving and even making deliveries.


Congratulations, Tom!

Thad Perkins Named March Employee Spotlight Award Winner

Team ProMed congratulates Thad Perkins on being named the March 2011 Employee Spotlight Award winner! Thad is a Web/Interactive Designer and has been with ProMed for a year and a half.

“Since Thad started at ProMed, he has shown himself to be a hard worker and one to never let obstacles get in the way,” said Director of Marketing Kristin Simanis. “He always works to find ways around a problem and come up with a solution, many times better than what we were trying to do in the first place.”

When we asked Thad why he enjoys being a member of Team ProMed, he said, “My favorite part of working for ProMed is the opportunities that they give you to be an expert in your area of expertise. They trust your skills and knowledge and are confident in your decision making, and at the same time they give you the opportunity to learn and develop.”

Thad also praised the people around him. “I would also like to add that I appreciate the team that I work with every day,” he said. “It is a very collaborative effort and I appreciate their input and contributions in all the projects we work on and the segments of the business that we push to grow.”

As the Employee Spotlight Award winner, Thad will be able to proudly display the Torch of Excellence trophy at his desk for the month of April. He was also given a $100 cash award.

Congratulations, Thad!

Dan Brooks Promoted to ProMed Regional Sales Manager

Team ProMed congratulates Dan Brooks on his promotion to Regional Sales Manager. Dan’s primary objective will be managing his sales team to success. He’ll be responsible for identifying and qualifying leads, tracking the movements of all of the prospects that each of his people have and hunting big customers. He’ll also use the skills he developed as a ProMed territory manager to determine which assets need to be used in order to achieve success.

“This is just the beginning for Dan,” said CEO Matt Barnes. “His hard work is paying off and I see him going to the next level very soon!”

“Dan has worked extremely hard at helping to develop our sales in the south,” added Vice President of Sales Al Wiggs. “He has done a great job of growing his territory and helping to grow the territories of the guys he’s working with. I am proud to have Dan on my team and cannot wait to see what he will do next!”

Dan’s colleagues were effusive in their praise for him:

“I have always been impressed at how smooth and polished Dan is as a speaker and a presenter. Dan is a quick learner, quick-witted and he always has a good answer. With Dan’s determination and dedication, he has grown a lot over the last 12 months and he has never given up, even when the going got tough. I am very happy to see Dan joining the management team and I look forward to great things out of the South Region. Congratulations, Dan. You deserve it!”

- Mike Kellenberger, Director of Financial Performance

“Dan has had this coming for some time now. Talk about a phenomenal person and an even better asset to have in our ProMed family. Dan is always eager to help out when he can and offer any advice or assistance when possible. I think Dan truly cares about the people he works with and for that I am grateful. Congratulations, Dan, you deserve all of the success in the world.”

- Kurt Gerling, Regional Sales Manager

“Dan Brooks has been a leader in the South, playing a key role in the region’s growth. His intellect, drive and focus have been an inspiration to many. Dan’s promotion is well deserved and he has a very bright future ahead of him. I’m proud to have him on the ProMed team and I look forward to working with him more and more as our pursuits align. Congratulations, Dan!”

- Ted Walsh, Regional Sales Manager

ProMed Goes Orange for National MS Awareness Week

ProMed went orange today in honor of National MS Awareness Week. All this week, we raised money that will be donated to the National MS Society on behalf of our CIO, Bob Sieger, who was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago. We're proud to report that more than $400 was raised! To learn more about how Bob battles the disease every day, please click here.

Jim Antonich Celebrates 10 Years with ProMed

Team ProMed congratulates Jim Antonich on celebrating his 10th anniversary with the company! Jim is a Sales Ambassador with ProMed.


We asked Jim to reflect on some of his favorite experiences from over the years. He told us that his favorite part of being a member of Team ProMed is “working with the nicest people who are always willing to assist you when you need help. I also love that I have easy access to Matt, Al, Mike and Rocky whenever I need assistance. I have always felt that I was a member of the Barnes family business since the day I started 10 years ago.”

Jim has witnessed incredible growth and change at ProMed during his time with the company. “No more small sales meetings with five people sitting around in the back room at Al’s Steak House trying to figure out what direction we are going in,” he noted. “We have come a long way with developing a process for success.”

As the years have gone by, the business of medical supply sales has become more complex, Jim added.

“I believe medical sales have become much more difficult today than 10 years ago,” he said. “Our industry has become somewhat of a commodity business that has challenged us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors with all of the extra programs and opportunities. We must bring to the table solutions to help nursing homes become financially successful. With all of the buyouts and the disappearance of standalone homes, we have to become professional consultants who are capable of landing the whale instead of a basket of bluegills. What has not changed in our industry is the need to form positive relationships with our customers and the ability to be flexible. People buy from people they like.”

While there has been plenty of work over the years, Jim has also found time for fun with his colleagues.

“My best memories are the sales meetings and being around all of my fellow workers,” he said. “We worked hard but also enjoyed our free time with lots of stories and laughs that I cannot go into detail at this time. I have great memories of the Kentucky Derbies I attended plus the opening of our new facility in New Lenox.

“The last 10 years have flown by like the speed of light,” Jim added. “I know one thing for sure – I had a thicker head of hair back then. It seems like yesterday I was interviewing for a job with Mr. Terry Barnes, who was wearing a flannel shirt. When I left and went home, I told my wife, ‘I think this is the kind of guy I could work for.’ I have been treated with nothing but honesty, respect and friendship for 10 years by Matt, his family and Rocky. I think that is about the best gift you can give anybody.”

We also asked Jim’s colleagues to share their favorite memories of working with Jim over the years. Here’s what they told us:

“I worked closely with Jim when I was in Customer Service and he was always one of my favorites. He was thorough, patient and very nice to work with. When I still speak with him from time to time, this has not changed and he still possesses such a great attitude about ProMed. He truly cares about his facilities and the care he helps provide for their residents. Congratulations, Jim!”

- Jodi Dzak, Director of Special Sales/Customer & Vendor Contracts

“Jim and I met for his initial interview at the Cracker Barrel off I-64 and Highway 157 in Caseyville, Illinois back in early 2001. It was evident within a few minutes of meeting him that Jim had developed a talent for making people feel comfortable with him. With his previous experiences and likeability, it was an easy decision to recommend we hire him. Since that time, Jim has enjoyed many successes with us. Jim’s ability to tell a story is legendary among those who know him . . . even when telling the same story (over and over) again, Jim is able to remain true to the basic information, but embellish the details in a fresh and even more entertaining way. He is truly an amazing, master storyteller. Jim, Katie and their (adult) children, Nick and Lori, provide a nice snapshot of the all-American family. A nice blend of Ozzie and Harriet (a sitcom that predates bothJim and me), with the slightest touch of Archie Bunker (All in the Family) mixed in for added spice. Jim is one of ProMed’s finest Ambassadors. Congratulations on ten great years, my friend, and God’s blessings for many more.”

- Rocky Howard

“I have had the pleasure of working with Jim for five years. We have been through a lot together and I have learned a lot from him. Jim always keeps a positive attitude, his customers love him and he is truly a team player. Jim always has a GREAT story and we have had a ton of laughs together. You always know when you are hearing a good story because Jim takes his glasses off and starts rubbing his face. Never a dull moment with Jim! I consider him a true friend.”

- Mike Kellenberger, Director of Financial Performance

“What makes Jim Antonich so successful is his charm, personality and his confidence in what he sells. He says to his customers, ‘Just try this, I guarantee you will enjoy the outcomes’ – and they do! Congratulations, Jim, on your 10th anniversary. It has been a pleasure watching and learning from you. Here’s to 10 more years of success, buddy!”

- Pam West, Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Compliance

Congratulations, Jim!

ProMed Celebrates National MS Awareness Week

Professional Medical is proud to take part in National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Week. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, there are approximately 400,000 people in the U.S. living with MS – with 200 more diagnosed every week. MS is thought to affect more than 2.1 million people around the world.

Supporting MS research is also personal for ProMed. One of our team members was diagnosed with the disease 12 years ago and is a testament to not letting the disease get the best of him. His name is Bob Sieger, and he’s our CIO. Bob was kind enough to answer a few questions in an effort to help others understand how MS affects people who are diagnosed with the disease.

Q: When were you first diagnosed with MS?

A: I was diagnosed about 12 years ago. I had been having what I thought at the time were strange symptoms. My legs were very weak, my right arm was becoming more and more useless. Finally, by the end of the week, we began to notice that the right side of my face was beginning to sag slightly and my speech was becoming a bit slurred. A quick call to the doctor resulted in a trip to the emergency room, where initially they felt that I had had some type of stroke. Mind you, this was bad enough news, but over the course of the next few days, and through a lot of testing, they ruled out a stroke. MS is not easily diagnosed. Many people will go years without even realizing they are having symptoms. I think I was lucky and caught it early in the disease. To verify the diagnosis, they draw a sample of your spinal fluid, not a pleasant procedure and risky at best – one misstep of the needle and paralysis could be in your future (not just from the MS). There are certain proteins that affect the immune system, and the presence of these proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid will indicate MS nearly 95 percent of the time. Additionally, several MRIs are performed because the presence of two or more lesions on the brain also indicates MS.

Here’s how MS works: In simple terms, your brain and central nervous system are attacked by your own immune system. Your brain has a layer of myelin that protects the brain and the various connections. Think of it as a series of wires that connect various parts of the brain. A red wire that crosses from one part of the brain to the other will work to help you grip a glass, for example. MS attacks this myelin, eroding it away, exposing the ends of these wires and causing them to break. So, in this example, I would lose my grip. The myelin heals, the wire reconnects with the brain and my grip is restored. Over time, the myelin is attacked so much that it can no longer heal and permanent damage occurs.

The symptoms are all over the map. I have six lesions on my brain (last time I was checked) and a couple on my spine. These seem to attack, most notably, my legs and my right arm as well as grip. On my very worst days, I can barely stand and the right side of my face gets a little droopy again. I have intermittent MS, which basically means that my symptoms come and go – which is good and bad. It is good because I could have had a more severe case and be in a wheelchair or, worse, paralyzed. But it is bad because the events I have seem to be increasing, which means the myelin in those areas is not healing as quickly or at all. I am thankful, however, that it does not seem to be spreading. I credit this will a medication that I have been on for the last three years called Avonex. It is a weekly injection, using a BIG needle, that is intended to slow the progress of the disease. It is not a cure, it just slows the progress. It seems to be doing its job so far!

Q: How does it affect your daily life?

A: Well, that really depends. Most days, my right side is generally weak. I have modified the way I will hold a glass so I don't drop it! Some days I may limp a little more than usual, most days I am sore, like I just ran a marathon and worked out all at the same time. That is the part that I hate the most, the constant soreness. I tend to take a lot of Aleve, which is not great for my liver, but it helps get through the day. By the end of the day, I am ready to just sit or lie down. The soreness tends to be worse after a more stressful day. Different things affect the MS symptoms – stress, heat, cold, basically anything that stresses the body will affect me two or three times more because of the MS. It is a bit of a battle to try and keep everything in the middle of the road, but with proper diet (which I TRY to do) and daily exercise (which I do), I am able to lessen the strain throughout the day. But the soreness is a constant. While I am grateful for the Avonex, it does have the side effect of severe soreness the day after the injection. Some weeks it is worse than others. I try to do the shot on Saturday, so I spend Sunday basically resting. It is even worse when I forget to refill my prescription and miss a week!

Q: What do you do to lessen the effects it has on your body?

A: There is really not much I can do other than Aleve or the occasional prescription pain med (usually at bedtime to try and sleep through the night). Exercise helps. It keeps my limbs loose and my muscles strong, which helps to counteract the MS. Eating better helps as well too, to keep my energy up. I am not as good at that, but luckily I am surrounded by family and friends who try and make sure that I eat properly instead of once per day!

Q: What is the typical long-term prognosis for somebody with MS?

A: That really depends. I know of people who were diagnosed one day and within months ended up in a wheelchair. I know of people who have passed away from MS as well. Long term, I really don't think about that. Right now I am focused on not letting it get the best of me, and believe me, there are days that I feel like just giving in! Having a positive attitude and keeping mentally strong is important to having a better life and coping with the disease. I like to stay involved as well. While I don't do any type of fundraising, I do contribute to the MS Society and encourage others to do the same.

Q: Is there anything you would like to tell people who might not be familiar with MS?

A: It is often a very silent disease and by that I mean you might not realize that the person next to you has it. More often than not, most MS sufferers tend to suffer in silence; their symptoms, much like mine, are not as apparent. It is a difficult disease for many people to understand. It is a SLOW degenerative process. Most people will not show really outward symptoms until their own bodies begin to break down, or until the disease overtakes the nervous system. But it is not a disease to be whispered about. For example, I really don't tell people I have it, I would guess that very few people at ProMed even know I have it. The reason I don't tell people is that I don't want to have to deal with the tilt of the head and the whispered “How are you doing?” You know the whisper, it's the same whisper you use when you talk about cancer or some other disease. It's not that I don't appreciate the concern, I do. It's that I don't want it to be a whisper. I want it to be a “so what?” I am alive, walking, strong and happy with my life. That's about all you can ask, and that is what most MS sufferers I know want as well. They don't want to be treated like diseased person, they want to be treated with support and understanding.

****

Throughout the week, ProMed will be collecting donations for the National MS Society. We encourage you to click here to learn more about how you can support the MS research and awareness.

Congratulations, Tracy Kucia!

Team ProMed congratulates Tracy Kucia on being named the February 2011 Employee Spotlight Award winner! Tracy is a Rebate Analytic Specialist and has been with ProMed for five and a half years.

“Tracy is a very conscientious employee. She strives to do the task right the first time and does not like to make mistakes, which is helpful in her position,” said Jodi Dzak, Director of Special Sales/Customer & Vendor Contracts. “Tracy has worked very hard to ensure the manufacturing rebates have been maintained with the utmost accuracy and in doing so aids in the process for other departments. She also has a great understanding of all departments and helps others as needed.”

When we asked Tracy why she enjoys being a member of Team ProMed, she said, “All of the things I have learned since I have been at ProMed and the fact that I learn something new every day.”

As the Employee Spotlight Award winner, Tracy will be able to proudly display the Torch of Excellence trophy at her desk for the month of March. She was also given a $100 cash award.

Congratulations, Tracy!

Barb Walters Celebrates 35 Years with ProMed

Today marks Barb Walters’s thirty-fifth anniversary as a member of Team ProMed! Barb joined us in 1976  and quickly became an invaluable asset to the company. Officially, she is ProMed’s  Director of Human Resources. Unofficially, she is our go-to person on all things ProMed. Congratulations, Barb – we’re grateful every day to have you as a member of our team!

Our New DC's First Order

We're hard at work putting the finishing touches on our new distribution center in Solon, Ohio. Christian Barnes, ProMed's Director of Distribution Operations/Supply Chain, just sent us this picture of the first order to leave the new DC. The Solon location will officially open in March. Congratulations to Christian and his team!

Congratulations, Sandy King!

Team ProMed congratulates Sandy King on being named the January 2011 Employee Spotlight Award winner! Sandy is an Accounts Payable Manager and has been with ProMed since March of 2009.

"Sandy not only consistently has a great attitude, but she is also a dedicated employee who really works hard to do her job well," said Director of Employee and HR Relations Amy Gollan. "She has made many improvements to the department since she came on board and is always willing to go the extra mile."

When we asked Sandy why she enjoys being a member of Team ProMed, she said, “I really like the people I work with. I have made some good friends here. I also enjoy my job!"

As the Employee Spotlight Award winner, Sandy will be able to proudly display the Torch of Excellence trophy at her desk for the month of February. She was also given a $100 cash award.

Congratulations, Sandy!