History
HISTORY OF MERITCARE HEALTHCARE ACCESSORIES, INC.
1984
Medicare and other major health care insurers begin promoting the benefits of home treatment rather than lengthy hospital stays as a means to control rising health care costs for themselves and patients. At St Luke’s Hospital, discussions were launched to explore the development of a company that would provide equipment and specialized service for patients receiving in-home treatments such as respiratory therapy. Along with this service the need for additional medical equipment was identified as a way to make the home treatment more beneficial and less stressful for the patient.
1985
In mid 1985 a department within the pulmonary lab at St Luke's Hospital was established as a means of providing this service. On August 26, 1985 a business was incorporated as HealthCare Accessories, Inc to establish and separate a company that operated outside of St Luke's Hospital. HealthCare Accessories originally occupied the ground floor and basement of the Scandia Hotel. This site included corporate offices, equipment storage and maintenance and staff space.
1986
In early 1986 the owners of a local orthotic and prosthetic fabrication business, Fredrickson Orthopedics, approached HealthCare Accessories to see if there was an interest in purchasing their business and incorporating it into the existing company. It was determined that this would provide and excellent opportunity for both companies to expand their product lines and the services provided to the communities they served. A purchase agreement was signed and completed on April 1, 1986.
With the purchase of Fredrickson Orthopedics, HealthCare Accessories now had a location in Jamestown, ND, in the Anne Carlson School for Children, Bismarck, ND as well as a location in Fargo, ND.
1987
HealthCare Accessories obtains space in the Buffalo Mall at 510 6th Avenue North and both the corporate offices and the respiratory service areas are moved there in March 1987.
In September HealthCare Accessories purchased the assets and patient files of AMED, Inc. HCA also purchased rental equipment that was held by a third party creditor. The assets included oxygen concentrators valued at over $24,000. The company had locations in Jamestown, Minot and Dickinson, ND. Only the Jamestown and Minot locations were included in the purchase.
The Bismarck location is moved to 109 N 4th Street in downtown.
1988
A decision is made to begin a wholesale sales operation. A materials handling department was established and the first company warehouse was located in the Union Storage building on NP Avenue in downtown Fargo.
It was decided that with the new Minot location that orthotic and prosthetic service would be introduced to the Minot area. The store location was moved from "North Hill" to Main Avenue in downtown Minot.
1989
In July, the assets of Ostomy Supply & Care Center, Inc in Fargo are purchased by HealthCare Accessories. The purchase adds extensive product lines of ostomy, wound care, skin care and incontinence items. The purchase also added the eastern third of the Buffalo Mall building.
1990
HCA purchased a condo unit in downtown Minot and relocated the store to these premises in the fall of 1991.
1991
The company decides to pursue accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. This is successfully completed and the company is awarded its first 3-year accreditation.
1992
The "Just for Women" boutique opens in Fargo. It specializes in mastectomy products and compression stockings for women. It provides an intimate setting for women seeking these products.
The remaining space in the east section of the Buffalo Mall is acquired and the warehouse operation is moved to this location.
1993
Two additional locations in Sioux Falls, SD and Brainerd, MN are opened. Both locations are orthotic and prosthetic operations initially and enabled HealthCare Accessories to expand its service area to eastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota. The Sioux Falls location is later expanded to include durable medical equipment.
This year also marked one of the most dramatic endeavors attempted by HCA. After several site visits to Red Wing & Minneapolis, MN a new computer system was selected. Implementation began in September 1993.
In December 1993, HCA purchased the building at 1023 10 St SE in Jamestown. The building was a pizza restaurant and extensive remodeling was required. The two Jamestown locations were moved to this location in the summer of 1994.
1996
Medicare implements a 30% reduction in payments for oxygen therapy services. This has a devastating impact on company revenues and profits. At the same time new re-certification requirements are implemented for oxygen patients and the company incurs substantial related costs.
1998
Several cost reduction actions are taken including the closing of the Sioux Falls office.
1999
A decision is made to re-locate the Brainerd operation to Bemidji, MN to enable to company to work more closely with the MeritCare clinic in Bemidji. The move is completed in the fall of 1999 and the store is located in the Paul Bunyan Mall.
The company begins exploring the possibility of consolidating all Fargo locations into one. MBA Partnership is utilized to assess the current locations and develop plans for the new location. The process includes getting floor sketches of all four locations and placing them within the outline of the new building. Then groups from the various departments reviewed them to suggest changes they felt necessary.
2000
Planning for the move to our new location is started in June and a move schedule is developed. Logistics are evaluated such as phone coverage, mail service, computer systems,etc. In August the company moves into it’s new building on 32 Ave south in Fargo. The move is completed in one week. Four separate locations are now located in a new 28,000 square foot building bringing all products and services into one place.
A new oxygen trans-filling system is added to the new building. This enables the company to fill it’s own oxygen tanks that it provides to it’s customers. The cost saving attributed to this is tremendous.
2001
Faced with a massive street rebuilding project in downtown Bismarck it is decided to relocate the store to Century Avenue in north Bismarck. Accessibility and parking are greatly improved.
2002
In the fall of 2002, HCA acquires space at 1705 Anne Street in Bemidji and re-locates the business to this space in October 2002
2003
HCA makes the decision to upgrade all computer workstations, servers and software to MeritCare platforms. This process is started in December 2002 and all locations are converted weekly starting in June and finishing in July 2003.
2004
The Jamestown location is expanded by 40% with extensive remodeling inside and out.
All locations are evaluated for Customer Service areas that meet HIPAA privacy requirements. The Bismarck, Minot and Jamestown locations receive new counters to bring them into compliance.
2005
Steve Richard and Terry Johnson develop a coverage map to identify where our customers are. It became very clear that we had a large coverage gap in the Grand Forks and Fergus Falls areas. A satellite location is established in East Grand Forks. We are considering a similar location in Fergus Falls to handle the Lakeland Hospice contract that we currently have.