Waterloo, Iowa
At this year's Medtrade in Orlando, Fla., The VGM Group
introduced Nationwide Respiratory, a division of the buying group
tailored specifically for respiratory providers.
“It's all geared around marketing to help our members
compete with the nationals within their communities and grow their
respiratory business,” said Jim Schaefer, vice president of
the new VGM division.
He added the group is currently working on 30- and 60-second TV
commercials, each with an 800-number that will direct patients to a
centralized call center. “We'll turn that call around and
send those referrals to the member in [the patient's] area,”
Schaefer said, adding that by the first quarter of next year, the
group hopes to have about a dozen commercial spots airing
throughout the country. Other marketing services will include
brochures, radio spots and print advertisements.
The division also will partner with VGM University to enhance
continuing education efforts for respiratory therapists. The
division plans to test its call center services this month, then
officially launch the program in January. Schaefer added that he
hopes the network will have 250 members by the second quarter of
2005.
