HomeCaring Awards Presented

HomeCare’s HomeCaring Awards were created on a simple premise — to recognize distinguished service to the home medical equipment community. This year, the magazine has recognized three outstanding individuals whose efforts on the industry’s behalf certainly have distinguished them at the highest level: Rita Stanley Hostak, vice president of government relations for Sunrise Medical, Longmont, Colo.; Michael Marnhout, president and CEO of Bluegrass Oxygen, Lexington, Ky.; and Randy Wolfe, president and CEO of Lambert’s Health Care, Knoxville, Tenn.

Co-sponsored by Medtrade, the awards were presented at Medtrade 2005 during the trade show’s Welcome Reception, held Oct. 18 in Atlanta.

The three recipients were chosen from nominees submitted by HomeCare’s readers and judged by a panel of seven industry professionals, including: Jerold Cohen, president, Caesar Cohen Ltd.; Louis Feuer, president, Dynamic Seminars & Consulting; Miriam Lieber, president, Lieber Consulting; Simon Margolis, vice president, National Seating & Mobility, and past president, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA); Sheldon “Shelly” Prial, Prial Consulting; Wallace Weeks, president, Weeks Group; and Colette Weil, managing director, Summit Marketing.

“Members of the HME industry serve with mercy, mission and perseverance. The nominations are a testimony to the hard work found in every aspect of our business,” said Weil on behalf of the judging panel.

Working in her role since 1993, Rita Hostak has become a constant voice in industry affairs. She is involved in the industry’s Restore Access to Mobility Partnership. She is co-chair of the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee. And anyone who knows Rita knows that her work as president of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab technology knows no bounds.

“Rita Hostak is truly one of a kind to this industry … she has been a real leader in the challenges that face all of us, says Sunrise Medical CEO Mike Hammes.

Mike Marnhout opened his first home oxygen company in 1982 and, since, has become the go-to resource in his community for any cause, any charity, any patient who needs support. “Of all of Mike’s outstanding qualities, service to our community ranks as his highest achievement,” reads a nomination letter.

“Whether it is providing an indigent patient free oxygen, volunteering his time to help those less fortunate, especially our senior citizens, or assisting a young nursing student by funding their education, Mike’s commitment to helping others is widely known and highly respected.”

Randy Wolfe has participated in the startup of eight HME operations in Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and Florida. He has been a board member and vice chairman of NAMES and has served as president of the Tennessee Home Medical Providers Association.

“Lambert’s Health Care may be a smaller player in the HME industry,” says a staff member, “but our role in the lives of our customers is significant. The positive impact we have in the community is immeasurable, and that impact is a direct result of Randy Wolfe’s commitment and dedication to providing the best home care.”

“HomeCare is proud to acknowledge those whose tireless efforts serve to further the goals of providers and the industry at large,” says Editor-in-Chief Gail Walker. “The HomeCaring Awards are only a small token in recognizing the contributions of so many individuals whose exemplary service has made the home care community a better place, and who challenge the rest of us to do better ourselves.”

Look for individual profiles of the 2005 HomeCaring Award recipients in upcoming issues of the magazine.