Carolina’s HME Named for Third Straight Year to Inc. Magazine’s List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies — the Inc. 5000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 21, 2014)— Inc. magazine today ranked Carolina’s Home Medical Equipment, Inc. for the third straight year, No. 349 in Health on its 33rd annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. Companies such as Yelp, Pandora, Timberland, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, LinkedIn, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500|5000.

“We are very humbled to be included in this year’s list as we’ve been handed tremendous reimbursement cuts from our key payer sources. We have refused to sacrifice quality and have been fortunate enough to overcome these cuts with increased volume,” said Frank Trammell, president & CEO of Carolina’s Home Medical Equipment, Inc. “Our industry has faced an overwhelming number of obstacles the past few years, but at the end of the day there are still 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day. The demand is here and we are honored to continue to provide services to our patients.” The 2014 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 20 to November 30), is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year growth of 516 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $211 billion, generating 505,000 jobs over the past three years.

“What surprises me, even though I know it’s coming, is the sheer variety of the paths our entrepreneurs take to success, thematically reflecting how our economy has evolved,” says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “This year there are far more social media and far fewer computer hardware businesses than there were, say, six years ago. But what doesn’t change is the fearsome creativity unleashed by American entrepreneurship.”

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring all the companies on the list will be held from October 15 through 17, 2014 in Phoenix. Speakers include some of the greatest entrepreneurs of this and past generations, such as Michael Dell, Martha Stewart, host of the CNBC show “The Profit” Marcus Lemonis, Container Store Founder and CEO Kip Tindell, and Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya.

Founded in 2003, Carolina’s Home Medical Equipment, Inc. is a private, for-profit North Carolina corporation collectively holding nearly two centuries of healthcare industry experience. They strive to provide the highest quality in home healthcare equipment, supplies, and services, in a cost-effective manner, to all of their clients in the Charlotte region. Carolina’s HME specializes in respiratory and mobility equipment including power wheelchairs, CPAP and Oxygen therapy. Carolina’s HME improves the health of its patients in a manner that distinguishes them in the durable medical equipment industry. In summary, they treat every customer as if they were family.

Carolina’s Home Medical Equipment ranked number 299 overall in Health by Inc. Magazine in 2013, and number 231 in 2012.

The 2014 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2010 to 2013. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2010. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent–not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies–as of December 31, 2013. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2010 is $100,000; the minimum for 2013 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. The Inc. 500|5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.