Apple Homecare & Rehab: 'Number one in my book'

HOLDEN, Mass. -- With all the talk about fraud and abuse in the HME industry, companies like Apple Homecare & Rehab sometimes get lost in the shuffle. "There are a lot of companies out there doing the right thing and they don't get recognized," said C.J. Pedersen, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central New England. In late April, Apple Homecare was one of two companies in Pedersen's geographic district to be awarded the prestigious Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Independent judges give the award each year to companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to workplace ethics. "This is not a beauty or popularity contest because there are a lot of companies that are very popular, but when you get down to it, the application of their ethical practices might be lacking," Pedersen said. Apple was one of 21 companies nominated for the award this year. "This was such a surprise," said Apple manager Lynn Skeean. "A lot of companies nominated are big huge companies so this is even more special that we did win. We pride ourselves on good service." Savvas Fotiadis nominated the single-location HME for the award. Last February, Apple provided his mother, who had just suffered a stroke, with a variety of medical equipment, including a hospital bed and wheelchair. In servicing his mother, Apple went above and beyond the call of duty, Fatiadis said. Whatever equipment his mother needed, Apple provided it in a timely manner -- even during off hours. The company's president, Joni Milluzzo, gave him her personal phone number and said to call her any time Fotiadis said. "They are number one in my book," he said. "Business is a transaction, but this goes much deeper. For the people involved it is more than a transaction. It's their lives."