Bonjour! Je m'appelle Tracy
By Tracy Orzel
Updated Fri October 31, 2014
Jumping into the HME industry is a lot like learning a new language in the native-speaking country. In the beginning, people are frustrated with you, there's a lot of blank stares, you're constantly asking others to repeat themselves and you're almost positive they think you're addled. Which you are.
About two months ago I set it in my head that I was going to learn French. So I did what any good student does: I bought all the dictionaries, CDs and software and expected to learn through osmosis. Hand to God, there are flashcards littered around my house right now—in cupboards and drawers—with words like “fork” and “salt” written in French. I still can't ask for the time but I know the word for “butter.”
Unfortunately, my cabinet isn't big enough to stuff words like “capped rental reclassification” and “competitive bidding implementation contractor.” Instead, I must rely on the patience of those already in the industry and more importantly, Google.
Then again, there is no UHMER (the Union of Home Medical Equipment Republics, if you will), no native speakers. We've all been in these shoes. I just ask that when you speak to me (and you will speak to me), be patient and remember when you were learning a second language.
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