Carter answers the call at OxyGo

ORLANDO, Fla. – Chris Carter says he will use his role as first COO and now CEO at OxyGo to make sure the company is working as “one machine.” 

“What I’ve recognized in my career is that there are synergies between the operations and commercial sides of the business and when you can connect the two it’s powerful,” he said. “They can be pitted against each other, but I see them as complementary, and as CEO, I can connect the two. I can make sure we’re working as one machine, with commercial getting the orders and operations delivering on that.” 

Here’s what Carter, whose previous experience includes COO-Americas for TP Aerospace and senior director of operations for Invacare, had to say about how he plans to modernize OxyGo and, despite the steady uptake on portable oxygen concentrators, why he thinks the stationary oxygen concentrator is still a powerful tool. 

HME News: What’s something you accomplished at TP Aerospace that might give us an idea of what you’ll do at OxyGo? 

Chris Carter: I was brought into that company specifically to improve operations. They were in a legacy building and had legacy processes, and we modernized it. We invested in a new building and new equipment. We modernized the team. Then we invited customers in and said, “Look at us. We’re here and serious.” It’s a Danish company and that’s how we were able to grow the U.S. side of the business. OxyGo also wants to improve operational performance. We’ve brought in metrics and KPIs that we’re making sure we’re meeting. We now have that formal discipline of every month measuring and monitoring and seeing what we want to improve. 

HME: You also previously worked for Invacare for 17 years. Now that you’ve rejoined the industry, how is it different or the same? 

Carter: The same pressures are there – competitive bidding pricing, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, consolidation. I think where OxyGo fills a void is we can provide a great product at great quality with great service. As a smaller company, we have the willingness and flexibility to do more than just the sale. For example, we still have people – live human beings – in Ohio answering calls every day. “Answer the call” is one of our core values. 

HME: You can’t be a manufacturer today without worrying about tariffs. How is OxyGo managing that possible challenge? 

Carter: The unfortunate part of it all is it’s unpredictable. But my background is in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, so it’s how I’m wired to mitigate cost increases with improved operations, and I’ll continue to do that, whether it’s a 10% or 15% or 20% tariff.  

HME: You were recently at Medtrade – how did it go? 

Carter: What I already knew about our products was reinforced by customers and the network that I have in the industry. Our flagship product, the OxyHome stationary oxygen concentrator, is whisper quiet, it’s robust and it’s proven to be very durable. It’s standing up to the competition.

• Related: OxyGo sees sleep market as great opportunity.