CPAP Plus debuts in challenging environment

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Provider Woody O’Neal did his homework when it came to opening CPAP Plus – a division of O’Neal Medical that focuses on sleep therapy and portable oxygen concentrators – which has helped to put the new company in a good position, despite the Philips recall. 

CPAP Plus is located in an area of Birmingham where one-third of O’Neal Medical’s existing customers reside, a local hospital has announced expansion plans and seven sleep centers operate within a five-mile radius – all in all, a “no-brainer,” said O’Neal, vice president of O’Neal Medical. 

“We wanted to have a retail environment where customers could come in, see products, try things on and talk one-on-one, although with COVID we have to be mindful of (how we do) that,” he said. “We really believe customers don’t want to have everything mail-ordered to them. As the son of a local pharmacist, I continue to believe that.” 

Because of the recall, however, O’Neal and his staff find themselves educating customers on a daily basis about what to do, he says. 

“We have customers come in who know nothing about the recall,” he said. “They come in looking to get a filter replacement for CPAP and we have the honor of letting them know about the recall. The goal is giving them clear and concise information that they can use.” 

While the recall worsened an existing equipment shortage – “CPAP is the struggle right now,” says O’Neal – CPAP supplies and POCs haven’t been as challenging. That’s why the company is placing its main focus on POCs for now. 

“We were very big adoptees of the non-delivery model,” he said. “Ninety percent of our ambulatory oxygen patients use self-filling or POCs and we want to continue to extend that concept around Birmingham.”