Serial entrepreneurs: Stevens, Burns make another run at supplies
By Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
Updated Mon September 30, 2019
BUFORD, Ga. - Having already built one successful business, the team behind UroStat Healthcare hopes to repeat their winning formula for a second time.
Craig Stevens, UroStat's CEO, and Bert Burns, part owner, previously worked together at UroMed, which Burns founded in 1996 and sold to AssuraMed in early 2014. At the time of its sale, UroMed served 7,000 patients in 48 states.
UroStat, which marked its first year in business in July, offers catheters, ostomy and incontinence supplies, and accepts private insurance and Medicare. It also accepts Medicaid in 28 states.
“We're still pretty small but growing,” said Burns.
While Burns, a wheelchair user, disability advocate and paralympian, was the face of UroMed, these days he says he's “just a sales guy.” But when he calls on rehab centers and hospitals he says the name recognition doesn't hurt.
“My name's been out there for many years,” he said. “They know me through wheelchair sports—rugby or racing. They know who I am and that I did a good job for them before.”
A key part of that “good job”: customer service. At UroStat, all calls are answered by a live person, even though it may be more efficient to use computer automation, says Burns.
“So many of our customers don't get out of the house much, and sometimes talking to us is the only person they talk to all month,” he said. “I want to give them a good experience and feel taken care of and cared for and not just feel like a number.”
Comments