HomeCare has presented Donald H. Adler, president and CEO of Care Medical and Rehabilitation Equipment, Portland, Ore., and David T. Williams, legislative affairs consultant, Invacare, Elyria, Ohio, with the HomeCaring Award for 2003.

Sponsored by Medtrade, the awards honor those whose dedication and commitment defines the “caring” that HME is all about. “Medtrade is pleased to sponsor the 2003 HomeCaring Awards because they exemplify the true spirit of the industry,” said Cory Smith, group show director for Medtrade. “This year's recipients are well-deserving of this award, and prove that this industry is founded on those who continually provide quality care that exceeds expectations.”

Adler and Williams were chosen from nominations submitted by HomeCare's readers and judged by a five-member panel of industry professionals, including Jerold S. Cohen, president, Caesar Cohen Ltd.; Louis Feuer, president, Dynamic Seminars & Consulting; Simon Margolis, vice president, National Seating & Mobility, and president, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA); Sheldon “Shelly” Prial, partner, HPS Healthcare Management and a monthly HomeCare columnist; and Colette Weil, managing director, Summit Marketing.

“I was deeply moved by the many nominations submitted from nearly every aspect of the HME industry — small and large providers, manufacturers, clinicians, pharmacies, non-profit organizations and service organizations. The high caliber of nominees truly reflects the diverse and deep devotion to leadership throughout the HME industry,” said Weil on behalf of the judging panel.

“As judges, our choice was extremely difficult. Every nominee made extraordinary, selfless contributions to positively impact the lives of others. We selected those who are leaders, who have provided long-term, distinguished service and who demonstrate a genuine caring commitment to the betterment of the HME industry.”

As a home medical equipment provider, Adler has served his communities, patients and employees as well as the HME industry at large for 33 years, and has worked diligently as an active industry participant at both the national and state levels.

As former director of government relations for Invacare, Williams has devoted more than 12 years to shaping governmental policy for the benefit of HME providers, manufacturers and consumers.

HomeCare is proud to acknowledge the talent and generous spirit of both Don Adler and David Williams, and to recognize their exemplary service. Individual profiles of both HomeCaring Award recipients will appear in the December and January 2004 issues of the magazine.