Invacare Corp. has announced that it will restructure its North American HME business into a more cost-effective business model in response to ongoing changes in the home medical equipment industry. The company’s rehab, respiratory, standard and sleep product divisions will be reorganized into an umbrella organization called the HME Group, with Carl Will as group vice president.

Will was previously responsible for Invacare’s institutional and standard products. Under his leadership, both groups have shown growth. Will reports to Gerry Blouch, president and COO.

Lou Slangen, senior VP, global market development, says, “The HME Group combines our rehab, respiratory, sleep and standard product divisions into one business under one leader. With Carl as the group vice president of the HME group, he will have complete exposure to the combined businesses, which will make the group more agile and efficient. In addition, combining the group allows us to present a formulary of HME products to our customers, which will make both Invacare and our customers more efficient and cost-effective in the world of lower reimbursement.”

Also reporting to Will are Mark Sullivan, VP and category manager, rehab products; Judy Kovacs, VP and category manager, standard and home care products; and John Ledek, VP and category manager, respiratory products.

Ann MacGregor, former VP and category manager, sleep products, will be leaving Invacare to explore other opportunities. All sleep product activities will be consolidated with the respiratory products division, led by Ledek.

“The HME Group proved to be a cost-effective and efficient business model, and at a time when the industry continues to change and evolve, it was important for Invacare to return to this structure,” says Blouch. “Carl Will is a proven performer and will make an excellent leader of this group. Invacare’s institutional products business is doing very well, and much of that is due to Carl’s leadership.”

For more information, visit www.invacare.com.