NEW BUSINESS ON THE STREET: HOME HEALTH COMPANY OPENS

American HomePatient Inc., a home health company that offers equipment and services for home infusion therapy, home respiratory services and other home medical equipment, opened recently at 63A Doctors' Park.

The respiratory services program offers a complete line of equipment, supplies and services for patients who need home oxygen or other respiratory therapies, said Maria Moore, manager of the local branch.

American HomePatient offers a complete line of medical equipment for sale or rent, including hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, hydraulic lifts and other equipment.

The company has 19 sites in Missouri, including Cape Girardeau, Festus, Ironton, Mexico, Potosi, Rolla, Springfield and St. Louis. In Kentucky, Paducah and Mayfield are two of the 16 locations. Springfield is the southernmost location of four Illinois sites.

American HomePatient was established in 1969 at Tallahassee, Fla., as Southeastern Surgical Supply Co. a wholesaler of medical equipment and supplies.

The company was acquired by a group of Atlanta investors in 1982, and the business focus shifted from wholesale to providing home health care products and services.

Today, the company, headquartered at Franklin, Tenn., has 204 centers in 27 states, said its president, Ed Wisseng.