CEO Spotlight: Steve Burman of Burman’s Medical Supplies

OWM: Please describe the education, training, and work experiences that prepared you for your current position as CEO of Burman’s Medical Supplies.   I graduated in 1983 from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now University of the Sciences) with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and was awarded the prestigious Presidents Award for high academic achievement. After college I worked for my father, Harvey Burman, at Burman’s Pharmacy (Brookhaven, PA), and in 1995, I purchased the pharmacy from my father. The pharmacy’s respected reputation provided an ideal base upon which to build other companies and serve a broader range of healthcare needs. In 1989, I founded Burman’s Home Health Care, which was known for its comprehensive durable medical equipment (DME), oxygen, and field-based clinical respiratory therapy program. I sold this company in 2003 and founded Burman’s Medical Supplies in the same year to focus on wound care supplies. OWM: What should our readers know about Burman’s?   Burman’s Medical Supplies is a durable medical equipment provider specializing in wound care and urological supplies. We offer same-day delivery to local residences and guarantee overnight shipping to anyone living outside of our delivery area. We take pride in the care we offer our patients and the physicians we work with — we consistently go above and beyond their needs and expectations. OWM: How you were first introduced to the arena of wound care and why you enjoy working in this arena?   Ironically, in 2001 home care nurses and wound care centers were trying to locate DME companies that would provide wound care supplies to patients in their homes. We decided to try to fill that void and found the area both challenging and rewarding. Having experience in pharmacy and DME was key to getting started, because coding and billing properly can be cumbersome. We took a clinical approach, educated ourselves, and enjoy being a resource for our referral sources. OWM: What are some of the company’s biggest accomplishments thus far? What are some of your key products and/or functions that clearly distinguish your brand?     • We received the Customer Service of the Year Award in 2010 from The Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.     • We have been able to establish a full spectrum of services, including special compounding of pharmaceuticals for wound care.     • We are able to offer all wound care products requested. We do not believe in a restricted formulary model.     • Our customer service team has become experts in this area. In fact, we still have our original customer service team from 2003! While we have doubled the staff since then, I believe having long-term employees is a huge asset to a company. OWM: Please describe the mission/vision of your company and how your personal vision fits with the company’s goals.   Our mission is to enhance the economic well-being and caliber of life of all interested parties — ie, stockholders in the company and all the employees at Burman’s by providing good paying jobs, benefit packages, and flexibility; our wholesalers by paying our bills on time; the insurance companies with whom we contract to use healthcare dollars wisely; our community by giving back to our local community; and our patients by not sending unnecessary supplies.   My personal vision is to enhance the caliber of life for anyone I come in contact with, to treat everyone I meet as if he/she is an old friend, to love my family with all my heart, and to be a good friend. OWM: Please explain what must take place on a daily basis at Burman’s in order to accommodate patients, clinicians, and healthcare facilities.   We have a dedicated group of employees who work together to ensure we provide the best care to our patients. We must maintain inventory management and a reliable delivery service. We also have a compliance officer to keep everyone updated on changes occurring within the industry. We have a friendly customer service team that understands wound care products and has a firm understanding of quantities that can be dispensed; types of products; diagnosis codes; and wound anatomy, dimensions, amount of exudate, and sterile products are required, just to name a few.