By CASEY KELLOGG
HomeCare Plus: More than medical
For Lee Atkins, owner of HomeCare Plus Medical, his business provides not just a way of life, but also a God-given ministry.
“We truly see our company as an important healthcare provider with the opportunity to minister to over 100 people each day,” Atkins says.
His company, founded in 1966, is a combination pharmacy and medical supply provider. But the success of the business is a testimony in itself. According to Atkins, he founded HomeCare Plus more out of faith than from a savvy business plan.
“After 23 years in business, a rich history of God’s blessings is evident in many areas,” he explains. “The sheer longevity of the company, the quality of employees that I have had the privilege to work with, and the thousands of customers/patients that we have had the opportunity to serve are constant reminders to me of God’s provision.”
The company began when its parent business, InfusaCare Inc., became unable to provide the equipment that patients desperately needed. So in order to meet the specialized needs of his clients, Atkins founded HomeCare Plus, a company dedicated to providing the medical supplies that best serve each patient.
Patients often come to HomeCare Plus confused about the equipment they need, and the company takes time to serve each patient with personalized care. Atkins sees this not as a hindrance but an opportunity to impact lives.
“Our goal is to see every customer as an individual with specific needs even though, in many cases, they do not know exactly what they are looking for. It is our calling to help them identify what they need and the most effective way for that need to be met.”
He recalls, for example, a gentleman in need of a wheelchair for his mother. “His mother had a wheelchair but the wrong one. She was unable to self-propel … so we helped him realize that she really needed a transport chair.”
Although to most, the difference between a wheelchair and a transport chair might seem insignificant, the end result can be life-changing.
HomeCare Plus also teaches patients how to use their equipment.
“On a daily basis, we encounter customers who come to our store with a prescription but very little understanding of how to ‘apply’ the prescription. Instructing these customers in the best care for the patient, the best and most appropriate use of the equipment or supplies, is a tremendous opportunity for ministry.”
As Atkins puts it, “We are committed to listening intently, caring earnestly and giving our best effort in helping the customers meet their needs.”
Casey Kellogg is an intern at Mississippi Christian Living and a sophomore at Mississippi College, where she is studying English writing with a minor in literature. She hails from Nesbit and enjoys listening to musicals and spending time with her cat, Wishes.
