Maine Digital Press

The Home Office and Fort Fairfield Store

Let’s face it, it’s never easy when you have health needs. But a local company, based in Fort Fairfield, Maine, handles the difficult time with services and products delivered with the kind of service that only Aroostook County can inspire. Acadia Medical Supply is that kind of company and its growth reflects its family values and customer-centered philosophy.

Scott and Steve Clark, two brothers from Fort Fairfield, started the business in 2001. Both had previous associations with the medical supply business, Steve with a technical background servicing equipment and as a certified rehab technician and the Scott with a respiratory and sleep therapy background. They wanted to start a supply business that was based and serviced from the county and not beholden to a faraway office.

The business has expanded in seven short years to four locations: Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent, Houlton and Presque Isle, and beside the two brothers, now employees 17 people. They service major health centers as far aways as South Paris and Lincoln.

Here is how their service commitment makes them different: Say for

Murchison stands next to an amazing device that allows those paralyzed from the waist down to stand upright themselves.

example, that a senior member of the community has a stroke. The hospital and physician decide the patient will need a walker, oxygen, a shower chair and other medical supplies. The hospital will call Acadia Medical Supply who then handles all the paperwork involved for Medicare or other insurance companies, delivers and sets up the equipment and leaves instructions on its use. Says Shawn Murchison, the company’s marketing director, “We do everything possible to take the worry out of these arrangements so the patient can focus on getting well.”

Kim and her staff servicing their customers

You aren’t going to get a fancy phone system when you call one of their numbers either. There are no phone trees and selections to punch on the phone. A live person answers the phone at all times. And since their services are required 24 hours a day, even their answering service is required to personally answer the phone during the wee hours of the morning. And every dealing with a customer is entered into their customer database so nothing is ever missed. Their customer service tools and computer system are impressive and hardy enough to handle their passion for customer care. Insurance companies are all billed electronically by their computer tools.

Customized Wheelchairs of all Sizes

The family spirit of the company extends to its customers. It is not uncommon for the families of health victims to donate the equipment back to the company so that other sufferers who are also in tough times can have the benefits of good equipment too.

The business has a real family feel to it. Company Christmas parties are held at one of the brother’s house and their wifes cook a feast for all. During the Potato Blossom Festival, all employee family members gather at the Fort Fairfield location and enjoy the parade together. Murchison is earnest and sincere when he talks enthusiastically of how much he enjoys working for the company. His wife, Kim, is the Billing Manager. The company is also involved in the community and works with United Way and other organizations.

It’s not always easy though. Medicare and other insurance provider rules change all the time and make it more and more difficult to get the benefits health sufferers need. Kim and her staff do everything possible to make it possible to work around these difficulties so that everyone has the help they need when they need it.

Catnapper Recliners

These kinds of services are not all the company provides. They have the most extensive and largest uniform and “scrubs” in the area and offer a 10% discount to any health worker, whether they work in a dental office, hospital or private practice. The Boston Red Sox scrubs are particularly popular! They also sell furniture and not just medical assist furniture. They have a large collection of recliners with heat and massage units in the Catnapper line of furniture.

The success of the business is a testament to their product lines and services. The company services all but two nursing homes in all of Aroostook County, an impressive accomplishment in just seven short years.

Some of Acadia Medical Supply's Large Product Selection

Besides home and facility delivery, the four store locations offer a large retail supply of respiratory care products, custom wheelchairs, seating systems, scooters, uniforms, physical therapy products, professional therapeutic fittings including diabetic shoes and compression stockings, home medical equipment and incontinent and Ostomy supplies.

All these supplies and services are provided confidentially and with the utmost care with the goal of total patient satisfaction. As Murchison says, “Patient Satisfaction is Number 1.” This family and service oriented Acadia Medical Supply combines that philosophy and desirable and necessary products and have earned a unique position of success in what they do.