Total Medical Solutions is the 15th fastest growing firm in Florida, finds place in Inc. Magazine’s list

Total Medical Solutions (TMS) made Inc. Magazine’s top 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the country, coming in as the 15^th fastest growing firm in Florida and among the top five in the Orlando market. The Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2005 through 2008.

TMS provides home health and complex care services and products to the workers’ compensation industry. The company coordinates the home care of employees who have suffered complex or catastrophic injuries, including home health services, rehab technology products, home modifications, and medical equipment and supplies.

Cara Barde, president of TMS, credits its growth to its focus on providing home health care services and products for complex workers’ compensation cases, noting that many competitors focus on standard durable medical goods (DME) or have DME as an adjunct to pharmacy services. “Home health care and working with complex injuries are the priorities for TMS,” Barde said. “Complex, long-term cases demand highly experienced certified rehabilitation technicians, very specialized technology and equipment, and account coordinators with significant industry expertise. Our professionals average 10 years experience in the field.”

TMS’ customer service drives its growth, which primarily comes through referrals from existing payer clients and word-of-mouth. “Instead of creating high-volume call centers and decentralizing claim activities, we have a dedicated account coordinator working directly with the injured employee, the physicians, nurses, payers, manufacturers, rehabilitation technicians and everyone else who touches the case.”

This approach, which was intended to provide the highest quality of care, has also given the company an unparalleled reputation for cost controls, according to Joseph Paduda, a national workers’ compensation expert who consults with TMS. “Most of the real cost in workers’ compensation is in complex claims, and TMS works very effectively with adjusters to ensure claimants receive the services and support they need, very cost-effectively. This is more efficient than adjusters having to piece-meal services and equipment that may not work together seamlessly.”

Additionally, TMS can guarantee considerably lower prices than competitors on many items because it buys direct from manufacturers and stores supplies and equipment in its own warehouses.

TMS is management owned, so people have a personal interest in client retention. “Fostering long-term partnerships with our client-payers and with patients is key to our success,” Barde said.