Custom Comfort Medtek's dynamic lab-furnishings duo

Medical Laboratory Observer, March, 2006

Customer care is the key: Customer-focused Custom Comfort Medtek started in a garage in 1987 and now offers 300 different products from its 50,000 square-foot facility to clients all over the world--services recently expanded to the Middle East, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. To build its exceptionally loyal base, key management-team members deal directly with customers, who are invited to visit the company's operation. Free demonstrations of new products give them an opportunity to evaluate product packaging, instructions, ease of use, functionality, and applications. Clients know that parts, samples, or products can be shipped immediately, and those remodeling or opening new facilities know that shipping, staging, and installation are guaranteed to be accomplished on schedule.

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Offering needed products: There is no secret formula for determining what products will be developed. The Florida design team gains inspiration for product-line expansion with a world-class research department--administrators, doctors, nurses, directors, phlebotomists, technicians, and other healthcare professionals--whose input is integral to planning and refining new products. To meet the requirements for design, safety, quality, training, and testing, the process of developing new products takes six to 24 months. Most are made directly at the request of key customers and contacts, and product lines expand quickly to meet their needs and those of the industry.

Ergonomics and enterprise: Focus on ergonomics means accommodating different "shapes and sizes" of patients in order to prevent injury and to make the healthcare professional's job safer, easier, and more comfortable. For example, designed for patient weights of up to 800 pounds, the bariatric chair makes in-and-out access simple for larger patients and less stressful for healthcare personnel--and maintains the dignity of both.

Medical furniture industry: Employees in this segment of the industry enjoy developing a product that makes a difference. The company primarily hires people in the manufacturing industry, as well as people with customer-service experience to help the business operate efficiently and profitably. They are empowered to make suggestions and give management ideas to improve the products and the operation.

Career plans for the med lab sector: First and foremost, young people should pursue their passions and dreams. Contributing to the comfort of patients, and providing furniture and equipment that aids healthcare professionals to serve those patients well, is an inspiring profession.

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Peter Gaughn (right)

Professional

CEO, Custom Comfort Medtek.

Education

BS, Accounting, Manhattan College, New York, NY; MBA/Finance, St. John's University, Queens, NY.

Personal

Lives in Florida with wife, Kris; son, Patrick; and daughter, Megan. Enjoys skiing and playing golf.

Doug Patton (left)

Professional

Vice President, Custom Comfort Medtek.

Education

Attended Oregon State University.

Personal

Lives in Florida with wife, Julie; Son, Jeff; and daughter, Nicole. Enjoys rebuilding retro mechanical pinball machines.