Never using an automated phone menu, this new and used medical equipment company boasts top customer service and always someone to answer and serve you.


The three partners behind Foremost Medical Equipment, Inc. are young and aggressive, but they represent over 85 years of experience. Mark Ragus, President and General Manager, has been in the new and used medical equipment business for over 12 years, starting with the company's original owners back in Florida.

Ragus, trained as an electrical engineer, took over as president in 2002 and moved the company to its current location in Rochester, NY, joined by business partners/owners Steve Buchman, Sales Manager, and Pam Gall, Purchasing Manager.

"We are a medium-sized company with about 17 employees, including three biomedical engineers and a retired Emergency Medical Physician on staff," Ragus notes. Foremost sells both new and refurbished electronic medical equipment and consumables while providing full service and repair of all electronic medical equipment.

They are distributors for GE ECG/EKG, Patient Monitors and Pulse Oximeters; Zoll Defibrillators; Bionet Fetal and Cardiocare Monitors; and Criticare-Chattanooga Therapy Equipment.

"What sets us apart is we answer the phone," Ragus says. "During business hours, we do not utilize voicemail as we wish to serve our customers when they call. We offer a five-day right-of-return on refurbished equipment, an all-product warranty, and are extremely customer oriented."

In fact, Foremost boasts that the vast majority of their customers (75%) are repeat clients. "Very few of our customers are unhappy," Ragus says.

Hospitals, EMT and Fire and Police Departments, Medical Centers, Specialty Physicians, Dealers, Universities, Manufacturers and Vets are Foremosts' major customers, in that order; and the company services both end-users and dealers worldwide.

"Our customers are informed about their choices," Ragus adds. "They are shopping more due to the Internet. And, there are Asian/Indian subcontinent manufacturers entering the market and driving down prices."

Despite the competition, Ragus reports double-digit growth, with 2007 "particularly good, in the high double digits."

"DOTmed also helps us for Buying, Selling and for the Forums," Ragus notes. "We are on DOTmed daily, utilizing all areas. We found great business partners as well as having many good customers finding us through our ads."

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