- April 18, 2024
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Command Medical Products might be based in Ormond Beach, but its footprint is global.
For the last 33 years, the medical device contract manufacturer has been supplying products like oxygen bags, oxygen lines and endotracheal tubes to some of the largest medical technology device companies across the world. As COVID-19 takes a toll on the world, these products are now in high demand, and Command Medical is actively working to meet it.
Endotracheal tubes are used when COVID-19 patients need to be intubated and provided with invasive ventilation, explained Stephanie McGee, vice president of sales and marketing. It's significant that production keep going, she said.
“We do manufacture products that are directly used for patients in critical care situations that are being treated for COVID-19, so we certainly want to support our customers that are the ones that are actually doing the distribution of those products," she said.
Command Medical has been asked by its clients, with whom it has non-disclosure agreements, to ramp up production at its manufacturing sites in Ormond and Managua, Nicaragua.
“They’re depending on us to be able to get that product to market," McGee said.
To meet the need, Command Medical, which is owned by David Slick, has redirected some of its workforce from manufacturing supplies related with nonemergency medical procedures toward the respiratory products. In addition, the company has also worked to ensure their employees safety by isolating workspaces, implementing more cleanings and allowing some to work remotely.
Maintaining a safe environment is important, McGee said.
Ormond Beach Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher recently told the Ormond Beach Observer that he learned Command Medical manufactured parts for ventilators. Those ventilators eventually will make it to hospitals treating patients for COVID-19.
But even before the pandemic, this was part of Command Medical's day-to-day business, he said.
“They’re engaged in that every day, so the pieces that they’re making are basically being sent out internationally and touching the front lines," Rademacher said.
He added that it was great to hear about local companies making an impact both at the local and international level in the fight against coronavirus.
McGee said she doesn't think many people in Ormond Beach know Command Medical exists, and that they provide a local opportunity for high-wage jobs in engineering, inspection, project management and other sectors.
She said she's also proud to work for a company that's able to "bring lifesaving devices to the world."
“And there’s a very strong likelihood that somebody in their family, somebody that they know personally, or themselves even, have been touched by products that have been made locally," she said.
