Boone Lockard, VP of Clinical Services for VGM & Associates, Nominated as 2024 HomeCare Hero Finalist

Published in Respiratory & Sleep on December 03, 2024

HomeCare Magazine recently announced their list of finalists for the 2024 HomeCare Heroes, all of whom represent the best of the homecare industry. Included in this list is VGM’s Boone Lockard, VP of Clinical Services, who demonstrates his dedication in advancing respiratory and clinical services for VGM members and their patients every day.

“To say I’m humbled is an understatement,” stated Lockard. “Sixteen years ago, as a “kid” working as a pharmacy technician at Lehan's, I never thought I’d be in a position to stand on a national stage at some point in my career.”

At VGM, Lockard oversees VGM Respiratory and Sleep Services, focusing on helping providers operate more efficiently and grow their businesses. He emphasizes the importance of recruiting valuable clinical staff and foresees a bright future for the HME industry, despite staffing challenges. Lockard credits his success to the mentorship he received early in his career and remains committed to improving patient outcomes and supporting HME providers.

“Joining the team at VGM & Associates has been transformative for both my career and personal growth,” Lockard continued. “I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and proud to contribute to the impactful work we’re doing in VGM Respiratory and Sleep Services.”

About Boone Lockard, VP of Clinical Service at VGM & Associates

The following was originally featured in HomeCare Magazine.

Boone Lockard has been in the home medical equipment (HME) and pharmacy world since he was a child; his mother managed a string of independent pharmacies in Northern Illinois. At 18, Lockard was hired at Lehan Drugs.

He worked his way through the company, earning his respiratory therapist license and helping build their respiratory program.

“It wasn’t instant gratification,” Lockard said. “We were setting up a handful of new PAP patients a month. When I left, we were setting up hundreds of devices on a monthly basis.”

After a three-year stint as an account manager for Philips Respironics, Lockard landed at VGM & Associates in 2022, where he oversees the Respiratory and Sleep Services programs. In January of this year, he was promoted to vice president of clinical services, a role that requires him to supervise and collaborate with the VGM Sleep Services team to find clinical and operational solutions for durable medical equipment providers.

His nominator applauded his work at the buyer’s group, saying that he always keeps a positive attitude while offering up helpful information to members and others working in the industry.

He said his prior experience with Lehan Drugs helps him connect with providers who are developing their own respiratory and sleep businesses.

“The VGM Respiratory role allows me to work with our members and help them either operate more efficiently, identify new product lines that can support their business and patients, or assist with billing and reimbursement; essentially helping them grow their business to be successful,” Lockard said.

Since 2022, the VGM Sleep Services program has been providing virtual setups and follow-ups to help patients remain compliant with therapy.

“The growth that we’ve seen in this program and the amount of patients that we’re able to touch on a monthly basis is rewarding,” Lockard said. “I haven’t been in the clinical setting for a few years now, and this really brings me back to providing positive outcomes to patients and the industry.”

One of the biggest challenges today for HME providers, Lockard said, is recruiting valuable clinical staff, such as respiratory therapists.

“They are being guided into the acute care space,” he said. “We’re having to fight for those respiratory therapists in our space and be competitive. It’s challenging.”

Staffing challenges aside, Lockard said that HME “has a very bright future.”

“Some of our analysts here at VGM are projecting that within the next 10 years, each HME provider will have to handle about two times the amount of patients that they’re managing today.”

He credits his success in the profession to a group of mentors at Lehan Drugs.

“I was a young kid back then. I wasn’t trouble, per se, but just going through college and everything that college brings. They kept me on track and held me accountable,” Lockard said. “They’re the ones who guided me on this path of homecare.”

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