Norco, Inc., a medical, welding and safety supply company has announced the acquisition of Walla Walla Home Medical in Walla Walla, WA.

“This is a great time for healthcare in the Walla Walla Valley,” said Ned Pontious, President of Norco, “A Northwest family-owned company serving the great hospitals and residents of this community helps to strengthen a local, continued partnership in the area.”

Now with 16 Norco branches in Washington, this additional location will continue to strengthen healthcare, the care of patients in their homes, and Norco’s commitment to the Walla Walla area and Southeastern Washington.

“We believe that this will allow Walla Walla Home Medical to continue to provide the excellent service to Walla Walla that the community has come to expect,” said Kevin Michelson, Walla Walla Clinic CEO. “It’s a good thing for the community.”

Providence St. Mary Medical Center and the Walla Walla Clinic opened Walla Walla Home Medical in 1987 to meet the durable medical equipment needs of the community. The Walla Walla Clinic was a 60 percent owner, and Providence St. Mary owned 40 percent. The business has been successful over the years and provided a high level of service to its customers. However, like all of healthcare today, the environment is changing rapidly. It has become increasingly difficult to run a small, independent medical equipment business amid the complexity of the current landscape. These factors led to the joint decision by the Walla Walla Clinic and Providence St Mary to sell Walla Walla Home Medical.

Norco, a third generation, family owned business, is based in Boise, Idaho and lives by its mission statement “Serving You Better,” with “You” referring to the company’s patients, customers, employees, vendors, and the communities it serves.
As the nation’s largest privately owned medical, welding, safety and gas supplier, Norco currently operates more than 65 branches in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.