Darla Carpenter, the owner of Norco Medical, poses for a photo in the John Day store. The business will continue providing durable medical equipment after concerns that it could reduce its offerings to oxygen only.

Norco Medical has a new owner.

Darla Carpenter took over the medical supply business, at 437 W Main St. in John Day, in early February.

Carpenter said remodels are in the future, and she hopes to turn the business into more of a retail space.

Norco sells everything from oxygen tanks to wheelchairs and deals mostly with prescriptions. They also sell and rent a variety of canes, braces and other medical items a prescription isn’t needed for.

She encourages people to inquire about items in stock and said they can often order what they don’t have in the store.

Under new ownership, Norco has extended it’s hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and Carpenter said she is available around the clock for emergency calls.

The business employs three people, and they are constantly busy, Carpenter said. While there’s lots of on-the-job learning, Carpenter said the customers have been great and are very helpful at knowing just what they need.

Carpenter was motivated to work at Norco after caring for her own mother for eight years. During that time, she was amazed at the difference a supportive medical supply store staff could make.

Carpenter said the primary Norco office is in Bend, and has been an incredible help as she has transitioned into running a new business.

She did advise those using oxygen tanks make sure to stock up with at least four days worth in case of an emergency.

One goal Carpenter has for the business is to begin a delivery route for some customers. She said she hopes to get it started in as early as one year.

Norco Medical can be reached at 541-575-0372.