Working Together to Enhance Cost Savings: Medline and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Launch Exclusive Distribution Partnership

Medical supplier chosen for ability to drive efficiencies through quality supplies and unique web-based reporting tools

Mundelein, Ill., Jan. 7, 2016 – According to the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management, medical supplies are expected to eclipse labor as the biggest expense for hospitals by the year 2020. As a result, hospitals are seeking partners like Medline who are dedicated to delivering quality products and solutions that drive positive patient outcomes and improve operational efficiencies.

To help streamline supply chain operations and manage costs, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the region’s only independent healthcare system dedicated to the health and well-being of children, has inked a three-year, $33 million exclusive distribution agreement with Medline.

“Hospitals are seeking vendors who can not only provide quality medical supplies, but also help them create efficiencies and measure and track results. Through Medline’s online reporting tool INSIGHT, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin will be able to easily monitor key service metrics, contract compliance, real-time contract connectivity, and price accuracy,” said Adam Swearingin, senior vice president of acute care sales for Medline. “Medline is committed to providing quality products, services and solutions to help the hospital meet their financial goals while simultaneously helping healthcare workers deliver quality patient care.”

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, which has two locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wis., is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. Children’s offers primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers.

"Children's Hospital of Wisconsin believes that kids deserve the best. It is my responsibility to not only make sure the doctors and staff have the supplies they need to provide that care, but that we get those supplies in an efficient and cost effective way.  Medline has already made suggestions on our process to help drive efficiencies and meet that goal,” said Lisa Fohey, director of supply chain, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. “The conversion process has been well managed and well-received by our staff, both Supply Chain and clinical, and we’ve had great success in clinical sign off of the Medline branded products to date.”

The contract is effective through September 30, 2018.

Learn more about Medline’s prime vendor program at https://www.medline.com/supply-solutions/hospital-idn/prime-vendor-program-review/.

About Medline

Medline is a global manufacturer and distributor serving the healthcare industry with medical supplies and clinical solutions that help customers achieve both clinical and financial success. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., the company offers 350,000+ medical devices and support services through more than 1,200 direct sales representatives who are dedicated points of contact for customers across the continuum of care.  For more information on Medline, go to www.medline.com or http://www.medline.com/social-media to connect with Medline on its social media channels.

About Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked in nine specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015-16 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. In 2014, Children’s invested more than $102 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. Children’s achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.