Top Medline Newsroom stories of 2021

2021 was an extraordinary year with the pandemic continuing to bring unprecedented healthcare challenges we well as opportunities for continued innovation and growth. Here’s a look at some of the most viewed and discussed Medline Newsroom stories from the past year:

1). Medline helps healthcare partners obtain and maintain critical supplies

In 2021, Medline employees continued to work around the clock to provide essential medical supplies for its healthcare partners. Among the challenges – how to store, manage and access stockpiled inventory. Medline’s supply chain optimization and logistics teams worked closely with more than 40 healthcare systems to create a 3^rd Party Logistics (3PL) storage solution, ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other vital supplies as needed. In 2021, Medline also signed 450+ long-term care provider contracts for technology based workforce solutions to help with staff retention during ongoing shortages, and secured agreements with Ochsner Health, Arnot Health and other healthcare systems to provide supplies and logistical services and solutions. A new Peri-Op Performance Program™ is helping Springfield Memorial Hospital to identify inefficiencies and improve outcomes in the operating room, and the acquisition of  a significant portion of the Hudson RCI® brand of respiratory consumables, enhanced Medline’s product portfolio.

2). Multibillion-dollar infrastructure investment strengthens domestic supply chain

Medline’s logistical solutions were aided by an ongoing, multibillion-dollar investment in new and expanded distribution and manufacturing facilities. During the first three years of the Healthcare Resilience Initiative, Medline invested $1.5 billion in new distribution centers, manufacturing capabilities and information technology upgrades. In 2021, new distribution centers opened in Grayslake, Illinois; Southaven, Mississippi; St. Peters, Missouri; Montgomery, New York; Mebane, North Carolina; and Katy, Texas. Construction is underway on a new facility in Hammond, Louisiana, and plans were announced for a distribution center in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

 3). Women supply chain leaders share advice for advancing a career in healthcare
The healthcare supply chain has never been more in the spotlight, and its success relies on a continued commitment to improving and encouraging workforce diversity. The Medline Newsroom spoke with women supply chain leaders from renowned healthcare organizations to garner their advice for current and future generations of women pursuing careers in supply chain.

4). Medline named a top workplace and company

Medline was named to three, prominent top employer and workplace lists in 2021: Forbes 2021 America’s Best Large Employers, LinkedIn’s 2021 Top Companies Chicago and for the 11^th year, the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces. In addition, Medline’s continued innovation and growth resulted in a jump on Forbes’ America’s Largest Private Companies list to 16 in 2021, and spots on Medical Design & Outsourcing magazine’s 2021 Medtech Big 100 and Crain’s 50 Most Innovative Companies lists.

5). A continued commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact

Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, Medline continued its commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact in the U.S. and across the globe. By year-end 2021, Medline expected to triple its solar portfolio with solar panel systems at nine facilities, spanning more than 4 million square feet of rooftop. Medline also announced a pilot program with Volvo Trucks North America to utilize a fully electric semi-tuck for Southern California supply deliveries, and made plans for continued expansion of its successful ReNewal medical device reprocessing program. This fall, Medline launched a Month of Service encouraging and incentivizing the company’s nearly 30,000 employees to participate in organized volunteer activities, and provided 15 Medline Community Impact Grants to community organizations addressing the many social determinants of health.

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