Top stories of 2020

2020 has been a year unlike any other. From a paralyzing pandemic to racial equality and expanding capabilities to support a stronger healthcare supply chain, here’s a look back at some of the most-viewed and discussed stories:

1)  Medline steps up to provide PPE and expertise

The pandemic put a spotlight on the need for communities and organizations to procure and stockpile proper equipment to keep themselves safe in usual times. The year also highlighted the need for supply chain expertise to strategically counsel organizations through unusual times. Whether it was  donating 150k reusable face masks to the local communities hardest hit by the pandemic or participating in a supply chain roundtable at the White House, Medline found new ways throughout the year to leverage its expertise and products to help in the fight against COVID-19.

2) A massive investment in infrastructure

Whether it was tripling the size of its operations in Alaska, or reconfiguring its North American manufacturing capabilities to include face masks, Medline undertook massive infrastructure changes in 2020 to meet the evolving needs of its customers. This infrastructure expansion has allowed Medline to not only source, but also store PPE for health systems. Doing so is the latest innovative way Medline is helping its customers build a resilient supply chain while keeping key protective gear on hand.

3) COVID-19 accelerates the need for infection prevention technology

As COVID-19 spread across the country, and the world, healthcare organizations across the entire continuum of care looked for additional ways to bolster their infection prevention strategies, often through leading-edge technology. With airborne particles posing a continuing threat to patients and caregivers, companies zeroed in on cleaning the air and surfaces in their facilities. To do so, they turned to products like the Solaris Lytbot, which disinfects the air using pulses of UV light, and Scientific Air, which scrubs the air using filters capable of catching 99.9995% of pathogens. As schools and universities start to bring more students back into physical classrooms, expect the shift towards these technologies to continue in 2021.

4) Medline commits $1 million to organizations advancing social justice

COVID-19 has disproportionally affected communities of color. In response to this and other inequities June, Medline committed $1 million to four organizations dedicated to promoting racial equality, social justice and access to education: Black Lives Matter, the NAACP Legal and Education Fund, National Urban League and the United Negro College Fund. “As an organization, we believe that our responsibility to our employees extends beyond the walls of Medline and into the communities where we live. For that reason, we must do our part to achieve social justice for all our employees, and especially for the Black men and women, who have been impacted by generations of systemic racism in our country,” said Medline President Andy Mills.

5) Medline named top workplace for 10th year

In October, Medline was named one of the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces in 2020. This is the 10th time the company has been honored by the Tribune within the past 11 years, an honor made more remarkable given the fact employee headcount has more than tripled in that timeframe. Globally, Medline employs more than 27,000 people, who work together to bring lifesaving medical supplies—including products critical to the fight against COVID-19—to health providers around the world. Medline recognizes the hard work that goes into this work, and during the pandemic that included CEO Charlie Mills hand-delivering the Jim Mills Excellence awards to the recipients on their doorsteps . That is just one small way Medline is continuously working to keep employees engaged, productive and healthy as we enter the next stage in the battle against the pandemic.

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