Healthcare and community partners recently joined U.S. Rep. Mike Carey and West Jefferson Mayor Ray Martin to celebrate Medline’s fully operational 1.2-million-square-foot, LEED-certified distribution center in central Ohio.

Since the $90 million state-of-the-art facility opened in 2020, the West Jefferson distribution center has created over 500 new jobs and is projected to reach $1 billion in sales by the end of 2023. Each day, the facility distributes supplies to nearly 700 hospitals, skilled nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, assisted living and hospice centers—the full continuum of care —throughout Ohio and beyond.

“I am thrilled that Medline, a leading provider of medical supplies across the United States, has chosen to expand their national operations in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District,” said Congressman Carey. “Our region’s skilled workforce and centralized location provide an advantage to Medline as it supplies hospitals, nursing homes, and doctor’s offices with supplies to meet patient care needs.”

Dan Hurry, president of Advantus Health Partners and chief supply chain officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health, praised the new West Jefferson facility for its critical role in strengthening the healthcare supply chain.

Driving continuous improvement

“I can’t thank the Medline team enough—the leadership team, the local team—for what they’re doing here,” Hurry said during the recent event.

Advantus Health Partners, a group purchasing organization launched by Bon Secours Mercy Health, recently announced a 10-year, $2.9 billion strategic partnership with Medline for medical supplies and clinical care solutions, along with ongoing operational and logistics support. Advantus Health Partners is responsible for medical supply procurement and distribution at more than 200 hospitals, 1,700 sites of care and more than 600 clinics in 46 states, including 750 locations throughout Ohio.

Medline, Advantus Health Partners and Bon Secours Mercy Health are working together to “drive continuous improvement,” said Hurry, by leveraging lessons learned from the pandemic to implement inventory and logistical solutions, ultimately creating a more resilient supply chain.

“How do you make sure you’ve got resiliency? It should be when someone reaches for a box of gloves or a mask or something else, they just get it,” said Hurry. “They don’t know what happened behind the scenes. We want to make sure that it’s consistent for the end users and the caregivers.”

A commitment to customers and the community

Steve Miller, Medline executive vice president of supply chain, said the new West Jefferson distribution center “embodies Medline’s operational commitment to take care of not only our customers but also the communities in which we operate.” He also commended “the nearly 500 team members who have chosen Medline as their employer of choice, and who work hard every day to ensure the success of our customers.” Ten employees were recognized during the event for their exceptional work and service.

In just two years, the West Jefferson facility achieved a “Branch of the Year” award. This internal Medline award recognizes select distribution centers, across its 50+ locations throughout North America, for performance in safety and customer service, including quality and on-time shipment preparation and delivery. The distribution center also received a 2022 Madison County Chamber of Commerce Industrial Award for positively impacting the central Ohio community through job growth and investment, and showing a commitment to the Madison community through involvement and collaboration with local entities and organizations.

A good neighbor

“Medline has been very open and easy to work with, has been a good neighbor ever since opening their distribution center, and has provided well-paying and high-quality jobs for the surrounding community,” said Mayor Martin.

The West Jefferson facility is part of Medline’s ongoing Healthcare Resilience Initiative. Medline has invested $2 billion since 2018 in domestic manufacturing, distribution, and IT to strengthen the country’s healthcare supply chain. As part of the initiative, Medline added eight constructed distribution centers, totaling 9.7 million square feet, and expanded manufacturing capabilities during the pandemic to help meet ongoing PPE time-to-market demands.

Medline serves the nation’s top healthcare systems, operating over 50 distribution centers and 20-plus manufacturing facilities across North America. Medline distributes 300,000 unique medical products, including 65,000+ manufactured by Medline.

Learn how Medline tailors solutions across the entire continuum of care as a manufacturer and distributor.