Strategic partnerships flourished and adapted in 2020

Health systems turned to Medline to overcome operational and financial challenges

By Medline Newsroom Staff | November 30, 2020

2020 was a year of rapid change and steep challenges in healthcare. Revenue streams and supply chain needs fluctuated, and hospitals and many health systems responded by seeking out strategic partnerships with their closest vendors.

In fact, Medline is on track to complete prime vendor implementations at over 40 health systems across 32 states since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March.

These new relationships reflect the evolving needs of health systems and innovative ways Medline brings value and support.

“This pandemic is relentless and redefining normal as we know it,” said Doug Golwas, executive vice president, acute care, Medline. “To ensure we help meet the service improvements and much needed cost savings our customers expect from us, Medline continues to modify its approach to ensure we can effectively adapt for and with system partners when it comes to our team, infrastructure, MedTrans fleet, strategic inventory and technology. I am extremely proud of the collaboration and execution between Medline and our partners during this critical time.”

To bring this level of service and support, Medline teams worked side-by-side with health systems representing 32 states – in a hybrid model, both in person and virtually – to make the transition seamless, accurate and timely. Systems that made this switch in 2020 included Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut, UNC Health in North Carolina, Texas Children’s Hospital and the University of Texas System Supply Chain Alliance, which supports UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and UT Medical Branch in Galveston.

With all these health systems under the continuing pressures exerted by COVID-19, Medline leaders made a conscious decision to further dedicate themselves to communication and accountability. Health systems wanted to plan for every variable to ensure their patients and providers had the supplies they needed, when they needed them. This challenged implementation teams at Medline to find new ways to work through the implementation process while still tailoring solutions to ease system-specific fears.

“Facilities didn’t always want to hear the news we had to deliver but appreciated our transparency,” says Dave Kordik, senior director of sales administration, Medline. “Many customers tell us previous relationships have felt more transactional. Pandemic or not, we want to do whatever it takes to begin each journey as strategic business partners.”

Read the full announcement here. 

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Categories: Supply Chain

Medline Newsroom Staff

Medline Newsroom Staff

Medline's newsroom staff researches and reports on the latest news and trends in healthcare.

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