Healthcare Industry News: Novation
News Release - May 5, 2010
Medline Awarded New Novation Urological Agreement Featuring Innovative CAUTI Prevention Tools
New Three-Year Agreement Names Medline Single-Source NOVAPLUS Supplier for Urological ProductsMUNDELEIN, IL--(HSMN NewsFeed) - Medline Industries, Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, today announced a three-year agreement with leading healthcare supply contracting company Novation for urological products. Under the terms of the new agreement, Medline will be the single NOVAPLUS® supplier for more than 25,000 members of VHA Inc., the University HealthSystem Consortium, and 5,500 members of Provista, representing more than 28,000 sites. The agreement is part of Novation's "Patient Care" standardization program and is effective July 1, 2010.
The agreement includes Medline's urological products and its ERASE CAUTI program, which is a revolutionary new approach to managing catheters and reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Based on the same criteria the CDC used in developing their new CAUTI prevention guidelines, the ground-breaking ERASE CAUTI program features a reengineered one-layered catheter tray coupled with an evidence-based clinical education program.
"One of the key elements of the ERASE CAUTI Program is reducing utilization, which translates into lower infection rates and improved patient outcomes. And because the emphasis is on practice and not product, less catheter use will result in lower overall spend," said Lorri Downs, RN, BSN, MS, CIC, and Vice President of Infection Prevention for Medline. "We believe Novation alliance members will find that our program can enhance any efforts and programs they currently have in place."
The shift from a two-layer tray to a one-layered tray to support the sequence of events during catheterization represents a major change for clinicians within the hospital setting. Developed with input from Medline's Clinician Advisory Boards and multiple VHA Members, the new tray design follows the intuitive flow of the procedure to reduce variance in care process and promote efficiency. Trigger tools emphasize recommended CDC guidelines, with an outer sticker that includes reasons for catheterization, a catheter placement checklist and an area for the clinician to sign and date. The removable sticker can then be placed in the patient's chart. There is also a tag to put on the catheter to alert staff as to when it was placed.
The tray's innovative package design also plays a key role in harm avoidance by providing clear, step-by-step information, eliminating visual clutter and highlighting critical information. Product instructions and clear color images are located on the outside to encourage the clinician to review the information before they start. The outer label opens like a book and on the inside is a clear, step-by-step instructional guide to catheter insertion. To help identify the contents of the kit, the label features an actual color photo of the tray components.
The three-year agreement also provides access to Medline's clinical education programs, including its Competency Validation Tools. A key component to the effectiveness of the ERASE CAUTI program is the cutting edge online competency and measurement tools that assess and sustain staff results. The interactive competency programs are available on Medline University, Medline's online education resource. They are available to staff anytime and can be easily incorporated into the annual skills competency program for a facility's nursing staff.
About Novation
Founded in 1998, Novation is the leading health care supply contracting company for more than 25,000 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances, and 5,500 members of Provista, LLC, representing 28,000 sites. Novation provides alliance members contract and price management and spend management services. Based in Irving, Texas, Novation develops and manages competitive contracts with more than 600 suppliers. VHA, UHC and Provista members used Novation contracts to purchase nearly $37.8 billion in products and services in 2009.
Novation awards agreements to suppliers that provide the best-quality products and demonstrate broad-based clinical acceptability at the optimal total value for members. Novation uses its expertise and experience to create innovative programs designed to deliver additional value to members and suppliers alike beyond its national portfolio. These programs include the NOVAPLUS® private label, pharmacy, standardization, group buys, environmentally preferred purchasing, nonacute, new medical technology and supplier diversity.
About Medline Industries, Inc.
Medline, the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill, Medline has more than 800 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.
Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest-growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and healthcare systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities and on-staff clinicians.
Source: Medline Industries
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