Vizient announces spot buy opportunities for PPE
Vizient Inc. announced new purchase opportunities through spot buys with contracted suppliers for certain personal protective equipment (PPE) for its member hospitals. This new sourcing strategy has been developed to help hospitals better meet their immediate needs for PPE products, which have been in high demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic, and the challenges it has exposed in the health care supply chain, have been a catalyst for rethinking traditional sourcing strategies and practices. Today’s environment calls for more nimble options that still include appropriate supplier vetting to ensure that hospitals get quality products quickly at reasonable costs. We believe spot buy opportunities are an option that meets the needs of hospitals right now for items like PPE,” said Cathy Denning, RN, MSN, group senior vice president, sourcing operations, analytics and center of excellence for Vizient.
Vizient’s spot buy strategy utilizes a variety of traditionally bid and no-bid contracted manufacturers, including non-health care manufacturers, to help expand capacity for essential products. The spot buys are limited-time offers that Vizient member hospitals can take advantage of immediately to increase their supply of select PPE items while supplies last. The suppliers and products that are available now include:
· omahawk WildCat disposable isolation gowns
· Hanes 3-ply cotton adjustable masks
· Platinum Code nitrile exam gloves
· ASP Global Level 1 disposable gowns
“We are excited to bring this new opportunity for immediate access to these critical supplies to our members,” said Denning. “We will continue to work with suppliers to bring more of these opportunities forward so hospitals have what they need to protect their frontline workers as they care for patients.”
The company also announced it will be expanding its successful Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program to include the seven most critical types of personal protective equipment. In addition to essential medications, this program will now include essential products used for the treatment of patients with COVID-19.
“To help solve the supply chain disruption that has been caused by the pandemic, we are expanding the program to also include the PPE that providers need to fight COVID-19 as well as when they will face other highly contagious viruses and natural disasters,” said Kristina Bourke, group senior vice president, strategic sourcing partnerships and programs for Vizient.
