St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Estimates $2.5 Million Savings With Medline Industries, Inc. Prime Vendor Supply Agreement

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – November 29, 2010) – Medline Industries, Inc., the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies, announced today the signing of a cost-management prime vendor agreement with Cleveland, Ohio-based St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. The five year agreement is anticipated to save the hospital an estimated $2.5 million over the term of the contract.

St. Vincent’s patient-centered focus on quality has earned them the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for five consecutive years (2006-2010). In keeping with their focus, the hospital plans to take advantage of the many clinical programs Medline offers including the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program, the Perioperative Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program and the ERASE CAUTI (catheter-associated urinary tract infection) Program. Each of these evidenced-based programs was designed to help improve quality and safety outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and reduce errors for healthcare facilities.

Under the terms of the contract, Medline is expected to generate more than $10 million in annual medical and surgical product sales from the partnership over the term of the agreement. Under the agreement, Medline will provide its broad array of Medline brand medical and surgical products, including surgical procedure trays, patient care products, disposable protective gowns, exam gloves and bandages.

Cost savings and customer service were two key factors in making Medline St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s prime vendor. Medline will drive cost savings to St. Vincent through delivering Medline manufactured products direct to the healthcare facility from Medline’s newly built 300,000 square foot, state-of-the-art distribution facility in Canton, OH. Medline will also deliver cost savings by reducing distribution fees on other national brand products and product standardization. In addition, Medline will provide enhanced reporting capabilities and offer comprehensive product utilization, education and practical solutions to help the facility control costs and improve patient care. 

About Saint Vincent Charity Hospital
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is Cleveland’s faith-based, high-quality healthcare provider, with distinguished doctors and caregivers devoted to treating every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care. St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is home to the renowned Spine and Orthopedic Institute and the Center for Bariatric Surgery. Owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center delivers health for the heart of Cleveland. The Sisters of Charity Health System is a family of hospitals, grant-making foundations, elder care and outreach organizations devoted to healing individual, families and communities. For more information, visit www.stvincentcharity.com.

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 900 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.