CDW Healthcare has announced an expanded agreement with one of the nation’s larger healthcare networks to supply healthcare information technology products and services to a consortium of providers in Kansas and Missouri.
The agreement between CDW, based in Vernon Hills, Ill., and Irving, Texas-based VHA, Inc., allows CDW to work with the Mid-America Service Solutions (MSS) consolidated service center, a collection of 16 VHA members in Kansas and Missouri that act as one unit and purchase roughly $520 million worth of products and services each year.
The consolidated service center, or CSC, is designed to advance supply chain efficiency, decrease costs, streamline operations and help member hospitals maximize their spending dollars.
“The ultimate goal is to help hospitals identify and execute on cost reduction opportunities,” said Nik Fincher, vice president of purchased services and capital for VHA. “Our members have enjoyed success with CDW Healthcare over the years, and this particular initiative demonstrates CDW Healthcare's flexibility and ability to meet members’ needs while providing the maximum benefit to each participating hospital.”
“This agreement clearly demonstrates the difference between providing access to technology products and entering into a strong relationship,” added Bob Rossi, CDW Healthcare’s vice president. “In this instance, VHA members not only get cost-effective, streamlined IT from a dedicated account team, but also have access to advanced technology and healthcare solutions from a single source.”
Through the agreement, CSC members will have access to discounts offered to member hospitals as well as standards developed by CDW and VHA to drive further costs savings and efficiencies on printers, desktops, thin clients, notebooks and monitors. Other standards are being developed for products such as servers.
VHA and CDW have had a long-standing relationship, according to officials. Thirty-two members of the MSS are already working with CDW, and have access to such resources as a dedicated account manager; PACS, point-of-care and telemedicine solutions; pre- and post-sales services; managed and hosted services and other solutions.
Formed in 1977, VHA serves more than 1,400 hospitals and more than 28,000 non-acute care providers in the nation. CDW has a client base of more than 15,000 healthcare organizations.