2001 GHX Press Releases

Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) 39th Annual Conference and Exhibition Booth 713 DENVER, Colo.—July 30, 2001—Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center (Rush) is the first hospital in the U.S. to conduct live transactions with multiple suppliers via Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) through an integration provided by Omnicell. Rush began conducting pilot transactions with GHX in May 2001, just a few months after GHX and Omnicell announced they would integrate Omnicell’s Internet-based procurement application for the healthcare industry, OmniBuyer, with GHX’s network of healthcare suppliers and manufacturers. The integration has already resulted in faster, more accurate and less labor-intensive purchasing procedures for Rush’s off-site warehouse, and it will soon be implemented in other hospital departments. “We’re processing orders faster, with far less paperwork and staff time, and thanks to quicker order fulfillment, we will save money by reducing the amount of products we need to keep on hand,” says John Cashmore, director of materials management for Rush, a Chicago-based academic health center that includes the 809-bed Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital. While Rush has conducted Internet-based transactions individually with as many as 30 different suppliers and distributors since late 1999, the Omnicell-GHX partnership has made it possible for Rush to do business with multiple suppliers through a single connection. “As we integrate more hospital departments with GHX through Omnicell, and more hospitals and suppliers integrate with GHX, the efficiencies we have already realized will multiply exponentially,” Cashmore added. Traditionally focused on hospital-based procurement systems, Omnicell provides Rush and other hospitals across the country with automation and fulfillment technologies. “By partnering with GHX, we can now provide the next level of service, connecting our customers all the way to their suppliers,” says Wendy Werblin, director of e-commerce product marketing for Omnicell. “We chose GHX as the cornerstone of our e-commerce strategy not only because of its connectivity with multiple suppliers, but also because it is creating a standards-based catalog.” Werblin adds that “by providing consistency between what suppliers offer and hospitals purchase, the catalog plays a critical role in ensuring orders are accurate, a key benefit of e-commerce.” Through its connection with GHX, OmniBuyer can electronically provide Rush with real-time updates for purchase orders, price quotes, order confirmations, order changes, sales history, shipment tracking, invoicing, payments, reconciliation, credits and rebates, all of which are integrated with the hospital’s existing purchasing systems. Like Rush, other hospitals equipped with OmniBuyer will now be able to access GHX without a separate integration. In addition, as more features are added to the exchange, they will be incorporated into the OmniBuyer offering. “We are proud to be able to announce this significant milestone so soon after partnering with Omnicell,” says GHX President Mike Mahoney. “We look forward to not only expanding our service offerings throughout Rush and to other Omnicell customers, but also continuing to work with Omnicell as we improve our product offering.” About Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center is an academic health center that includes the 809-bed Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital (including the Rush Children’s Hospital) and the 154-bed Johnston R. Bowman Health Center for the Elderly. It is home to the seven Rush Institutes, which draw together patient care and research to address major health problems, offering primary healthcare services as well as the latest treatments for arthritis and orthopedic problems, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, diseases associated with aging and neurological problems. Integral to the medical center is Rush University, which includes Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences, the Graduate College, and a cooperative educational network of 14 liberal arts colleges and universities in six states from Tennessee to Colorado. Rush is also a center for basic and clinical research, with physicians and scientists involved in nearly 2,300 investigations, many of which are multi-disciplinary in nature. About Omnicell Established in 1992, Omnicell provides an integrated suite of clinical infrastructure and workflow automation solutions for healthcare. Omnicell’s solutions include pharmacy and supply systems, an Internet-based procurement application, and decision support capabilities, designed to enable healthcare facilities to decrease costs, enhance operating efficiency, reduce medication errors, and improve patient care. For more information, visit www.omnicell.com About Global Healthcare Exchange Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) is an Internet-based trading exchange from which hospitals can purchase both medical and non-medical products more easily, quickly, and accurately than ever before. GHX is building a normalized, verified industry standard catalog, which will take advantage of deep connectivity between GHX, hospitals, and suppliers to improve efficiencies and add value throughout the healthcare supply chain. The privately held company was founded in March 2000 and its membership now includes more than 100 supplier members and more than 380 hospital members, representing 56 integrated delivery networks (IDNs). Equity members of GHX include Johnson & Johnson; GE Medical Systems; Baxter International, Inc.; Abbott Laboratories; Medtronic, Inc.; Becton, Dickinson & Co.; Boston Scientific Corporation; C.R. Bard, Inc.; Guidant Corporation; Siemens Medical Solutions and Tyco International, Ltd. For more information visit www.ghx.com The statements contained in this release may be deemed to contain “forward-looking statements.” Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “projects,” “believes,” “intends,” “expects” and similar words and phrases. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, adoption of the Internet for business transactions by healthcare organizations; volume of transactions for medical products, services and equipment over the Internet; development of relationships with suppliers of healthcare products and services, pharmacy and supply systems and GPOs; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the prospective company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Contacts For Global Healthcare Exchange Lisa Miller or Jason Rodman BRW LeGrand 303.298.8470 lmiller@brwlegrand.com For Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s John Cashmore Director, Materials Management 312.942.5408 John_K_Cashmore@rush.edu For Omnicell Bob Brewster Director, Corporate and Marketing Communications 800.850.6664, ext. 6452 robd@omnicell.com
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2001 Posted by host
Click here for more press releases