Last year was one of rapid change and steep challenges in healthcare. Revenue streams and supply chain needs fluctuated, and hospitals and health systems responded by seeking out strategic partnerships with their closest vendors. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Medline is on track to complete prime vendor implementations at over 40 health systems across 32 states. These new relationships reflect the evolving needs of health systems and the innovative ways Medline brings value and support.

“This pandemic is relentless and redefining normal as we know it,” says Doug Golwas, executive vice president, acute care, Medline. “To help meet the service improvements and much needed cost savings our customers expect from us, Medline continues to modify its approach. We’re ensuring that we can effectively adapt for and with system partners when it comes to our team, infrastructure, MedTrans fleet, strategic inventory and technology. I am extremely proud of the collaboration and execution between Medline and our partners during this critical time.”

To bring this level of service and support, Medline teams worked side-by-side with health systems in a hybrid model—both in person and virtually—to make the transition seamless, accurate and timely. Systems that made this switch in 2020 included:

• Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut
• UNC Health in North Carolina
• Texas Children’s Hospital
• University of Texas System Supply Chain Alliance, which supports UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and UT Medical Branch in Galveston

With health systems under continuing pressures exerted by COVID-19, Medline leaders made a conscious decision to further dedicate themselves to communication and accountability. Health systems wanted to plan for every variable to ensure their patients and providers had the supplies they needed, when they needed them. This challenged implementation teams at Medline to find new ways to work through the implementation process while still tailoring solutions to ease system-specific fears.

“Facilities didn’t always want to hear the news we had to deliver, but they appreciated our transparency,” says Dave Kordik, senior director of sales administration, Medline. “Many customers tell us that previous relationships felt more transactional. Pandemic or not, we want to do whatever it takes to begin each journey as strategic business partners.”