Wisconsin hospice group signs deal with Medline

MUNDELEIN - Wisconsin Hospice Collaborative recently awarded Medline a distribution agreement that will offer clinical expertise and competitive pricing on essential supplies and the ability to standardize care for the organization of five nonprofit hospice providers.

Terms of the agreement were not announced. The deal is expected to save the group 12 percent on supplies while providing benefits related to operational and clinical outcomes.

One of the providers benefiting from this partnership is Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care, the largest hospice organization in Wisconsin. Serving more than 700 patients each day, the organization has been nationally recognized for its in-home and inpatient hospice care. The new partnership will provide Agrace with products to address critical care issues such as incontinence and wound care. Additionally, to help the organization better control spending, Agrace can access an online tool called Medline INSIGHT, which will provide them with on-demand reporting to understand and manage the true cost drivers related to the supply chain. The tool will help the agency process information on their overall supply spend and on specific purchases from a clinician and patient point of view.

While this collaboration partnership is new, Agrace is already a Medline customer. Particularly, staff members working from their four locations are using the Medline Remedy line, which combines advanced skin care science with beneficial botanicals to create solutions specifically formulated to nourish and moisturize sensitive skin, and provide greater patient comfort and satisfaction.

"As a trusted organization for nearly 40 years, it is critical that our staff be equipped with high-quality products. Medline brings extremely valuable clinical expertise that complements our own internal education capabilities. We look forward to expanding our partnership with them," says Lynne Myers, president and CEO of Agrace.