Vizient Adds New Essential Medications and Products to its Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vizient, Inc. today announced it is again expanding the product portfolio for its Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program. The program is adding six additional essential medications and two types of thermometers, bringing additional inventory to the health care supply chain and improving access for providers.

Vizient launched the Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program in January 2020 to directly address drug shortages and improve supply chain resiliency for essential medications. Due to the pandemic, the program has expanded to also include personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential medical supplies that providers need right now to fight COVID-19 as well as when they face natural disasters or other causes of unexpected surge in demand or supply chain disruption.

The six new essential medications are adenosine, bumetanide, ceftazidime, levetiracetam, nitroprusside and tranexamic acid. “These new additions bring the total number of essential medications in the program to 37 and have resulted in an additional 66 million vials of onshore inventory being added to the overall health care supply chain,” said Mittal Sutaria, PharmD, vice president, contracting and program services, pharmacy for Vizient.

Vizient also added infrared and single-use “rapid read” digital stick thermometers from EKLA Corporation, a U.S. based woman and minority-owned business, to the Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program. “Demand for these products by Vizient member hospitals has increased significantly due to COVID-19 and the need for quick, no-touch temperature screenings. This agreement will bring 2 million infrared and 4 million digital stick thermometers to the health care supply chain,” said David Gillan, senior vice president, sourcing operations for Vizient.

The thermometers are in addition to eight types of high-demand PPE currently in the program such as disposable and reusable gowns, caps and shoe covers.

While the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of the historic challenges in the health care supply chain around raw materials and manufacturing transparency in a very short time, the Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program has brought supply assurance for many critically needed drugs and supplies to Vizient members. Vizient will continue to expand this program in 2021 to meet the ongoing needs of our members and improve supply chain resiliency for the industry overall.

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc. provides solutions and services that improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance for more than 50% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 95% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $100 billion in annual purchasing volume, to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. Vizient has earned a World’s Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute every year since its inception. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

About the Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program

Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program contracted suppliers provide additional inventory of essential products to mitigate supply disruptions and demand surge. Contract terms provide greater predictability and sustainability to drive continued production and supply resiliency. Production transparency requirements increase visibility to anticipate and further mitigate supply disruptions. By purchasing through Novaplus Enhanced Supply, health care facilities also receive expanded value and benefits built on the foundation of the industry’s longest-run private label program.

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