Group Purchasing

Who We Are

The WNC Health Network supports its members by delivering high quality, cost effective, and safe health care services for the communities it serves. As part of the Network, the Group Purchasing Program mission is to secure cost reductions for its members’ supply chain and administrative services. Group Purchasing is a Regional Purchasing Organization (RPO) married to a GPO.

What We Do

The Network’s group purchasing staff identifies, negotiates, and implements saving opportunities that help reduce health care costs. The savings are achieved through volume aggregation with our GPO partner, Premier, best practice, utilization, and contracting strategies. The staff works with 48 hospitals and health systems representing 68 sites in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Group Purchasing activities include managing 350+ contracts, with a Premier annual volume of $1.6 billion.

How We Add Value

Since 2000, the Network has generated more than $77.1 million in savings for members with a current ROI of $20:1. Member savings for 2010 exceeded $14.6 million.

In the future, there will be a stronger focus for our members on physician preference, resource utilization, best practice, value based purchasing, and a concerted effort to provide group purchasing services to the independent continuum of care market. 

Supplier Partner feedback:

"Applied Medical has partnered with WNC Health Network since 2004 to bring new, innovative technologies to their members that improve health care quality and affordability. Their leadership is vested in the goals of providing their members with an open, transparent vender market that reflects value, transparency, and sustainable cost savings to those members."

- Mike Clark | Director of National Accounts, Applied Medical

 "Medline has developed a strong relationship partnership with the Network team. This partnership provides a platform to deliver substantial cost savings through our enhanced Premier contract portfolio. Our partnership also helps strengthen Medline’s market share as a preferred vendor to many Network facilities."

- Brett Thomas | Medline Industries

Demographics

Membership: 48 Hospitals / Health Systems Representing 68 sites
Bed Size: 13,000 + Licensed Beds
GPO Affiliation: Premier
GPO Volume: $1.6 Billion (including Distribution)
Group Purchasing Work Groups: Materials Management, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Chief Financial Officers, Revenue Cycle Directors, Human Resources and Food Services.