GHX Calls on Member Community to Nominate Healthcare's Most Impactful Business Partners for GHXcellence Awards

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GHX is inviting its member community to submit nominations for trading partners they feel have the greatest impact on the healthcare supply chain, enabling true cost reductions, increasing the efficiency of shared processes and supporting growth in this challenging economy. Based on the nominations, the entire industry will have an opportunity to vote for one provider and one supplier organization to receive a new category of GHXcellence Awards—the Industry Impact Awards.

From now through January 31, 2012, GHX customers can nominate provider and supplier organizations for the Industry Impact Awards through an online nomination form. In February 2012, all interested members of the healthcare industry will be able to vote, and the winners will be announced at the 12th annual GHX Healthcare Supply Chain Summit May 7–9, 2012, in Orlando.

The GHXcellence Industry Impact Awards honor healthcare organizations that are transforming the business of healthcare through their partnerships with GHX. Areas of achievement include:

• Automating supply chain processes for greater efficiency and visibility
• Innovating through the use of new technology to transform business processes
• Engaging critical business areas across organizations in supply chain advancements
• Collaborating with trading partners to achieve mutual benefit from supply chain improvements
• Facilitating efficient and cost-effective business transactions for trading partners

The remaining nine GHXcellence Awards are based on quantifiable performance, with organizations judged on metrics such as their percentage increase in purchase order lines, number of electronic trading partners or market share gains. The awards include:

• U.S. Healthcare Provider of the Year: Small to Mid-sized Organization
• U.S. Healthcare Provider of the Year: Large Organization
• Canadian Healthcare Provider of the Year
• Most Improved Healthcare Provider
• Best 50 IDN
• U.S. Healthcare Supplier of the Year: Small Organization*
• U.S. Healthcare Supplier of the Year: Mid-sized Organization*
• U.S. Healthcare Supplier of the Year: Large Organization*
• Canadian Healthcare Supplier of the Year

"During this critical time in the healthcare industry, trading partners must find ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs not only within their own four walls, but also in their interactions with one another," said Derek Smith, executive vice president, Marketing and Product Management, GHX. "This year's GHXcellence Awards recognize those organizations that have made considerable business process and technology advancements to improve operational and financial performance throughout the supply chain. We encourage the GHX community to nominate providers and suppliers that are leaders in this effort so we can not only honor their achievements, but also share best practices that can benefit the industry as a whole."

*Based on sales revenue

About GHX
Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) makes healthcare more efficient by delivering software and services that enable both healthcare providers and suppliers to increase efficiency, lower costs and provide better patient care. With the largest footprint in healthcare supply chain management, GHX connects more than 80 percent of licensed hospital beds at U.S. hospitals, as well as providers in Canada and Europe, with the suppliers from which they purchase the majority of their medical-surgical supplies. GHX is transforming today's linear healthcare supply chain into the industry's only Healthcare Supply Cloud(SM), providing 360-degree visibility into areas affecting both clinical and financial performance. Working with GHX, organizations can improve business processes, automate supply chain systems and collaborate to solve the tough challenges facing healthcare today. GHX is owned by members of the healthcare industry, including Abbott Exchange, Inc.; AmerisourceBergen Corp.; Baxter Healthcare Corp.; B. Braun Medical Inc.; BD; Boston Scientific Corp.; Cardinal Health, Inc.; Covidien; C.R. Bard, Inc.; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; GE Healthcare; HCA; Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.; McKesson Corp.; Medtronic USA, Inc.; Owens & Minor; Premier, Inc.; Siemens; University HealthSystem Consortium; and VHA Inc.  For more information, visit www.ghx.com. Follow GHX on Twitter @GHX_LLC and on Facebook @GHX.

SOURCE GHX