GHX Launches New Registration Center, Making it Easier, Faster for Healthcare Providers to Increase Usage of e-Commerce, Better Manage Trading Community

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare providers can now directly manage the registration of trading partners on the GHX exchange using Registration Center, a new browser-based portal that significantly increases efficiency in conducting electronic business and controlling spend. By removing the third-party intervention required in the previous registration process, the new Registration Center allows providers to connect with trading partners at their own pace, while also providing real-time visibility into trading partner information.

By maximizing electronic purchasing, hospitals can drive greater cost savings and efficiencies. Registration Center helps facilitate increased usage of the exchange by aiding and maintaining accurate trading partner relationships and initiating requests for new trading partner connections. The portal also provides visibility into trading partner activity, allowing providers to encourage activity in non-active participants.

Derek Smith, GHX executive vice president of Marketing and Product Management, said the new Registration Center, which will be included in any customer's exchange subscription fees, is in line with the company's strategic goal of reducing the cost of healthcare in North America by $5 billion over five years. GHX is measuring this through a tool co-built with and validated by PRTM.

"Hospitals, manufacturers and distributors working with GHX have saved more than $1 billion since January of 2010 by focusing on automation, efficiencies and data synchronization," Smith said. "With this new product, trading partners will be able to derive even greater value from the exchange to begin controlling spend more easily and quickly."

Using the self-serve registration tool, providers can gain several benefits in addition to speed, including:

• The ability to reach the world's largest healthcare community more easily than ever
• Real-time access to view and validate vendor information
• Increased trading partner satisfaction as providers make it easier for suppliers to do business with them
• Increased usage of EDI to help reduce discrepancies and operating expenses

During a three-month long trial conducted by GHX, 24 participating healthcare providers experienced a 22.4 percent increase in trading partners using the new registration tool. Miya Gray, ERP e-commerce systems administrator at Bon Secours Health System, was one of the top users of the tool during the pilot.

"Prior to Registration Center, I had a lot less visibility into the account registration process, and it was very difficult for me to track requests," Gray said. "Now I can easily determine outstanding requests for EDI vendors and, best of all, I'm able to immediately board and update MetaTrade vendors without the assistance of GHX. Registration Center has allowed me to provide better service to our Materials Management and Accounts Payable organizations and saved me time and effort in vendor account boarding and tracking."

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