H. D. Smith and Adventist Health System Sign Prime Vendor Agreement

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- H. D. Smith and Adventist Health System (AHS), one of the nation's largest healthcare providers,  announce a five-year agreement in which H. D. Smith will serve as the primary supply and support vendor for the health system's hospitals, home healthcare and long term care facilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, H. D. Smith will provide medical product supply chain services and support programs to Adventist Health System, while striving to offer cost containment opportunities.  Adventist Health System is comprised of 43 hospital campuses, 16 extended care facilities and numerous physician practices and clinics throughout 10 states in the Southern and Midwest regions of the U.S.  These facilities provide care for 4 million patients each year through in-patient, out-patient and emergency room visits.

"At Adventist Health System, we strive to continually identify efficiency-optimizing opportunities – many times through partnership with our vendors – that help us improve our business operations, and most importantly, patient care and outcomes," said Celeste West, vice president of Supply Chain Management, Adventist Health System.  "In H. D. Smith we have found a partner that will provide dependable access to products, while ensuring costs are well managed – this is a key component in caring for our patients."

Understanding the dynamics of the current healthcare climate, H. D. Smith is well-equipped to provide a reliable supply chain and a host of value-added solutions to Adventist Health System's hospitals, clinics, home healthcare and long term care facilities.  Both companies have entered into this agreement with the ultimate goal of effectively serving patients who need specialized, round-the-clock care.

"Providing a dependable and safe supply chain is our honor and duty, but our role does not stop when products are delivered to a pharmacy or medical center," said Dale Smith, chairman and chief executive officer, H. D. Smith.  "As a partner, helping Adventist Health System care for the communities they serve throughout this U.S., is at the core of what we do.  We strive to create and provide services and solutions that allow partners like AHS to deliver innovative, personal care to millions of patients.  We are privileged to work with Adventist Health System as it continues to be a leading provider of patient care across the nation."

About Adventist Health System

Adventist Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare organization that emphasizes Christ at the center of care.  Founded in 1973 to support and strengthen Seventh-day Adventist healthcare organizations in the Southern and Southwestern regions of the United States, Adventist Health System has grown to become the largest not-for-profit Protestant healthcare provider in the nation.  Today, Adventist Health System supports 43 hospital campuses and employs 55,000 individuals.  Adventist Health System hospitals are comprised of 7,700 plus licensed beds, providing care for 4 million patients each year in inpatient, outpatient and emergency room visits.

About H. D. Smith

Headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, H. D. Smith is among the largest national full-line, full-service wholesalers providing a complete line of pharmaceuticals, OTCs, HBAs, home healthcare products, durable medical equipment, seasonal merchandise and a wide array of marketing programs to retail pharmacies, regional chains and health systems. The company has distribution facilities in California, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Texas that service major markets throughout the United States.  Additional information about H. D. Smith can be found at hdsmith.com.

Contact:
Kevin Edgerton
Adventist Health Systems
Executive Director Corporate Relations & Communications
407-975-1437
[email protected]

Allison Worrell
H. D. Smith
Marketing Communications Manager
217-753-1688
[email protected]

Mark Marmur
Makovsky + Company, Inc.
Assistant Vice President
212-508-9670
[email protected]

SOURCE H. D. Smith