WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Health Industry Group Purchasing Association (HIGPA) today announced that the organization has changed its name to the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) to better reflect the industry's position within and advocacy on behalf of the entire healthcare supply chain, and the benefits that group purchasing organizations (GPOs) deliver to patients at all stages of the continuum of care. HSCA announced the change today at its annual International Expo in Washington.

"Today's announcement and unveiling of HSCA marks a significant milestone for our organization. The HIGPA name no longer adequately represented our members, their products and solutions, or our expertise and position as a leading innovator of evidence-based sourcing," said HSCA President Curtis Rooney. "Group purchasing organizations continue to be day-to-day partners and critical cost-savings engines for American hospitals, healthcare providers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but our role within the supply chain has also evolved. GPOs are an essential link in the healthcare supply chain, vital platforms for medical innovation and educators that empower clinicians to make the best decisions for patients through an evidence-based approach to the sourcing of medical products and services."  

HSCA is a broad-based trade association that represents 16 group purchasing organizations, including for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, purchasing groups, associations, multi-hospital systems and healthcare provider alliances.

"Growth precipitates change. Our new name, HSCA, more accurately reflects our organization's position within the healthcare supply chain and aligns our experience and expertise with our ability to provide best practices to our members and the changing industry in which they operate," said HSCA Chair and President and CEO of Amerinet, Inc. Todd Ebert. "HSCA members positively impact the lives of patients every day, at every stage of the continuum of care, whether a patient is being treated at a large urban hospital system, a 10-bed rural hospital, a nursing home, or any medical care facility in between."

GPOs provide cost savings by using high volume purchasing power to secure significant price discounts for organizations or institutions. Healthcare GPOs aggregate the purchasing needs of their members, including hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical care providers, thereby lowering the purchase costs and reducing the prices at which products and services are provided to patients.

"GPOs bend the healthcare cost curve, increase competition by introducing new and innovative products to the marketplace, and save hospitals, Medicare and taxpayers billions of dollars," added Rooney. "The name 'GPO' is somewhat of a misnomer, as group purchasing organizations do not actually purchase anything; instead GPOs aggregate the purchasing needs of their members to reduce costs for hospitals, nursing homes and other medical care providers across the country – critical at a time when all parties to the healthcare system are trying to stretch their budget dollars."

HSCA today also launched its new organizational website, www.supplychainassociation.org, and its new tagline, "Innovators in Evidence-Based Sourcing." Effective immediately, all future business activity will be conducted using the new name. There has been no change to the organization's mission, management or board leadership.

About the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA)

The Healthcare Supply Chain Association, formerly the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association, is a broad-based trade association that represents 16 group purchasing organizations, including for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, purchasing groups, associations, multi-hospital systems and healthcare provider alliances. HSCA's mission is to advocate on behalf of healthcare group purchasing associations, to provide educational opportunities designed to improve efficiencies in the purchase, sale and utilization of all goods and services within the health industry and to promote meaningful dialogue between GPOs. For more information, visit www.supplychainassociation.org.

SOURCE Healthcare Supply Chain Association