Upper Midwest Consolidated Services Center partners with aptitude LLC for direct contracting

IRVING, Texas, April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Upper Midwest Consolidated Services Center, LLC and aptitude^® announced a multiyear agreement that commits the group to adopt healthcare's direct contracting approach for sourcing, contracting and analytics. The new agreement primes an industry leading aggregated hospital purchasing group for accelerated performance.

"We've created a process for managing the sourcing, contracting and conversion activity for over 60 large health systems around the country," said Bruce Mairose, Vice Chair, Mayo Clinic Supply Chain Management and UMCSC's contracting and sourcing service provider. "aptitude will enhance our process and expedite the value we deliver to our members."

The UMCSC has committed significant contract volume over the next 4 years making them the largest buyer to date in the aptitude platform. The online service leverages data, technology and advisory services to streamline the healthcare supply chain process and offers a robust set of analytics that allows healthcare systems to monitor and manage supply chain activity.

UMCSC, a Vizient Inc. network, includes more than 60 health care organizations across 21 states. Their members have a combined $6.8 billion in supply chain purchasing power and collaborate to reduce expenses by aggregating spend and redesigning supply chain processes through collective decision-making. Since it was established in 2008, UMCSC has provided over $325 million in savings to its members. 

"UMCSC members will continue to dictate strategy," said Brenda Peterson, UMCSC, Vizient Inc. vice president. "The aptitude platform will provide clarity in comparing supplier offerings and tools that efficiently manage contracts and their performance. Through this partnership in automation, we will drive even greater value for our membership."

The multi-category implementation plan consists of select medical surgical, clinical preference and physician preference products. The group expects to execute multiple contracts over the next few months as the team integrates aptitude into their contracting process.

"Our approach to self-contracting is built in a way that complements the existing process," said Troy Kirchenbauer, general manager of aptitude. "We are seeing some of the largest, most progressive healthcare organizations in the country adopt aptitude into their model and will continue to work with our customer base to enhance the value they receive from the online market."

In February, the UMCSC and aptitude announced a similar multiyear partnership that establishes a new business venture, UMCSC reveal™. The new service, designed to drive greater transparency between supply partners, provides insight into performance of this industry leading aggregated hospital purchasing group for contracted suppliers.

About aptitude:

Since launching in April 2013, aptitude LLC has leveraged data and technology to advance aspects of the healthcare supply chain.  The online platform, which supports the self-contracting activity between hospitals and suppliers, is expected to significantly increase contract volume in 2016.  Hospitals and suppliers are intrigued by how aptitude re-imagines the contracting model and provides the driving force for a more logical market in which both parties can achieve mutually beneficial, committed purchasing relationships for a better value proposition for both. Today, hospitals and suppliers have a combined $15 billion in purchasing power and are experiencing an average savings of 10 to 15 percent.

SOURCE aptitude LLC

Related Links

http://www.aptitude.com