CDW Healthcare, VHA Inc. Expand Regional Supply Network

Vernon Hills, Ill.-based CDW Healthcare, part of the public sector subsidiary of CDW LLC, and VHA Inc. (Irving, Texas), the national health care network, announced an expanded relationship to deliver Information Technology (IT) products and services to the VHA-supported Mid-America Service Solutions (MSS) consolidated service center (CSC). The new three-year agreement augments CDW Healthcare’s existing, nationwide VHA contract.

The MSS CSC includes 16 VHA members located in Kansas and Missouri that act as one unit and purchase approximately $520 million of products and services annually. The CSC is designed to advance supply chain efficiency, decrease costs, streamline operations and help hospitals maximize the value of every dollar spent. Though the organization had an excellent track record for driving down costs for its members, it sought better ways to leverage its scale and purchasing power for IT – from commodity products to advanced technology solutions.

VHA showcased an innovative, collaborative effort rooted in analytical data and sourcing expertise to tackle the challenge. Working with internal experts and MSS, VHA identified an opportunity to enhance the value of a current vendor agreement, working closely with MSS to develop a solution based on the needs of each hospital, while still maintaining the appeal of an aggregated purchasing entity.