A Medical Device Daily
CardioDynamics (San Diego), which focuses on impedance cardiography technology, said that Vermed, its wholly owned subsidiary and the fourth-largest supplier of disposable electrodes and related supplies utilized in ECG and other diagnostic procedures in the U.S., has entered into a three-year, multi-source contract with Premier Purchasing Partners (PPP; San Diego). PPP is the group purchasing division of Premier and one of the largest healthcare alliances in the U.S.
Vermed was one of three vendors awarded the multi-source contract that begins July 1 to offer Premier’s members ECG electrodes, lead wires and cables.
CardioDynamics estimates the total annual national sales volume for this Premier award to be about $25 million.
Premier is a strategic alliance owned by 200 not-for-profit hospital and healthcare systems.
Misys Healthcare Systems (Raleigh, North Carolina), which focuses on healthcare information technology, said that the University of South Alabama Health System (USA; Mobile, Alabama) has signed a $1.2 million agreement to purchase the Misys Laboratory comprehensive information management solution suite.
USA Health System purchased Misys Laboratory and Blood Bank and Microbiology Modules, CoPathPlus from Misys anatomic pathology system, and expanded outreach functions.
The company said the laboratory solutions will streamline and expedite the day-to-day operations of USA Health System’s laboratories while providing clinicians immediate access to laboratory and other critical patient specimen data in both acute-care and outreach settings.
USA Health System is implementing the solutions this spring at its three hospitals: USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, USA Knollwood Hospital and USA Medical Center.
Outpatient Imaging Affiliates (OIA; Nashville, Tennessee) unveiled a new joint venture, UT Imaging-Houston, with University of Texas Physicians, a non-profit corporation and affiliate of the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston. UT Imaging-Houston was formed to develop and operate a freestanding diagnostic testing facility to provide MRI, computed tomography and other outpatient diagnostic services to patients in the greater Houston area. The center’s interpretive services will be provided by the radiology department of the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston.
OIA partners with local healthcare providers, including academic medical schools, hospital medical centers, and radiology practices to develop and manage high-tech diagnostic imaging and positron emission tomography centers.
OIA also has joint-venture operations in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.