UHC awards a 3-year single-source agreement to Ascent

The University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) today announced that it has awarded a 3-year single-source agreement to Ascent, a leader in health care resource sustainability. The agreement, which has 2 optional 1-year renewal periods, became effective on July 1, 2010. Under the contract, Ascent will offer single-use device (SUD) reprocessing programs to UHC's 107 academic medical centers and 233 affiliated hospitals.

Hospitals have found that many devices labeled for single use can safely be reprocessed and reused. Because hospitals are currently scrutinizing waste, aggressively cutting costs, and trying to protect the environment, SUD reprocessing services are gaining more visibility.

UHC's award to Ascent underscores the value that Ascent brings to UHC members. In 2009 alone, Ascent's reprocessing services saved UHC affiliates a total of $12.7 million in supply costs and diverted a total of 88 tons of medical waste from landfills. The agreement also signifies the importance of a solid partnership in achieving even stronger financial results in the future.

"We awarded this contract to Ascent because of their continued demonstration of value to our members," said Jake Groenewold, UHC's senior vice president, Supply Chain. "SUD reprocessing represents a supply chain strategy that not only supports financial performance, but also addresses the increasing concerns for sustainability in health care by reducing medical waste."

"Single-source agreements are atypical in the health care industry. To receive a contract like this from UHC reaffirms the value Ascent's reprocessing programs provide to the industry," said Kevin Liszewski, vice president, corporate accounts, Ascent. "The agreement will more closely align us with UHC, so that we can find and facilitate activities that drive further savings for their members. We are pleased to see UHC acknowledge that true collaborative partnership with us will be key to driving higher value through cost savings."

SOURCE University HealthSystem Consortium