aptitude LLC recognizes innovative organizations in the healthcare supply chain

IRVING, Texas, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark the first anniversary of healthcare's direct contracting market, aptitude LLC announced the winners of the aptitude accolades – an awards program recognizing organizations spearheading change in healthcare supply chain. 

"While additional organizations are still being introduced to aptitude, many more hospitals and suppliers are already adopting it as a new way of doing business," said Troy Kirchenbauer, general manager of aptitude. "Our customers are realizing significant savings, speed to value, and contracting flexibility."

The direct contracting market has seen significant growth in the past 12 months, growing to over 600 hospitals that boast a combined purchasing power of more than $10 billion, along with supply companies offering more than a million different products via the online portal.  

"We extend heartfelt gratitude to our entire customer base for supporting the vision of a direct contracting market," said Justin Hibbs, senior director of marketing and research.  "In addition, the awards recognize contributions that advance new approaches in the healthcare supply chain." 

Hibbs said the aptitude accolades cover three categories:

• market movers: Organizations that have made significant efforts to include direct contracting as a part of their contracting process and are among the most active in the market. 
• innovation influencer: Companies that seek to challenge the status quo and champion innovation throughout their organization and the industry at-large.
• aptitude advocate: Businesses that showed their commitment to innovation by providing candid feedback, participating in research, and promoting the concept of direct contracting. 

And the winners are:

market movers: 
Buyer: Mary Washington Healthcare (Fredericksburg, VA)
Seller: Encompass Group, LLC (McDonough, GA)

innovation influencer:
Buyer: Allina Health (Minneapolis, MN)  
Seller: St. Jude Medical (St. Paul, MN)

aptitude advocate:
Buyer: University of Chicago Medical Center (Chicago, IL)
Seller: DeRoyal (Knoxville, TN)

About aptitude:
As healthcare's direct contracting market, aptitude LLC is meeting the evolving demands of today's healthcare organizations.  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. 

SOURCE aptitude LLC