Medical supplier Medline and Tennessee Health Management announced that Medline has been selected as the exclusive distribution partner of the health system’s 50-plus entities in a $4 million deal.

The contract is effective through July 1, 2016. Through the prime vendor partnership, Medline is providing Tennessee Health Management, which provides quality homecare, hospice, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, with an extensive portfolio of essential supplies that will better position the system to streamline supply chain operations and meet clinical needs. In particular, Tennessee Health Management’s entities have access to such products as FitRight Stretch Ultra Briefs and Heelmedix Heel Protectors. Furthermore, as skin care management is a crucial element of patient heath for post-acute care facilities, Tennessee Health Management’s facilities will have the Medline Remedy Skin Care line on-hand, which combines advanced skin care science with beneficial botanicals to create solutions specifically formulated to nourish and moisturize sensitive skin.

“As Tennessee Health Management’s exclusive distribution partner, we are committed to creating a multitude of efficiencies throughout the system to help drive down costs throughout their organisation,” said Matt Van Zelst, vice president of national accounts for post-acute care, Medline.

In addition, Tennessee Health Management is able to utilise Medline’s online reporting tool called Medline Insight to help easily monitor key metrics such as item utilisation, contract compliance, price accuracy and spend by product categories.

“It is important that we align ourselves with a partner who delivers more than just boxes of medical supplies. Medline looks out for the best interest of our facilities by identifying specific challenges and helping create solutions to meet our financial and clinical needs. Our partnership with the company will help us further strengthen our commitment of providing high-quality healthcare and a memorable patient experience,” said Brad Hopkins, chief procurement officer, Tennessee Health Management.