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Alven Weil
Premier Inc.
704.733.5797

Seven new suppliers added to Premier healthcare alliance program that supports growth of diverse and small business enterprises

SEEDS™ supplier diversity program provides opportunity for minority-, women- and veteran-owned suppliers and small businesses to do business with Premier alliance hospital members

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 12, 2009) – The Premier healthcare alliance today announced that seven new hospital supplier agreements have been launched in its supplier diversity program aimed at increasing the number of small, diverse and regional enterprises doing business with members of the Premier alliance.

The SEEDS™ – Sourcing Education and Enrichment for Diverse and Small Suppliers – program provides resources to minority-, women- and veteran-owned suppliers and small businesses through various business tools in order to enhance their contractual experience with Premier alliance members. It is designed to ensure participants enter the group purchasing contracting process ready to succeed while introducing additional diverse and small business supplier options to Premier members.

New contract agreements were launched with:

Hercules & Hercules Inc. (H&H Inc.) of Detroit, a minority business enterprise that benchmarks best practices for service, delivering efficient and effective management systems in restoration, vacuum and janitorial supplies. H&H Inc. has provided many years of service to Premier alliance members Henry Ford Health System and Detroit Medical Center.
Impex Surgical of Brooklyn, N.Y., a small business enterprise that manufactures and distributes a full line of titanium and stainless steel ophthalmic instruments. With their unique new line of innovative ophthalmic designs, Impex Surgical strives to bring its customers high quality instruments.
Materials Management Services Inc. (MMS) of Detroit, a minority owned business enterprise and a specialized distributor for paper and janitorial supplies to acute care and continuum of care facilities in southeastern Michigan, which includes Premier alliance members Henry Ford Health System and Detroit Medical Center. MMS seeks to reduce products and service costs without compromising good hygiene and ease of product use.
Neocase of Winston Salem, N.C., a small business enterprise and an industry leader in the design and manufacture of customized clinical modular casework. Specifically built for healthcare environments, these products are warranted for 12 years and are built to endure the rigors of moisture, chemicals and intensive use.
Parker Medical Associates LLC of Charlotte, N.C., a small business enterprise which specializes in domestically manufacturing and distributing synthetic casting and splinting products. Parker Medical's goals are to provide the highest quality product and value to the marketplace and promote growth that helps increase domestic manufacturing jobs.
Veteran Medical Products Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich., a minority business enterprise that manufactures and distributes disposable ear curettes to acute care and continuum of care facilities. Veteran Medical Products, LLC seeks to provide innovative healthcare solutions to healthcare providers while reducing cost.
Viscot Medical LLC of East Hanover, N.J., a veteran owned company is a domestic manufacturer and distributor of high quality economical disposable surgical skin markers. Viscot Medical strives to improve outcomes and reduce surgical errors through the use of skin markers.

"Whether locally, regionally or nationally, SEEDS increases business for diverse suppliers by providing experienced resources and educational tools," said Deborah A. Williams, Premier senior director of supplier diversity. "Through this initiative, diverse and small business suppliers have been able to grow incrementally within Premier's contract portfolio, allowing for long-term relationships across the Premier healthcare alliance."

About the Premier healthcare alliance, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals and 80,000-plus other healthcare sites using the power of collaboration to lead the transformation to high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by hospitals, health systems and other providers, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier has worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has an office in Washington. https://premierinc.com. Stay connected with Premier on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.