Owens & Minor, health system plan to create integrated service model.
Owens & Minor Inc. and Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Allina Health announced in August their renewed partnership and plans to create what they called a “unique integrated service model for supply chain resiliency.”
The integrated service model is an evolution of the 20-year partnership between the two. At its heart is an integrated service center, which will serve as the hub and central command for supply chain operations, combining communications, fulfillment, inventory management and distribution for Allina Health’s 10 hospitals and its clinical care network, including 6,000 associated and employed physicians.
“Over the course of our strategic partnership, Owens & Minor has worked closely with Allina Health to more deeply understand the system’s evolving needs and obstacles,” says Jeff Jochims, EVP, chief operating officer and president, Products and Healthcare Services, Owens & Minor. “In this next phase of our collaboration, Owens & Minor and Allina Health have committed to expansive data sharing and analytics.”
Owens & Minor will continue to serve Allina Health from its established distribution center just outside Minneapolis, while collaborating with the health system to design a new, integrated service model that more broadly supports the operational needs of both Allina Health and Owens & Minor, Jochims says.
“We welcome the opportunity to work more closely with a partner as forward-thinking as Allina Health to not only drive greater efficiencies, but also to collaborate on new ways to support the continued health of their supply chain operation.”
“Allina Health believes that deepening our successful relationship with Owens & Minor will elevate our ability to ensure that our providers and clinical staff have the products they need, when they need them,” said Thomas M. Lubotsky, vice president of supply chain, Allina Health. “Further combining our collective strengths is key to our vision for exploring creative, innovative ways to improve our supply chain operations.”
Cardinal Health announces leadership changes
Cardinal Health has announced that its Board of Directors has elected Jason Hollar as the company’s next chief executive officer, effective Sept. 1, 2022. Hollar joined the board of directors effective Aug. 11, 2022. Hollar succeeded CEO Mike Kaufmann.
Hollar, an experienced financial and operating executive, has served as Cardinal Health’s Chief Financial Officer since May 2020, leading financial activities across the enterprise, including financial strategy, capital deployment, treasury, tax, investor relations, risk management, accounting and reporting. During his tenure, he has helped Cardinal Health prioritize investments in growth businesses, strengthened the balance sheet, and returned capital to shareholders. Prior to joining Cardinal Health, Hollar served as chief financial officer and executive vice president for Tenneco. Before that, Hollar served as chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance for Sears Holdings Corporation.
In addition, Patricia English will serve as Cardinal Health’s interim chief financial officer, working with Hollar to ensure a smooth transition. English currently serves as chief accounting officer and senior vice president of Cardinal Health and previously served as vice president of accounting in both the pharmaceutical and medical segments. Cardinal Health’s board will engage an executive search firm to evaluate candidates for the permanent chief financial officer position.
HHS investing $60 million to improve rural healthcare
The HHS, through the HRSA, announced investments of nearly $60 million to grow the health workforce and increase access to quality health care in rural communities, including nearly $46 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan.
Nearly $46 million in American Rescue Plan funding will support 31 awardees to expand health care capacity in rural and tribal communities through health care job development, training, and placement. This funding includes support for critical health workforce needs in rural areas such as dental hygienists, medical or dental assistants, community-based doulas, and other frontline health care workers.
Nearly $10 million will support 13 organizations through the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program to establish new medical residency programs in rural communities to increase the number of physicians training in rural settings. In addition, nearly $4 million will support 18 awards to improve patient health outcomes and quality and delivery of care throughout rural counties and improve access to care for rural veterans.
Monkeypox is ‘a public health emergency,’ U.S. health secretary declares
In August, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra said the agency has declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency. The administration’s announcement follows similar decisions by health officials in New York, California and Illinois and global health leaders. The WHO on July 23 declared that monkeypox was a public health emergency of international concern, its highest-level warning, after confirmed outbreaks in about 70 countries where the virus has not historically spread.
BD appoints two business unit presidents
BD announced Puneet Sarin has been named president of BD Medication Management Solutions, and Steve Conly has been named president of BD Biosciences, both effective Oct. 3. In these roles, Sarin and Conly will be responsible for driving global strategic, operational and commercial performance of their respective business units. Sarin will report to Mike Garrison, executive vice president (EVP) and president of the Medical segment, and Conly will report to Dave Hickey, EVP and president of the Life Sciences segment.
Henry Schein celebrates 25 years of its “Back to School” program
Henry Schein announced the 25th anniversary of its “Back to School” program, which provides backpacks, school supplies, and more to support the back-to-school needs of underserved children and their families. Since the program’s inception in 1998, the Company has helped more than 65,000 children start a new school year with confidence.
This year, Team Schein Members at 34 locations, including 21 U.S. facilities and 13 international sites in five countries (Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom), are donating backpacks filled with school supplies to more than 5,000 children. At each Henry Schein location, teams work with local social service agencies to identify participating children and their families. The “Back to School” program is a flagship initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the Company’s global corporate social responsibility program.
“Over the past 25 years, the ‘Back to School’ program has continued to grow and evolve, helping to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities in which we live and work,” said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. “Our inaugural program served 175 children, and the Team Schein spirit has remained strong since the beginning, with Team Schein Members joining all over the world to help furnish children with the essentials needed to have a successful school year.
In the latest episode of #scheinchats, Henry Schein’s signature social media series, Dan LaRosa, Senior Manager of Team Schein and Community Services at Henry Schein, sat down with Fran Mellow, Division Director at Family Service League, New York, to discuss how the “Back to School” program helps enhance access to essentials, why starting the school year off with confidence is important, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what companies can do to build similar initiatives. Watch the discussion here.
“No parent or guardian should have to face financial pressure and struggles in trying to meet what are essential costs for their child’s education. And no child should feel anxiety about the price of school supplies,” said Suzanne Connolly, Chief Executive Officer of Barnardos Children’s Charity, Ireland. “At Barnardos, our mission is to deliver services and work with families, communities, and our partners to transform the lives of vulnerable children who are affected by adverse childhood experiences. By collaborating with Henry Schein to support the back-to-school needs of vulnerable children, we can help them achieve great things, because childhood lasts a lifetime.