By Pete Mercer
Melani Provost is the Director of 3PL services for Cardinal Health’s Global Medical Products and Distribution business. Her team provides logistics, warehousing and distribution services for healthcare product manufacturers, helping them get products to the providers they support.
Provost has worked in the healthcare industry for almost 10 years. She says it gives her a greater sense of purpose, knowing that the products that her team at Cardinal Health help to move through the supply chain ultimately support healthcare providers and their patients.
Making a difference in the lives of others
That opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others is what motivates Provost to bring her energy and focus to work every day. She said, “I’m passionate about the work I do because it makes a difference and helps to improve the lives of people every day. Our team helps to ensure that critical healthcare products are available to support positive patient outcomes, which is something I take very seriously.”
For example, there was an urgent request early in her career at Cardinal Health from a hospital in Arkansas that had run out of neonatal needles and needed them immediately. Her team mobilized quickly to release and fulfill the order, making sure that it was shipped out in time for next-day delivery. That next day, the customer service team let Provost and her team know that their swift action had ‘saved the babies’ at the hospital.
“That moment stayed with me as a key reminder that our work goes beyond moving products. Every order represents patients and families that depend on us. It also reinforced the importance of helping our frontline teams understand the impact of their work. When people can see the connection between their daily responsibilities and patient care, it creates a much deeper sense of purpose. It also reinforced the importance of helping our frontline teams understand the impact of their work.”
A career to be proud of
From her 10-year career in healthcare, Provost has found that those who stay focused on solutions, work well with others, and continuously look for ways to improve the customer experience are most effective.
She’s even had the opportunity to train and develop her team over the years. “I’m most proud of the opportunities I’ve had to lead and develop team members throughout my career. I’ve had the privilege of watching team members grow into supervisors, managers, and other leadership roles, both within Cardinal Health and beyond.”