Summa Health, Premier team up to hold model supplier diversity fair
One of Ohio’s largest integrated delivery systems, Summa Health System is a network of hospitals, community health centers, health plan, physician-hospital organization, multi-specialty physician organization, research and multiple foundations. Nationally renowned for patient care excellence and exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery, its clinical services are consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group. Summa is a founding partner of the BioInnovation Institute in Akron. www.summahealth.org.
Situation:
Summa Health System operates with the belief that while buying from diverse suppliers is important, how Summa helps diverse suppliers in its own community is especially important.
Solution:
Summa teamed with Premier and the Ohio Minority Business Council to arrange a first-of-its-kind supplier diversity fair to give local, minority-owned businesses an opportunity to meet with large healthcare organizations.
Result:
With more than 200 attendees, the fair included booths by local, regional and national diverse suppliers; presentations about supplier diversity; and a demonstration showing suppliers how to gain access to Premier member hospitals through a Web-based product portal. The fair also opened the door for similar events to occur in other regions of the country.
“It was a complete success. Attendance was outstanding (200-plus) and a
number of partnerships were initiated. I know of a local body shop that was
introduced to a major local ambulance service for body repair and service. It’s
a big contract for the body shop. That’s definitely a success.”
Scott McCulloch
Director of Purchasing
Summa Health System