Global Healthcare Exchange to acquire rival CentriMed

The Global Health Care Exchange LLC (Chicago), an independent Internet-based e-commerce marketplace formed in late March by five top healthcare product manufacturers, signed a letter of intent to acquire one of its privately held rivals, CentriMed. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Johnson & Johnson, GE Medical Systems, Baxter International Inc., Abbott Laboratories and Medtronic Inc. founded the Global Health Care Exchange five months ago to help streamline the purchasing process online. Thirty manufacturers have now signed up to participate in the venture, which is scheduled to go live within the next two months.

In addition to e-commerce, CentriMed (Westminster, CO) also offers content and discussion forums for selected healthcare audiences, including hospitals, physicians and suppliers.

``The acquisition will help the Global Health Care Exchange streamline the healthcare e-procurement process by improving supply chain efficiency and reducing costs for customers throughout the healthcare industry,'' said Mike Mahoney, general manager of the Exchange in a prepared statement.

``With our closely aligned vision for the future of healthcare e-procurement, we're excited about partnering with the most trusted and experienced industry leaders that form the Global Health Care Exchange,'' said Scott Schorer, executive vice president and general manager, CentriMed. ``Given our technology infrastructure, the Exchange can now offer full-featured solutions second to none that will save our customers time and money.''

CentriMed was founded in 1998 and has 85 employees.

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Edited by Rick Dana Barlow
Managing Editor, Hospital Network.com