Premier Extends Partnership With Ascent Healthcare Solutions For Medical Device Reprocessing

Phoenix, AZ - Premier Inc. (Premier), the largest healthcare alliance in the United States with 1,700 members, has renewed its agreement with Ascent Healthcare Solutions (Ascent), the leading independent reprocessor of single-use medical devices (SUDs). Under the three-year contract extension, Premier members are projected to save $92M and eliminate nearly 3 million pounds of medical waste.

With more than 80 510(k)s cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Premier members can safely maximize their savings and environmental stewardship by taking advantage of the broad range of reprocessed cardiovascular, endoscopic/laparoscopic, general surgery/OR, orthopedic/arthroscopic, gastroenterology, respiratory and ophthalmology devices as well as recycling services that Ascent offers. Reprocessed devices typically cost about half as much as purchasing a new device. The resulting savings, which can exceed one million dollars for a large system, can be applied to patient programs, clinical staffing, the purchase of new medical technologies or other initiatives proven to enhance patient care.

In addition to SUD reprocessing, Premier members can participate in Ascent's Advantage recycling program to reduce the demand for resources needed to manufacture new devices. Under this program, Ascent jointly works with a facility to collect, disassemble and recycle medical devices that have not been cleared for reprocessing by the FDA.

"We are proud of our long-standing relationship with Premier and its members," said Ascent COO Rick Ferreira. "The satisfaction expressed by Premier's member hospitals validates our high standards in providing this service that benefits the hospital, the environment, and, most significantly, the patient."

SOURCE: Premier Inc.