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What is a GPO?

A group purchasing organization (GPO) is a network of organizations that use the combined purchasing power of its members to drive down costs on the things that help them run. By joining a GPO, a business can access discounts on products, services, and supplies that it uses every day.

GPOs are often leveraged in the healthcare industry, where supplies are needed in large quantities and need to be restocked frequently. However, many organizations can benefit from GPO membership, because our portfolio includes things all businesses need such as housekeeping and telecommunications services, and office and cleaning supplies.

PHV offers contracts in thousands of categories from hundreds of vendors. We work with Premier, Inc., a national GPO to offer services from large-scale vendors. We also contract with local vendors because we value the personal relationships we’ve built with Midwestern companies over the years.

Because Prairie Health Ventures is owned and directed by members, we make all decisions with you in mind. In addition to saving on products and services, GPO membership can save time for your purchasing department. Our staff is proactive, and highly responsive. We get to know your business and make data-driven recommendations on the contracts that would best suit your needs. Furthermore, we advocate on your behalf to vendors, ensuring that you are always satisfied with the services you receive.

What is a GPO?

A group purchasing organization (GPO) is a network of organizations that use the combined purchasing power of its members to drive down costs on the things that help them run. By joining a GPO, a business can access discounts on products, services, and supplies that it uses every day.

GPOs are often leveraged in the healthcare environment, where supplies are needed in large quantities and need to be restocked frequently. However, many organizations can benefit from GPO membership, because our portfolio includes things all businesses need such as housekeeping and telecommunications services, and office and cleaning supplies.

PHV offers contracts in thousands of categories from hundreds of vendors. We work with Premier, Inc., a national GPO to offer services from large-scale vendors. We also contract with local vendors because we value the personal relationships we’ve built with Midwestern companies over the years.

Because Prairie Health Ventures is owned and directed by GPO members, we make all decisions with you in mind. In addition to getting a discounted product, GPO membership can save time for your purchasing department. Our staff is proactive, and highly responsive. We get to know your business and make data-driven recommendations on the contracts that would best suit your needs. Furthermore, we advocate on your behalf to vendors, ensuring that you are always satisfied with the services you receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PHV actually distribute the items?
No. As a PHV member, you give distributors an entity code and they give you GPO pricing on that item. PHV facilitates, but does not distribute.
Can I still use my existing vendors and suppliers?
In many cases, yes! However, this does vary by the vendor and is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Can I still belong to my other GPO?
In many cases, yes! This is also judged on a case-by-case basis and is often dependent on the GPO’s contract procedures.
How do I get access to the Premier site?

Visit Premier Connect and request an account. You will hear back in a few days, and you follow normal registration steps.

How do I know what the contract prices are?
The prices are usually listed on the Premier Connect site, and where the price varies on local negotiation, the name of the vendor’s local representative is listed for contact.
How do I know what’s on contract?
The best way to go about this is going to the Premier Connect page and searching by vendor name, contract category, or item number.
Does PHV actually distribute the items?
No. As a PHV member, you give distributors an entity code and they give you GPO pricing on that item. PHV facilitates, but does not distribute.
Can I still use my existing vendors and suppliers?
In many cases, yes! However, this does vary by the vendor and is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Can I still belong to my other GPO?
In many cases, yes! This is also judged on a case-by-case basis and is often dependent on the GPO’s contract procedures.
How Do I Get Access to the Premier Site?
Visit Premier Connect and request an account. You will hear back in a few days, and you follow normal registration steps.
How Do I Know What the Contract Prices Are?
The prices are usually listed on the Premier Connect site, and where the price varies on local negotiation, the name of the vendor’s local representative is listed for contact.
How Do I Know What's on Contract
The best way to go about this is going to the Premier Connect page and searching by vendor name, contract category, or item number.

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Premier Certified Sponsor

PHV has been a Certified Sponsor with Premier, Inc. since 2015. This designation indicates consistent and high-level commitment to affiliate and supplier engagement. In addition, it demonstrates the adoption of the best practices for running a prosperous affiliate program.

Premier’s standards for the certification process include:

Dedicated focus on managing an affiliate program.
Strategy for enhancing supplier relations.
Process for reviewing affiliate spend analytics and generating contract uptake.
Price activation and conversion support for affiliates.
Process for introducing new contracts to affiliates.
Dedicated focus on managing an affiliate program.
Strategy for enhancing supplier relations.
Process for reviewing affiliate spend analytics and generating contract uptake.
Price activation and conversion support for affiliates.
Process for introducing new contracts to affiliates.

Member Tools

Ascend
The ASCEND (Accelerated Supply Chain Endeavor) program is aimed at improving supply chain performance rapidly. This program is designed specifically for hospitals and achieves better pricing than volume-driven tier pricing programs.

ASCEND participants benefit from:

  • Best pricing from sole source, highly committed contracts
  • Benchmarking against top performers
  • Knowledge sharing with peers and industry leaders

In addition to these things, PHV provides administrative support that identifies, verifies, and activates these contracts for each member. Routine communication including frequent vendor meetings and contract status updates are provided to enable and support members in reaching the supply chain objectives.

Capital and Construction Services

Capital and Construction Services is a technology management firm that serves existing medical facilities and those under construction. Their bottom line is reducing capital equipment costs. Users on average identify 18% savings through their services.

PHV members can access the Capital and Construction Services database to research capital costs, help create budgets, research market trends, and ultimately make more informed decisions finding savings for your organization.

For your next construction project they can assist by managing equipment budgeting, procurement, specifications, space planning and interior design. Additionally, they provide consulting services aimed at capital equipment procurement policy and procedures equipment procurement policy and procedures.

Contract Analysis
A lot of being in a GPO is comparable to having a membership at a “big box” shopping club; but at PHV, we have knowledgeable support staff that can help you analyze your spending. Using tools like Supply Chain Advisor, we help ensure that you are on the optimal contracts for your organization. PHV will act as your liaison to suppliers should issues arise with pricing or contract compliance, or if you just want something clarified, our support staff is here for your organization.

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