1.27.2006 ET

(CSRwire) PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hospitals and healthcare suppliers are making progress in efforts to use diverse suppliers, but much work remains to do, the director of Supplier Diversity Initiatives for Premier Inc. told a quarterly meeting of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

Gleatha Glispie, national director of Supplier Diversity Initiatives for Premier, was invited to address the 39 affiliated councils that make up the NMSDC to provide insight into ways to increase the presence of minority suppliers in healthcare.

"We believe there is great potential for higher levels of minority business participation in the healthcare industry," said Harriet Michel, president of the NMSDC. "With Premier's leadership in promoting the use of diverse suppliers, we felt that Gleatha could bring valuable ideas and insights to our members on ways to make progress in this important market."

An alliance owned by not-for-profit hospitals and health systems, Premier provides group purchasing and supply chain services to more than 1,400 hospitals nationwide. Glispie discussed Premier's program, which helps hospitals and manufacturers identify and work with minority suppliers. Premier provides exposure to minority suppliers through a Web portal and presents an annual diversity award that recognizes both hospitals for their use of diverse suppliers and larger suppliers for their use of "second tier" diverse suppliers for raw materials and components.

Premier's program also shares best practices to accelerate improvement nationally. Glispie provided NMSDC attendees with a copy of Premier's latest white paper on supplier diversity, which includes case studies from nine hospitals and healthcare systems across the nation. The white paper is available for free download on Premier's Web site at www.premierinc.com/supplierdiversity".

"At Premier, we promote supplier diversity because we believe it is an important way to encourage marketplace competition and drive down the cost of healthcare for everyone," Glispie said.

Also available online is the audio recording from a national teleconference held January 10, 2006, in which speakers from M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center and North Broward Hospital District discuss their supplier diversity programs. To listen to the recording, visit www.premierinc.com/advisorlive.

About Premier, Inc.
Premier, Inc., a strategic healthcare alliance entirely owned by 200 of the nation's leading not-for-profit hospital and healthcare systems. These systems operate or are affiliated with more than 1,400 hospital facilities and hundreds of other healthcare sites. Premier's services include group purchasing, supply chain and clinical performance improvement services, insurance programs and the Premier Safety Institute. Premier has major facilities in Charlotte, NC; Chicago; San Diego, CA.; and Washington, DC.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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