Novation Becomes First Group Purchasing Organization to Select GHX Health ConneXion™ as its GDSN-certified Data Pool

Novation has become the first group purchasing organization (GPO) to select the GHX Health ConneXion™ data pool, which is certified by GS1’s Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN). Novation’s participation is designed to help the more than 2,500 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), as well as more than 15,000 Provista members, quickly adopt and utilize GS1 standards for product identification to improve supply chain efficiencies and patient safety. The Health ConneXion data pool is the only healthcare-focused data pool certified to enable suppliers to publish industry standard product data to the GDSN and provide access to that data to authorized subscribers. The GDSN is designed to help suppliers and providers synchronize product data, which in turn can help healthcare organizations ensure the right product is available at the right price, in the right place and at the right time for the right patient.

“Novation, VHA, UHC and Provista are leading an ambitious strategy to leverage the industry movement toward GS1’s supply chain e-standards,” said Jody Hatcher, President and Chief Executive Officer at Novation. “Novation decided to partner with GHX because of its strong healthcare focus and our shared vision of collaboration and a seamless supply chain in which accurate, complete and timely product information is accessible, mutually beneficial, and central to patient safety efforts.”

Novation is among a growing list of healthcare organizations that have chosen to utilize the Health ConneXion data pool to participate in the GDSN. GHX launched the Health ConneXion data pool in May, 2009, and in June, announced plans to work together with GS1 Canada to create a global standards-based product registry for medical and surgical products in Canada.

Increasingly, the healthcare industry is recognizing the benefits that can result from assigning industry standard identifiers to products and locations. Those benefits include a reduction in medication errors through efficient automatic identification; more efficient and accurate traceability of products and devices throughout the supply chain; less clinician time spent on manual documentation, leaving more time for patient care; lower costs through increased supply chain efficiency; and improved order and invoice processes, among other things.

“Novation has taken an important step to accelerate delivery of these benefits to its member organizations,” said Bruce Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at GHX. “We are pleased that Novation has chosen to join the GHX Health ConneXion data pool to expedite standards adoption that can make significant improvements in both the cost and quality of healthcare.”

About GHX

As the business hub for healthcare, GHX enables healthcare providers and suppliers in North America and Europe to reduce costs and improve margins by automating processes, reducing operating expenses and increasing knowledge-based decision making. Products and services include trading partner connectivity, order and contract management and validation, data synchronization, sales force automation and business intelligence. Equity owners of GHX are Abbott Exchange, Inc.; AmerisourceBergen Corp.; Baxter Healthcare Corp.; B. Braun Medical Inc.; Becton, Dickinson & Co.; Boston Scientific Corp.; Cardinal Health, Inc.; Covidien; C.R. Bard, Inc.; Fisher Scientific International, Inc.; GE Healthcare; HCA; Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.; McKesson Corp.; Medtronic USA, Inc.; Owens & Minor; Premier, Inc.; Siemens; University HealthSystem Consortium; and VHA Inc. For more information, visit www.ghx.com.

About Novation

Founded in 1998, Novation is the leading health care supply contracting company for more than 2,500 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances and nearly 14,000 members of Provista, LLC. Novation offers its customers contract development and management, supply chain data and measurement, and industry knowledge and advocacy. Based in Irving, Texas, Novation develops and manages competitive contracts with more than 500 suppliers. VHA, UHC and Provista members used Novation contracts to purchased nearly $35 billion in 2008.