Supplier Added to Premier Healthcare Alliance’s New Comprehensive IV Therapy Products Portfolio

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, today announced that Smiths Medical MD Inc. of St. Paul, Minn., has been added to its new portfolio for IV Therapy Products, becoming the ninth company awarded a contract. Eight companies were announced in August.

The portfolio is divided in four categories.

Non-pharmacy capital equipment (including pumps and dedicated sets): B. Braun Medical Inc. of Bethlehem, Pa.; Baxter Healthcare Corporation of Deerfield, Ill.; Cardinal Health (Alaris) of Dublin, Ohio; Excelsior Medical Corporation of Neptune, N.J.; Hospira Inc. of Lake Forest, Ill.; Sigma International General Medical Apparatus, LLC, of Medina, N.Y.; and Smiths Medical MD, Inc.

Non-drug related consumables (including standards sets, tubing/extensions, accessories): B. Braun Medical Inc.; Baxter Healthcare Corporation; Cardinal Health (Alaris); Hospira Inc.; ICU Medical Inc. of San Clemente, Calif.; and Smiths Medical MD Inc.

Pharmacy non-capital products (including fluids, bag-based drug delivery systems, total parenteral nutrition): B. Braun Medical Inc., Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and Hospira Inc.

Pharmacy capital equipment and admixture supplies (including compounders and accessories and automated filling devices): Baxa Corporation of Englewood, Colo.; B. Braun Medical Inc.; Baxter Healthcare Corporation; and Hospira Inc.

Effective February 1, 2009, the 60-month agreements are available to acute care and continuum of care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.

About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient

Serving more than 2,000 U.S. hospitals and 53,000-plus other healthcare sites, the Premier healthcare alliance and its members are transforming healthcare together. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier operates one of the leading healthcare purchasing networks and the nation's most comprehensive repository of hospital clinical and financial information. A subsidiary operates one of the nation's largest policy-holder owned, hospital professional liability risk-retention groups. A world leader in helping healthcare providers deliver dramatic improvements in care, Premier is working with the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in San Diego, Premier has offices in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Washington. For more information, visit www.premierinc.com.