Premier healthcare alliance One of the World's Most Ethical Companies for Sixth Year in a Row

Recognized for following exceptional ethical business standards with a comprehensive and transparent code of conduct

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Premier healthcare alliance has been named one of the Ethisphere Institute's 2013 World's Most Ethical Companies. Recognized for the sixth year in a row, Ethisphere selected Premier from a record number of applicants across the globe.

“Premier is accountable for the highest degree of integrity and the strongest group purchasing code of conduct in the industry. In continuing to uphold these high standards, we strive to bring reliability and transparency to the health systems of the alliance and the communities they serve.”

Premier alliance owner Baptist Health South Florida was also recognized for the third year in a row. Both organizations are known for implementing best-in-class business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to success, benefit the community and set ethical standards within the industry.

“Not only did more companies apply for the World's Most Ethical Companies recognition this year than any year in the past, which demonstrates that ethical activity is an important part of many of these companies' business models, but we are also seeing more companies be proactive and create new initiatives that expand ethics programs and cultures across entire industries, such as industry-based ethics associations and other activities,” said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of Ethisphere. “We are excited to see the 2013 World's Most Ethical Companies take these leadership positions, and embrace the correlation between ethical behavior and improved financial performance.”

Only 23 companies have made the list over the past six years.

Ethisphere is a leading international organization dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, governance, anti-corruption and sustainability.

Premier President and CEO Susan DeVore said, “Premier is accountable for the highest degree of integrity and the strongest group purchasing code of conduct in the industry. In continuing to uphold these high standards, we strive to bring reliability and transparency to the health systems of the alliance and the communities they serve.”

Premier’s group purchasing code of conduct and practices are available on its public website. Each year, Premier complies with the Healthcare Group Purchasing Industry Initiative’s annual questionnaire on progress to demonstrate accountability.

Ethisphere reviewed thousands of companies and evaluated a record number of applications using its propriety methodology through in-depth research and multistep analysis, naming companies that surpassed their industry peers to this year's list. The 2013 list features companies in 36 industries from more than 100 countries.

The methodology for the World’s Most Ethical Companies includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.

About the Ethisphere Institute

The research-based Ethisphere^® Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. Ethisphere Magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking™, is the quarterly publication of the Institute. Ethisphere provides the only third-party verifications of compliance programs and ethical cultures that include: Ethics Inside^® Certification, Compliance Leader Verification™ and Anti-Corruption Program Verification. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com.

About the Premier healthcare alliance, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient

Premier is the nation’s largest performance improvement alliance of more than 2,800 U.S. hospitals and 90,000 other sites using the power of collaboration and technology to lead the transformation to coordinated, high-quality, cost-effective care. Owned by healthcare providers, Premier operates a leading purchasing network with nearly $5 billion in annual savings. Premier also maintains clinical, financial and outcomes databases based on 1 in every 4 patient discharges. A world leader in measurably improving patient care, Premier has the largest performance improvement collaboratives in America, including one in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has an office in Washington. http://www.premierinc.com. Stay connected with Premier on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.