Articles from Vizient, Inc.

Vizient®, the nation’s leading healthcare performance improvement company, today announced that Arun Ramasubramanian has joined the company as president of the company’s Data and Digital business unit. In this role, Ramasubramanian will lead the development of new products that connect Vizient’s proprietary data services and technology solutions to support clinical and operational performance improvement for health systems.

Sg2, a Vizient® company, today announced the release of the 2025 Impact of Change® Forecast, highlighting an 18% growth in adult outpatient (OP) volumes and a 5% increase in adult inpatient (IP) discharges over the next decade. The annual 10-year forecast provides insight into anticipated shifts in care delivery across the nation, including emerging trends in pediatric care, cancer outpatient volumes, the impact of GLP-1s on disease management and projections for post-acute care.

Vizient® today announced its updated analysis of the financial impact of drug shortages for hospitals to their workforce and budgets. The new survey, “Beyond the Shortage: The Hidden Cost of Drug Supply Chain Disruptions,” revealed that in 2023, hospitals across the U.S. spent roughly 20 million hours managing a range of drug shortages, which translates to nearly $900 million annually in labor costs—more than double the labor costs reported of just under $360 million in the 2019 survey.

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. hosted a congressional policy briefing titled, "Hospitals’ Financial Health: The Complex Ecosystem of Provider Reimbursement," at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event featured remarks from Rep. Dave Min (D-CA) and drew an engaged audience of congressional staff and industry stakeholders. While unable to attend in person, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) shared remarks in support of the briefing. The discussion focused on how hospitals are navigating a complex financial environment shaped by shifting reimbursement models, evolving policy changes, and increasing care demands.

Vizient hosted its second annual cell, gene and specialty pharmacy symposium, bringing together thought leaders committed to the advancement of health-system pharmacy in the management, delivery, and optimization of advanced therapeutics. The event was held April 22-24 in Frisco, Texas.

Vizient evaluates orthopedic innovations and their impact on utilization and strategies for conserving intravenous (IV) fluids in the latest Medical Device Tech Watch. In addition, this issue reviews emerging trends in cardiovascular and peripheral interventions. Read the latest Medical Device Tech Watch.

Vizient, the nation’s leading healthcare performance improvement company, today announced that Dan Salzman has joined the company as chief marketing officer. In this role, Salzman will develop and lead Vizient’s go-to-market strategy focused on delivering value to clients.

The Vizient/American Association of College Nursing (AACN) Nurse Residency Program™ announced today a collaboration with American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) to incorporate custom-designed transition-to-practice curriculum into its content offering. The integrated curriculum expands the program’s support of newly licensed nurses transitioning from classroom to clinical practice to promote quality and safety and reduce turnover specifically in ambulatory care settings.

Vizient, Inc., the nation’s largest healthcare performance improvement company , announced today it has renewed its agreement with TPC, a network of independent health systems in Texas and Arkansas, for services and solutions in spend management, consulting, digital and data analytics. The renewed agreement was effective Jan. 1 and reflects Vizient’s ongoing value in helping TPC Members align cost, quality and market performance.

A recent Sg2 analysis of inpatient dialysis care finds that for some hospitals currently operating in-house dialysis services, outsourcing may offer clinical, operational and financial benefits including shorter lengths of stay, lower infection rates and reduced direct costs. Read “To Outsource or Not? A Correlative Study of In-Hospital Dialysis Outcomes and Costs”.

Vizient, Inc. announced today it is accepting applications for its 2025 Innovative Technology Exchange and encouraged suppliers of medical equipment and technology who want to showcase their products to healthcare decision makers from across the country to participate. The event will take place in Las Vegas during the Vizient Connections Summit in September, and the deadline to apply is April 17. Applications can be submitted here.

Vizient, Inc. released its new Spend Management Outlook representing the best estimate of the change in the price of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and supplies, capital equipment and services between July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The report projects a 3.84% increase in pharmacy and an increase of 2.3% in non-pharmacy spend over that timeframe. The report also includes a comprehensive analysis of emerging trends and pricing dynamics affecting healthcare. View the Vizient Winter 2025 Spend Management Outlook.

Leveraging insights from industry experts at Vizient and its subsidiary Kaufman Hall, the company today published its 2025 trends report, “Strategy is (finally) back in the driver’s seat”, providing a roadmap for healthcare leaders for the new year. The report highlights four key trends and offers examples of health systems who are leading in implementing strategies that position them for success in 2025.

Vizient, Inc. announces the launch of Capital Spend Insights, an online tool to help providers optimize their capital spend. The new platform, which simplifies capital equipment procurement, is the latest addition to Vizient’s suite of capital equipment solutions that help providers navigate the total cost of capital ownership from equipment planning to procurement and asset management.

Sg2, a Vizient company, has published a white paper on the effects of the rapid increase in cardiovascular disease and related challenge of timely patient access to lifesaving interventions such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. The paper, “The Rising Tide of Cardiovascular Disease: A Looming Crisis for Cardiovascular Intervention Resources” notes an 8% increase in demand for inpatient procedures and a 25% increase for outpatient procedures over the next 10 years.

Vizient, Inc. assesses coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) techniques and costs as well as factors affecting orthopedic procedures in non-acute settings in the latest Medical Device Tech Watch. The publication also reviews advancements in internal leg lengthening for children with congenital femoral deficiency. Read Medical Device Tech Watch.

In its latest Pediatric Tech Watch, Vizient, Inc. surveys the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, advancements in pediatric gene therapy and rounds up the latest updates for pediatric immunizations. Read Pediatric Tech Watch.

Due to the impact to the Baxter International, Inc. North Cove facility in Marion, N.C. from Hurricane Helene, Vizient has published a conservation guide for adult and pediatric IV push medications. Baxter’s North Cove plant is a major producer of large volume IV fluid bags used for patient care in the U.S. The guide includes detailed information for providers, which will help conserve inventories during this time of potential supply disruption while maintaining the delivery of safe patient care.

Vizient, Inc. released a report linking care disparities for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with the level of neighborhood social needs. T2D patients living in neighborhoods with the highest level of social needs disproportionately used more acute care services, had lower rates of critical routine care and higher rates of complications. Read Measuring Type-2 Diabetes Care and Outcomes Across Patients and their Communities.

Vizient, Inc. announced its continuing education program (CE) has received four-year accreditation status from Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE), the gold standard for continuing education (CE) programs serving the healthcare profession. Vizient’s program received its last four-year accreditation in 2020.

Vizient, Inc. announced top performers in clinical quality, supplier diversity and environmental sustainability excellence. The awards recognize the achievements of participating hospitals and health systems in patient care quality and supply chain excellence and were announced at Vizient Connections Summit Sept. 17 in Las Vegas.

Vizient, Inc., the nation's largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, honored top suppliers and distributors for their outstanding service to its provider customers. The awards were announced at the Vizient Connections Summit Sept. 16 in Las Vegas.

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. hosted a policy briefing titled, "Rural Healthcare Realities: Hospitals' Efforts to Bridge the Access Gap," at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event featured remarks from Reps. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH). Attended by an overflowing audience of more than 100 congressional staff and industry stakeholders, the briefing focused on the significant challenges rural healthcare providers and patients face and highlighted the vital role hospitals play in ensuring access to care.

Vizient, Inc. is pleased to participate in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 2024 Compounding Quality Center of Excellence Annual Conference, taking place August 21-23. This year’s conference, themed “Learning and Collaborating: Driving Toward the Future of Quality,” will be hosted in a hybrid format.

Sg2, a Vizient, Inc. company, announced the launch of Share of CARETM, its data solution providing visibility into clinical activity across all sites of care. These insights enable providers to optimize their care delivery models, improve patient access and experience and plan for enterprise growth in the communities they serve.

Vizient, Inc. today announced it has completed its acquisition of Kaufman Hall, bringing together two of the industry's most trusted advisors focused on helping healthcare organizations solve complex challenges as they deliver high-quality patient care to their communities. The combined organization will offer advisory services in key areas such as revenue and cost, advanced clinical quality and operational analytics, corporate finance, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, access to capital and balance sheet management.

Vizient, Inc. released its summer Pharmacy Market Outlook estimating the 2025 overall drug price inflation rate for pharmaceuticals at 3.81% based in part on expanding indications of previously approved medications, such as semaglutide, which increased 77% in spend since the summer 2023 Outlook. The report also urges providers to prepare for an increased number of high-cost cell and gene therapies entering the market that will significantly impact provider budgets and operational processes. View the summer 2024 Pharmacy Market Outlook.

Vizient, Inc. announced today a strategic partnership with leading carbon accounting platform provider Greenly to support Vizient’s Climate Performance Solutions with greenhouse gas data collection, analysis and reporting capabilities. The launch marks the expansion of Vizient’s portfolio of impact spend services to help providers and suppliers achieve their environmental, social and governance goals.

Vizient, Inc., Kaufman, Hall & Associates, LLC (“Kaufman Hall”) and Madison Dearborn Partners (“MDP”) today announced that Vizient has exercised its option to acquire the remaining interest in Kaufman Hall, a strategic advisor to the healthcare industry. Vizient became a minority investor in 2021 and began a joint commercial relationship that built on the strengths of both companies.

Vizient, Inc. examines pulsed field ablation technologies for atrial fibrillation and the role wearable monitoring devices can play in women’s cardiovascular health in the latest Medical Device Tech Watch.

Vizient, Inc. announces publication of its annual corporate responsibility report highlighting its progress on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and support for sustainability efforts in the healthcare industry. View the report here: Vizient 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report: Our Impact on People, Places and Planet.

Yesterday, Vizient, Inc. participated in the Healthcare Innovation Expo on Capitol Hill, hosted by the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) in collaboration with the Health Care Innovation Caucus. During the event, Vizient showcased the patent pending Vizient® Vulnerability Index™, which is now publicly available, to more than forty lawmakers and congressional staff, demonstrating how it helps providers gain actionable insights into their community’s social needs to target interventions and improve care delivery.

Sg2, a Vizient, Inc. company, released its 2024 Impact of Change®, projecting continued constraints on patient access to emergency department (ED) and inpatient (IP) care. Led by an aging population and an increased incidence of chronic disease and conditions such as behavioral health, IP and outpatient (OP) volumes will continue to increase over the next decade, impacting how and where organizations deliver care. Access the Sg2 2024 Impact of Change®.

Vizient, Inc. today released a report showing Medicaid patients were less likely to receive the same treatment services for behavioral health as compared to commercially insured patients. While the prevalence of behavioral health conditions was roughly the same in both groups, treatment and emergency department visits among patients in each group varied. View Shining a light on disparities in mental health services.

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. hosted a policy briefing titled, "Medicare (DIS)Advantage: How MA Plans are Implementing Policies to Limit Access to Care," at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event featured remarks from Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and Marc Veasey (D-TX), with recorded remarks provided by Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) and was sponsored by Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX). The briefing, attended by a standing-room only crowd of more than 80 congressional staff and industry stakeholders, focused on the disruptions caused by Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations and how hospitals are navigating the myriad challenges to provide timely and seamless care to MA beneficiaries.

The Vizient/American Association of College Nursing (AACN) Nurse Residency Program™ announced today the integration of Maryland’s R3 Resilient Nurses Initiative curriculum into its content offering. The collaboration elevates NRP’s support of newly licensed nurses transitioning from classroom to clinical practice to promote quality and safety and reduce turnover.

Vizient, Inc. hosted its inaugural Insight: Cell, Gene, and Specialty Pharmacy Symposium, bringing together leading healthcare providers, payers and manufacturers of high-cost, ultra-specialty pharmaceuticals along with other stakeholders to discuss the promise and unique challenges of the rapidly expanding market of cell, gene and other advanced therapies. The three-day meeting began April 8 in Atlanta.

Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine have recognized Vizient as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2024.

Vizient, Inc. released recommendations focused on mitigating common risks, identifying national guidelines and utilizing existing resources to ensure preparedness for an active shooter event. The recommendations were made by a task force of 40 Vizient network executives from 27 organizations across the country. The recommendations and rationales bring attention to organizational tactics that were found by the task force to be lacking or inconsistent. View active shooter preparedness resources.

Vizient, Inc. announced it has released trends providers should strategize for in 2024. These include payer strategy, ambulatory design considerations, an approach to primary care access and the importance of targeted technology adoption. View 2024: A Year for Bold Bets.

Vizient, Inc. announced today it is accepting applications for its 2024 Innovative Technology Exchange and encouraged suppliers of medical equipment and technology who want to showcase their products to health care decision makers from across the country to participate. The event will take place Sept.18 in Las Vegas during the Vizient Connections Summit and the deadline to apply is April 9. Applications can be submitted here.

Vizient, Inc. projects drug price inflation to grow at 3.8% in the latest Pharmacy Market Outlook. Driven in part by specialty pharmacy, including the increasing utilization of weight loss drugs, it is the highest projected increase since July 2019. In addition, the anticipated expansion of gene therapies will increase provider spend even more. View the Pharmacy Market Outlook.

Vizient, Inc. released its latest Medical Device Tech Watch, exploring cardiac ablation modalities and advancements in remote patient monitoring. In addition, this edition reviews new regulations and imaging alternatives for early breast cancer detection. Read Medical Device Tech Watch.

In the latest edition of Pediatric Tech Watch, Vizient, Inc. forecasts strong growth in pediatric obesity services, highlights risk factors for children with asthma through the patent pending Vizient Vulnerability Index™ and examines new ways to prevent pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). View the latest Pediatric Tech Watch.

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. held a policy briefing titled, “Communities in Crisis: How Hospitals are Addressing Mental and Behavioral Health Challenges in their Communities” at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event focused on hospitals’ critical role in providing mental and behavioral health treatment and support, drawing attendance from more than 60 deeply engaged congressional staff and industry stakeholders.

Vizient today announced it has completed its acquisition of PrefTech OR, a next-generation, cloud-based preference card management (PCM) software that helps healthcare providers optimize their operating rooms to increase workflow efficiency, lower costs and improve patient care.

Vizient, Inc. today announced 2023’s top performers in clinical quality and supply chain excellence. The awards recognize the work of Vizient provider customers in clinical quality and accountability, supplier diversity and environmentally preferred sourcing excellence. The awards were presented during the 2023 Vizient Connections Summit held Sept. 18-21 in Las Vegas.

Vizient, Inc. the largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company in the country, recognized the superior performance of suppliers and distributors for their work to deliver exceptional service to its provider customers. The recognitions were presented at the Vizient Connections Summit, held Sept. 18-21 in Las Vegas.

Vizient, Inc. released its latest Medical Device Tech Watch examining strategies to retain musculoskeletal procedure volume in the face of shifting sites of care. Additionally, this edition surveys treatment options for diabetic neuropathy and provides an overview of technology advancements in orthopedics. Read Medical Device Tech Watch.

Vizient, Inc. announced the publication of its first public report on care utilization and quality using data from Medicare's Data Sharing for Performance Measurement, also known as the Qualified Entity Program (QEP). The report, “Measuring Care Utilization and Quality for Those with Chronic Kidney Disease by Payer and Community Vulnerability,” evaluates the cost and quality of care provided to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) by payer, based on four indicators of resource use and quality and also explores outcomes through the lens of high social need communities using the patent pending Vizient Vulnerability IndexTM.

Vizient, Inc. today released its 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Report highlighting the company progress in promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace for all employees. The report also includes detailed insights on diversity representation among Vizient employees and progress toward achieving its DEI aspirations as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to transparency.

A Vizient white paper released today demonstrates how the lack of information about medication access across the supply chain is exacerbating the shortage of seven oncology drugs used to treat a multitude of cancers. In survey results included in the paper, more than 94% of respondents reported an impact on pharmacy operations and patient care due to carboplatin and cisplatin shortages. View “Evaluating the impact of the oncology drug shortage.”

Vizient announced it has published its annual corporate responsibility report detailing its focus on driving positive impacts across three interconnected pillars – people, places, and planet – by leveraging its unique position in the healthcare industry to drive sustainability throughout the healthcare sector. View the report here: Vizient Corporate Responsibility Report.

Vizient, Inc. today announced it is granting public access to the patent pending Vizient Vulnerability Index™. The access comes at no cost and provides a unique level of visibility for healthcare organizations to assess social determinants of health that impact health equity in the communities they serve. It is now available to anyone. Access the Vizient Vulnerability Index.

Vizient, Inc. projects a 3.42% increase in hospital pharmaceutical spend in its Summer Pharmacy Market Outlook, released July 31. The overall increase, forecasted for the year beginning January 2024, is being driven by specialty pharmaceuticals and medications in the neurology service line. In addition, the Outlook demonstrates the continued decline in demand for remdesivir, which topped the list of Vizient member spend during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and has since fallen to No. 13. View the 2023 Summer Pharmacy Market Outlook.

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. hosted a policy briefing titled, “Beyond the Four Walls: How Hospitals are Addressing Social Determinants of Health,” at the Rayburn House Office Building. Featuring remarks by Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Dwight Evans (D-PA), and sponsored by Representative Jake Ellzey (R-TX), the event, attended by more than 70 congressional staff and industry stakeholders, focused on how hospitals are actively addressing the external factors that impact community health.

Sg2, a Vizient company, released its 2023 Impact of Change Forecast, projecting hospital capacity challenges will continue into the next decade, driven by higher patient acuity and staffing shortages. In addition, pharmaceutical and technological advancements will continue to push care delivery, including bariatric surgery, to outpatient status and sites throughout the next decade. Access Sg2 2023 Impact of Change Forecast.

Vizient, Inc. and Ochsner Health hosted a Gulf Coast Community Contracting Informational Meeting & Networking Reception June 13 in New Orleans. The event was attended by local, diverse suppliers and diverse business advocacy and certification organizations interested in learning how to engage in business opportunities with healthcare organizations and other large businesses in Louisiana and southern Mississippi. Vizient is the nation’s largest healthcare performance improvement company, representing more than 60% of the nation’s healthcare providers.

Vizient, Inc. community health expert Karyl Kopaskie, PhD participated in a panel discussion June 8 titled, “Measure What Matters: Examining Variation in Health Equity Tracking and Measurement Practices Across Healthcare Systems in the U.S.” The discussion took place as part of the inaugural CMS Health Equity Conference, a two-day program in Washington, D.C. featuring the research and work of health equity leaders and government partners to address social determinants of health.

Vizient, Inc. released its latest edition of Tech Watch, examining trends in diagnostic imaging (DI), advances in computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) exams and a service line strategy for the use of theranostics to treat cancer. Access Diagnostic Imaging Tech Watch.

Vizient, Inc. today announced that it has been selected by TriHealth, one of the top integrated health systems in Cincinnati, to deliver solutions in enterprise performance through Vizient’s market-leading contract portfolio and performance improvement resources. The contract was effective Nov. 1.

Vizient, Inc. released its latest Workforce Intelligence Report today, finding that regular nursing hours have begun to stabilize but continue to be supplemented by overtime and contract labor hours at higher than pre-pandemic levels. The report, a collaboration between Vizient and Vaya Workforce, demonstrates how staffing shortages are negatively impacting hospital operating margins, and potentially, patient care. Access the Workforce Intelligence Report.

Vizient, Inc. released its latest Medical Device Tech Watch, examining care models for cardiac arrhythmia, methods for improving colorectal cancer screening rates and how optimizing surgical tray standardization can reduce costs and improve operational efficiencies. Access Medical Device Tech Watch.

Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine have honored Vizient, Inc. as one of the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. This is Vizient’s second time being named to this prestigious list, this year coming in at No. 45. Earning a spot means that Vizient has surpassed rigorous benchmarks, establishing itself as one of the best places to work in the country.

Vizient, Inc. announced today that Steven Lucio, PharmD, BCPS, senior principal, pharmacy solutions for Vizient, will share insights on biosimilars in the panel discussion, “Building the Sustainable Future of Biosimilars,” at the Festival of Biologics being held March 20-22 in San Diego.

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. hosted a policy briefing titled, “Provider Pressures Persist: Hospitals' Struggles Against Financial, Workforce and Supply Chain Strains” at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Attended by more than 50 Congressional staff and other healthcare stakeholders, this briefing focused on how hospitals are responding to mounting pressures while continuing to provide essential community benefits.

Employers are bracing for continued increases in healthcare costs and seeking innovative solutions that improve quality and patient experience, while driving costs down. To help employers access the best care for their employees, Vizient, Inc. announces the expansion of its provider-led, quality-driven surgical care network collaborating to offer bundled pricing for select surgeries to large, self-insured employers. The number of health systems that have joined the high-value network, created in 2021, has doubled to 13, representing 16 markets nationwide.

Vizient, Inc. today announces strategic partnerships with Tiller-Hewitt HealthCare Strategies and ShareMD Connect for a new Rapid Impact Strategic Growth Solution offered through Sg2, a Vizient company. The agreements will give Vizient member providers the ability to assess access and capacity of intake channels, and reach their strategic growth potential by increasing convenience, high quality options, and value to consumers needing healthcare services.

Vizient, Inc. announced today it is accepting applications for its 2023 Innovative Technology Exchange and encouraged suppliers of medical equipment and technology who want to showcase their products to healthcare decision makers from across the country to participate. The event will take place Oct. 3 in Dallas and the deadline to apply is April 7. Applications can be submitted here.

Vizient, Inc. released its Winter 2023 Pharmacy Market Outlook, forecasting a 3.78% overall drug price inflation rate for the calendar year beginning, July 1, 2023. The rate reflects a moderate rise relative to recent years but also a growing upward trend led by an increase in prices and utilization. The full report can be downloaded here.

Vizient, Inc. today released its latest Medical Device Tech Watch, highlighting data to help reduce readmission rates in heart failure patients and providing a survey of intraoperative imaging modalities. In addition, this issue features one medical center’s journey to increase efficiencies by eliminating its manual “bill only” process for medical devices and products. The full Medical Device Tech Watch can be accessed here.

Vizient, Inc. today announced an agreement with SafeSource Direct, LLC, the manufacturer of high-quality, American-made personal protective equipment (PPE), for chemo-rated nitrile gloves. The agreement is the latest move by Vizient to increase supply assurance of critical medical supplies.

Vizient, Inc. today announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with HANDLE Global to launch a capital asset management system to help Vizient member healthcare organizations manage their capital expenses and equipment. The system enables access to HANDLE’s platform to track capital equipment and expenses and improve equipment lifecycle planning, procurement and asset utilization.

Sg2, a Vizient company, announces the launch of Provider Connections, an analytics solution to help healthcare organizations improve patient care coordination through greater physician engagement and network optimization. Every year physician referrals made outside of network can cost healthcare organizations hundreds of millions of dollars. Sg2 Provider Connections takes direct aim at network leakage to save healthcare organizations money.

As patient volumes return to pre-pandemic levels, nurse turnover has doubled and half report feelings of burnout, according to a new report from Vizient, Inc. and Vaya Workforce. In addition, researchers found that while contract labor utilization continues to surge, the amount of time nurses are able to spend with patients dropped earlier this year to its lowest level since before the pandemic.