Union Hospital is being recognized for saving thousands of dollars annually in supply costs.
 
Carey Gardner, Director of Development and Community Relations, says the hospital is a member of VHA, a national organization of 1,300 non-profit hospitals that work together to lower costs, improve operating efficiency and patient care.
 
Gardner says VHA recently selected Union Hospital as one of nine member hospitals to receive the 2012 VHA Leadership Award for Supply Chain Management Excellence.
 

 
Gardner says the hospital’s product costs are among the lowest in the VHA Central region of five states.
 

 
Gardner says the director and staff of the material management department has done a tremendous job finding savings.
 

 
Gardner says those savings could then be passed on to the patient.
 

 
One example of achieving significant cost savings as the result of being a VHA member, Union Hospital will save over $28,000 annually by purchasing supplies for respiratory and anesthesia procedures in volume from suppliers.