Medline Awarded $1.8 Million Premier Wound Care Products Contract for Catholic Healthcare West

Medline Industries, Inc. , the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, today announced a three-year agreement with Premier, Inc. to provide advanced wound care products to the Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) system.

Under the new agreement Medline will be CHW's major provider of wound care products to CHW's network of 41 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona and Nevada. The new contract is expected to generate $1.8 million in sales for Medline, while CHW, the eighth largest hospital system in the nation and the largest not-for-profit hospital provider in California, is in line to realize a 20% cost savings.

A major factor in Catholic Healthcare West's selection was the wide range of wound bed preparation and treatment options available within Medline's advanced wound care line. Key products such as SilvaSorb antimicrobial silver dressings, Maxorb Calcium Alginates, Exuderm Odorshield and Optifoam dressings are included in the agreement. Another equally contributing factor was a direct product evaluation conduction by advanced wound care teams from all of CHW's facilities in which Medline's products scored higher for clinical acceptability and ease than several other major competitors.

Medline's Advance Wound Care packaging features an award-winning design that helps healthcare professionals better understand and more easily deliver wound care at the patient's bedside. While wound care nurses are often the clinician who directs wound care, more than 70 percent of the time, it's bedside nurses who are applying dressings. One study examining the risk of medication errors determined that 38 percent of errors occur at the point of care/bedside, and with many medical errors linked to poor packaging labeling and design. Medline's innovative package design can play a key role in harm avoidance and patient satisfaction by providing clear, step-by-step information, eliminating visual clutter and highlighting critical information.

About Medline Industries, Inc.

Medline, the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies and other markets. Headquartered in Mundelein, IL, Medline has more than 800 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 250 major hospitals and health care systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities, and on-staff clinicians.

Medline has a growing network of 34 distribution centers around the country, as well as an expanding, dedicated transportation fleet with over 160 vehicles in a variety of sizes to fit customers' specific delivery needs. The fleet is equipped with the latest navigation devices for enhanced order tracking and communication.

Meeting the highest level of national and international quality standards, Medline is FDA QSR compliant and ISO 13485 registered. Medline serves on major industry quality committees to develop guidelines and standards for medical product use, including the FDA Midwest Steering Committee, AAMI Sterilization and Packaging Committee and various ASTM committees. For more information on Medline, visit our Web site, www.medline.com .

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Media Contacts: Jerreau Beaudoin (847) 643-3011 John Marks (847) 643-3309