Vizient Working With SafeSource Direct to Boost Nitrile Glove Supply

Vizient Inc. has formulated an agreement with SafeSource Direct LLC for chemo-rated nitrile gloves in an effort to better ensure the availability of critical medical supplies.

“The healthcare supply chain is global, extremely complex and remains an open invitation for unexpected disruptions. Vizient is committed to supporting efforts that help ensure our members are insulated against supply chain disruptions like those that occurred with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Vizient Executive Vice President Simrit Sandhu said. “As a result of its partnership with Ochsner Health, a clinical quality leader, SafeSource Direct is able to produce high-quality nitrile gloves.”
 
SafeSource Direct, a joint venture between the Gulf South’s largest health system, Ochsner Health, and Trax Development, launched in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic as a solution to national shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE). Adding 850 jobs in Broussard, La., and planning to create more than 2,200 total American jobs, SafeSource Direct is initially focusing production on meeting the needs of all Ochsner facilities as well as Vizient members seeking domestic or committed supply. Additionally, the manufacturer is working toward complete vertical integration by sourcing raw materials at a nearby facility to further shore up PPE resiliency.

“The pandemic shined a light on significant flaws in sourcing PPE from outside the U.S., and through this new agreement, we’re helping insulate Vizient members from future price increases, stockouts, and international supply chain disruptions,” SafeSource Direct CEO Justin Hollingsworth said. “Our healthcare partners have had to resort to stockpiling, which is costly and inefficient. We’re ensuring they can always count on a readily available supply of PPE.”
 
With two manufacturing plants, SafeSource Direct is capable of producing more than 108,000 gloves per hour across multiple operational lines. It aims to have a dozen lines operational by January 2024 capable of producing more than 2 billion gloves annually with additional manufacturing capacity available on-site.
 
“We are proud to play a role in ensuring a high-quality and reliable PPE supply made in America,” said Regine Villain, system vice president of Supply Chain Network and chief Supply Chain officer, Ochsner Health. “Having a domestically manufactured PPE supply mitigates risks inherent in a global supply chain that can’t always meet demand. It also ensures that our PPE is the highest quality. Furthermore, reshoring PPE production aligns with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities to ensure ethical work conditions at PPE plants and to eliminate carbon emissions associated with overseas transport.”
 
Vizient is the nation’s largest healthcare performance improvement company, serving more than 60% of America’s acute care providers, including 97% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory care providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $130 billion in annual purchasing volume. Vizient’s solutions and services improve the delivery of care by aligning cost, quality and market performance. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States.
 
SafeSource Direct LLC manufactures personal protective equipment (PPE). Headquartered in Lafayette Parish, La., SafeSource Direct operates a manufacturing plant in Broussard as well as in neighboring St. Martin Parish. Positioned near the Mississippi River, rail lines, and interstate highways, it is well positioned to distribute PPE to the nation.

Ochsner Health is an integrated healthcare system that celebrated its 80th anniversary last. year. The not-for-profit organization focuses on preventing diseases and providing patient-centered care that is accessible, affordable, convenient, and effective. It has more than 36,000 employees and over 4,600 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties. It operates 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Gulf South. In 2021, Ochsner Health treated more than 1 million people from every state and 75 countries.