Confluence Health Latest to Sign on to Purchasing Cooperative

Greenhealth Exchange Adds New Owner, Confluence Health Latest to Sign on to Purchasing Cooperative

New owner joins the growing cooperative to build a unique marketplace that will feature a broad range of green products used in health care settings.

RESTON, Virginia (September 5, 2017) — Greenhealth Exchange (GX)—a purchasing cooperative that makes it easy to source products and services used in health care settings that are good for people, the planet and the bottom line—announced today that Confluence Health, Wenatchee, WA, has become the newest owner to join the organization.
Confluence Health is an integrated healthcare delivery system that includes two hospitals, more than 40 medical specialties and primary care, to provide comprehensive medical care throughout North Central Washington. “Working towards the implementation of greener and more sustainable products aligns with our priorities, both a healthcare providers and members of our community”, said Cory Ferari-Zimmerman, CPA, Vice President, Finance at Confluence Health. “Like GX, we believe that green and sustainable products shouldn’t have a negative financial impact on our organization. In fact, in many cases, there is savings to be realized.”

“The mission of Confluence Health paired with its deep alignment with the communities they serve make them a wonderful addition for Greenhealth Exchange,” said John Strong, President of GX. “This new partnership further strengthens our efforts to ensure hospitals have greater access to high-quality green products that meet established criteria for significant improvements towards reduction of energy consumption, waste, and hazardous chemicals.”

Health care organizations in the US purchase more than $300 billion of goods and services each year, accounting for 17% of the marketplace. Strong shared that this buying clout puts hospitals and health systems in a strong position to accelerate the adoption of products that are safer and healthier and spark innovation in the supply chain.

Confluence Health joins the nation’s top leaders in health care sustainability who launched GX in early 2016. Since the launch, GX has continued to add owners and is now up to nine health systems —along with longtime sustainability advocates Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth. The current health system owners are Confluence Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Dignity Health, Gundersen Health System, University of Vermont Health Network, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic and Virginia Mason.

With the addition of Confluence, the purchasing cooperative is now backed by a combined total of 67 hospitals that together represent $41 billion in annual revenues and over $9.5 billion in purchasing power.

“As we continue our work in this area, GX finds more and more health systems that understand the link between the products they use in their facilities, for building, feeding and treating their patients has significant impact on the overall well-being of those patients, their families, their employees and the communities they serve.”, said Strong.
Learn more about GX and follow the latest updates by visiting the website: www.GreenhealthExchange.com

About Greenhealth Exchange

Greenhealth Exchange (GX) is a Public Benefits Corporation structured as a purchasing cooperative created by Practice Greenhealth, Health Care Without Harm, and leading health systems deeply committed to environmental sustainability in health care. GX makes it easy to source products and services used in health care settings that are good for people, the planet and the bottom line. We work with our members to spark innovation in the supply chain: getting to next generation products, smarter and faster. www.GreenhealthExchange.com

About Confluence Health

Confluence Health is an integrated healthcare delivery system that includes two hospitals, more than 40 medical specialties and primary care, to provide comprehensive medical care throughout North Central Washington. With over 270 physicians and 150 advanced practice clinicians, Confluence Health is the major medical provider between Seattle and Spokane. Our goal is to deliver high-quality, safe, compassionate, and cost-effective care close to home. Staying on the leading edge of healthcare innovation is important, so we invest in technology—to provide better care for our patients and allow our providers to operate at the highest level.
Located in the heart of Washington, we enjoy open skies, snow-capped mountains, and the lakes and rivers of the high desert. We are the proud home of orchards, farms, and small communities. Confluence Health actively supports the communities we serve and their quality of life through our community support program and through our individual efforts as involved community members.