Jonatan,
Have you seen this? Any comments anyone.... joel
Tuesday April 1 2:48 PM EDT
National Healthcare - creation of new medical logistics
unit
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 1997-- National
Healthcare (VSE NHM., NASDAQ NHMCF) National Healthcare Manufacturing Corporation
(NHMC) (NASDAQ: NHMCF, VSE: NHM) is pleased to announce the formation of National
Healthcare Logistics, a new 50 percent owned subsidiary of NHMC. This subsidiary will enter the
fastest growing segment of the medical products distribution market, which is "alternative"
distribution channels. Based in Nashville, TN, the new company will be headed by CEO Joe W.
Smith, former president of Abco (a $2 billion US medical distributor cooperative) and President
Duane E. Jorgensen, originator of the "Stockless" distribution concept, two well-respected
authorities in material management and medical distribution systems in the United States.
National Healthcare Logistics is introducing the Hub and Spoke Distribution System, the state of the
art in supply chain management for hospital groups (Integrated Health Care Systems). The Hub and
Spoke System moves the concept of Stockless distribution into a new generation of efficiencies and
savings by reducing the costs of medical logistics, from producer to patient. This unique distribution
arrangement provides hospitals with the opportunity to become true partners and work together
with the distributor to form an integrated healthcare plan.
National Healthcare Logistics will manage the purchasing and distribution for a number of hospital
groups from a Central Service Centre, upon which Hub and Spoke Systems is based. Each group is
a regional alliance, consisting of 3 to 20 hospitals (1500 to 4000 beds). Negotiations are currently
underway with several Integrated Health Care Systems and distributors who are ready to implement
this system. National Healthcare Logistics whose purchasing will be sourced through NHMC and
other manufacturers projects annual sales under these arrangements to reach $750 million in three
years and $1.5 billion in five years.
"This is a significant step for our Company in completing its manufacturing - sales and marketing
cycle," said NHMC's President Mr. Mac Shahsavar, "as this new subsidiary provides a great
opportunity for National Healthcare and its subsidiaries to market their quality product lines directly
to end users."
NHMC owns and operates the world's first and only automated robotic production facility capable
of assembling and packaging various trays and kits for medical and surgical procedures. Use of this
proprietary technology enables NHMC to produce these medical devices efficiently, cost
effectively, quickly and accurately thus providing an edge over its competition which currently use
manual labour.
NHMC, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries National Care Products Ltd. (NCP), and
NHMC-US manufactures and distributes personal care and patented anti-Microbial products
respectively, to healthcare and homecare institutions throughout North America and Europe.
Visit NHMC's Homepage at www.nationalhealthcare.com .
On behalf of the Board
Seyed Torabian, P.Eng., Vice President and Director
Neither NASDAQ nor the VSE have reviewed or accept responsibility for the accuracy of this
release.
CONTACT: National Healthcare Manufacturing Corporation
Alex Tsakumis, 800/883-8841 |
