Dozens of healthcare networks in the Southeast are poised to save significant time and money under a new agreement recently made by Partners Cooperative (Partners) and CME Corp (CME), CME announced.

It focuses on two key areas of CME’s expertise – sourcing, delivering and installing healthcare equipment in the fastest and least disruptive manner possible as well as longer-term servicing and calibrating of the equipment to ensure optimal functionality.

“The services included in this agreement are right in our wheelhouse, and we will be able to offer better pricing through this special arrangement. Our logistics and biomedical services are unmatched in the industry, and both have been an important part of our robust growth over the past two years,” said Don Boone, Director, National Contracts for CME. “Now with a beachhead set in the Southeast, the CME footprint has been solidified on a national scale.”

With about 100 healthcare facilities belonging to its cooperative, the Atlanta, Ga.-based nonprofit Partners is one of the oldest, longest-standing groups within Vizient Inc., the nation’s leading healthcare performance improvement company serving more than half of the health care organizations in the U.S.

“This partnership with CME is extremely valuable for our members as they expand their facilities, reach new markets and stay ahead of equipment trends in a rapidly changing industry,” said Billy Nix, Director, Contract Management for Partners. “I know many of them are excited to get started with CME.”

The turn-key approach perfected by CME – covering the initial equipment purchase, tracking of the items, receiving, warehousing, staging, assembly and delivery direct to the room – has been proven to save time for facilities that are under construction and need equipment. Studies show a delay in opening can cost hospitals up to $450,000 per day and healthcare clinics up to $120,000 per day.

In addition to speed, CME offers an advanced level of control and collaboration through its proprietary CME 360 software while securing compliance and performance that follows the terms and conditions of each project.