Vizient, "Vizient Announces Agreement with SafeSource Direct for American-Made Exam Gloves" (Nov. 29, 2022)

Summary

News release of November 29, 2022 from Vizient, Inc., issued from Irving, Texas and Broussard, Louisiana, announcing an agreement with SafeSource Direct, LLC, a manufacturer of American-made personal protective equipment, for chemo-rated nitrile gloves to increase supply assurance of critical medical supplies. SafeSource Direct, a joint venture between Ochsner Health and Trax Development launched in 2021 amid pandemic shortages, is adding 850 jobs in Broussard and plans over 2,200 American jobs, can produce more than 108,000 gloves per hour, and aims for a dozen lines by January 2024 capable of over 2 billion gloves a year. Executives are quoted on insulating members from price increases, stockouts and international disruptions. Vizient describes itself as serving more than 60% of acute care providers with over $130 billion in annual purchasing volume.

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News release

Vizient Announces Agreement with SafeSource Direct for American-Made Exam Gloves

Supply chain and cost management

Irving, Texas, Broussard, La., November 29, 2022 – Vizient, Inc. today announced an agreement with SafeSource Direct,
 LLC , the manufacturer of high-quality, American-made personal protective equipment (PPE), for chemo-rated
 nitrile gloves. The
 agreement is the latest move by Vizient to increase supply assurance of critical medical supplies.

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, Louisiana and planning to create over 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 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," said Simrit Sandhu, executive vice president for
 Vizient. "As a result of its unique partnership with Ochsner Health, a clinical quality leader, SafeSource Direct is
 able to produce high quality nitrile gloves."

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 over 2
 billion gloves annually with additional manufacturing capacity available on-site.

"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," said Justin Hollingsworth, CEO of SafeSource Direct. "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,
 high-quality supply of PPE."

"We are proud to play a leading role in ensuring a high-quality and reliable PPE supply made in America," said Regine
 Villain, system vice president of supply chain network & 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."

About Vizient Vizient, Inc ., the nation's largest health care performance improvement
 company, serves more than 60% of the nation's acute care providers, which includes 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 high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market
 performance. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com .

About SafeSource Direct SafeSource Direct LLC is an American manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) dedicated to keeping our
 nation's healthcare and other essential workers safe on the job. At SafeSource Direct, success minded team-members
 use innovation and automation to provide high-quality American-made PPE at prices competitive with those of foreign
 suppliers. Headquartered in Lafayette Parish, La., SafeSource Direct operates a state-of-the-art 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. To learn more about how SafeSource
 Direct is laying the groundwork for sustainability in the healthcare industry, visit SafeSourceDirect.com .

About Ochsner Health Ochsner Health is an integrated
 healthcare system with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Celebrating 80 years in 2022, it
 leads nationally in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, liver and heart transplants and pediatrics, among other
 areas. Ochsner is consistently named both the top hospital and top children's hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News
 & World Report. The not-for-profit organization is inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities. Its focus
 is on preventing diseases and providing patient-centered care that is accessible, affordable, convenient and
 effective. Ochsner Health pioneers new treatments, deploys emerging technologies and performs groundbreaking
 research, including over 700 clinical studies. 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; and its cutting-edge
 Connected Health digital medicine program is caring for patients beyond its walls. In 2021, Ochsner Health treated
 more than 1 million people from every state and 75 countries. As Louisiana's top healthcare educator, Ochsner Health
 and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. To learn more, visit www.ochsner.org .

+ Media Contacts

Media Contacts

Nancy Matocha 972.830.9756 nancy.matocha@vizientinc.com

Anita Smith 972.830.2940 anita.smith@vizientinc.com

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