ATLANTA – McKesson and Health Management Associates, Inc. have agreed on a new, innovative technology purchasing program that gives Health Management member hospitals long-term access to McKesson’s most advanced pharmacy automation solutions within a simplified, fixed pricing structure. The three-year, sole-source agreement provides Health Management’s hospitals access to McKesson’s complete suite of pharmacy automation solutions, enabling them to standardize systems and procedures across hospital sites.
“The demands on our hospitals continue to shift,” said Larry A. Smith, R.Ph., vice president of pharmacy services, Health Management Associates. “When we considered automation technology providers, we placed special emphasis on partnering with a company that could provide solutions to meet those changing demands. Our partners at McKesson proved that they are nimble and can meet our technology needs today and into the future.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Health Management’s 66 hospitals in 15 states can upgrade to the latest version of McKesson’s AcuDose-Rx® medication dispensing system, which is designed to dramatically improve nursing workflow and optimize medication inventory automatically. The addition of narcotics tracking software and a secure storage system automates controlled substance management and creates a closed-loop system with the cabinets.
Hospitals also will benefit by consolidating servers and standardizing formularies and databases across McKesson’s Connect-Rx® platform. The associated analytics solution gives Health Management’s hospitals dashboard-level management that enables them to make any necessary adjustments to ensure peak enterprise-wide performance.
Cost reduction in operations through best-of-class automation, analytics and other solutions is just one part of McKesson’s recently-announced Better Health 2020 strategy. McKesson offers an entire suite of technology and services that seamlessly connects hospitals internally and externally. Its solutions address key success factors, such as improving clinical and financial outcomes, better coordinating care through connectivity, and managing increased complexity and risk through payment reform.

McKesson and Health Management Associates Sign Exclusive Three-Year Technology Agreement p2
“McKesson is pleased to have been selected by Health Management as its single source provider,” said Kraig McEwen, president of McKesson Automation. “Our integrated suite of solutions is uniquely positioned to help Health Management and other integrated delivery networks consolidate costs and improve performance, enabling better business health across the enterprise.”
About Health Management Associates, Inc.
Health Management enables America's best local health care by providing the people, processes, capital and expertise necessary for its hospital and physician partners to fulfill their local missions of delivering superior health care services. Health Management, through its subsidiaries and upon completion of the previously announced Integris joint venture transaction, will operate 71 hospitals, with approximately 10,700 licensed beds, in non-urban communities located throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.hma.com.
About McKesson
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 15th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. We partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational, and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com.
