APN forms GPO partnership with ASDS

Mar 17 2012

Aesyntix Physician Network (APN), a group purchasing organization (GPO) for dermatology and cosmetic surgery practices, and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) today announced they have formed a partnership to provide ASDS members with significant savings opportunities on commonly purchased medical/surgical supplies and other products and services, including Revenue Cycle Management solutions.

By joining APN, ASDS members can immediately access preferred pricing on thousands of products and services, including many items specific to dermatologic surgeons. For example, APN contracts for Ethicon sutures and Lumenis medical lasers can save practices thousands of dollars annually. In dermatology, sutures represent the largest single continual spend on medical/surgical supplies, with Ethicon serving as the "gold standard," while Lumenis' medical lasers are the most popular in the industry.

"The ASDS encompasses the best of the best in dermatology. Partnering with this high-profile organization enables us to extend our leading GPO contracts and continue our rapid growth," said Thom Schildmeyer, President of Aesyntix Health. "With the ASDS, we strengthen the 'power of the network' to attract more manufacturers and create even greater savings for the entire APN membership."

"We are constantly seeking ways to move ASDS forward by adding greater value for our membership, and this partnership helps us achieve that goal," said Dr. Susan H. Weinkle, MD, current President of ASDS. "APN offers exclusive contracts on products that are critical to dermatologic surgeons, with an unprecedented level of price transparency. The ability to access best available pricing and improve profitability is vital to our industry, particularly in today's cost-sensitive business environment."

Dr. Weinkle is a current APN member who is benefiting from savings on her Ethicon suture purchases through APN's contract. "Partnering with a dermatology-specific GPO is extremely beneficial. By understanding my practice and purchasing requirements, APN delivers significant cost savings on the same high-quality sutures I've been purchasing for years, as well as many other products and services," she said. "As a result, I can focus on what matters most—caring for my patients."

"This is a very important partnership for us, and we are pleased the ASDS has chosen APN," said Clark Avery, CEO of Aesyntix Health. "Our relationship with the ASDS and its members accelerates our efforts to streamline the medical supply chain through services and technology focused on increasing efficiency and reducing costs so our members can focus on patient care."