MUNDELEIN, Ill. — Medline Industries Inc. has formed an integrated electronic purchasing partnership with Brightree, a provider of cloud-based clinical, business management and billing software solutions for the post-acute care industry.

Medline said Thursday that the arrangement will bring added efficiencies to durable medical equipment (DME) dealers by providing them with up-to-date information on item availability and expediting ordering and shipment.

“Now more than ever, dealers need to find ways to remain competitive and efficient,” Dave Jacobs, president of the post-acute sales division at Medline, said in a statement. “This new collaboration is an innovative way to simplify the ordering process so dealers can get back to what matters most, taking care of patients.”

When a dealer creates a purchase order in the Brightree platform, a transmission is sent to Brightree via a secure FTP connection to Medline. The new electronic link between the two systems allows providers to view item availability and pricing in real time. They also can make one-touch drop shipments, receive automatic confirmations and submit purchase orders directly to Medline.

“E-purchasing’s greatest strength is patient care. Because there’s less room for error when streamlining orders, patients can get their much needed products quicker, resulting in customers getting better and faster care,” stated Erik Mickelson, team lead/assistive technology professional at Howard’s Medical LLC in Yakima, Wash.

Any dealer currently using Brightree can utilize the integrated e-purchasing feature at no extra cost, according to Medline.

“There is only so much savings that can be recognized from volume discounts, stringent formularies and optimized delivery routing,” commented John Olivas, president of Homecare Dimensions in San Antonio. “Technology is essential in moving to the next level of savings without compromising the quality of the care provided.”

Given the high demand for home medical equipment that supports the daily physical activities of many people, it’s critical to ensure that these products are readily available, noted Dave Cormack, president and chief executive officer of Brightree.

“To help relieve the financial pressures of reduced reimbursements, providers are constantly exploring opportunities to reduce expenses and streamline business operations,” Cormack stated. “This real-time integration with Medline enables Brightree customers to seamlessly order and drop-ship products from within a single interface saving valuable time, reducing operating costs and improving patient care with faster delivery of products.”