SLCH Becomes CHA Network to Provide Savings to Physicians

St. Louis Children’s Hospital is aiming to help physicians save money on vaccines, pharmaceuticals, medical-surgical and office supplies, and business services by becoming a Child Health Advantage (CHA) Network. CHA Networks are sponsored by Child Health Corporation of America, an alliance of 43 children’s hospitals in North America with the mission of helping members become more effective, efficient and safe in the delivery of pediatric care.

“In light of today’s economy, we were looking for a way to help physicians manage their purchasing in a cost-effective way that was simple to use,” says Paula Murphy, manager of physician and pediatric off-site services. “As a CHA Network, we can offer any community physician access to the advantages that come from a purchasing program featuring competitive contract pricing and robust distribution.”

She adds, “Since pricing is based on CHA Network contracts with suppliers, physicians can continue ordering from the same sales reps as they have in the past while receiving the CHA discounts and pricing options.”

In addition to supplies and medications, the CHA Network offers attractive pricing on such items as office furniture, insurance, delivery services, electronic medical records programs, and telephone plans. “Basically, the more physicians use the CHA Network, the more they save. And for some items like vaccines, they may receive quarterly rebates based on the number of doses purchased,” says Murphy.

Physicians interested in joining St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s CHA Network may go to ChildHealthAdvantage.com and click on “sign up now.” “There is no obligation to use the network once physicians sign up; they can use its services as much or as little as they like, or not at all. It is totally risk-free,” says Murphy.

For additional information about the CHA Network, call Children’s Direct at 800.678.HELP (4357).