Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI) Announces New Members

Scituate, MA (February 5, 2007):  The Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI), a not-for-profit corporation focused on improving the healthcare supply chain through collaborative teams comprised of leading IDNs, product manufacturers, distributors, and service providers, proudly announces their newest members:

  • Greenville Hospital System, represented by John Mateka
  • Legacy Health System, represented by Patricia Gianelli
  • Novant Health, represented by Tony Johnson
  • WellSpan Health, represented by James Smoker
  • Careline, Inc., represented by David Love
  • Medline Industries, represented by Tim Jacobson and Tom Egan
  • RoundTable Healthcare Partners, represented by John McConachie
  • Sage Products, represented by Bill Howes

According to John T. Mateka, MBA, FAHRMM, Executive Director Material Services, Greenville Health System, SC, "We are very proud to be a part of an association dedicated to the overall improvement of our Healthcare Supply Chain. The assembly of SMI committed professionals and companies are very impressive of which we are privileged to be an active member."

Bill Howe, Vice President of Sales, indicates that "Sage Products is very excited and honored to join an organization that is committed to improving the healthcare industry through action."

"SMI is an action research organization which is not only studying the opportunities to improve key processes and functions in the healthcare supply chain (HSC), it is actually working on key initiatives to redesign and reengineer HSC processes which will result in significant HSC improvements. For this reason, WellSpan Health is pleased to have been invited to participate in the work of SMI," adds James Smoker, Director of Materiel Resource Services.

About SMI:
The Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI) is a not-for-profit corporation comprised of senior-level executives representing diverse disciplines from the healthcare supply chain. Membership includes executives from the country’s largest integrated delivery networks (IDNs) as well as healthcare manufacturers, distributors, IT companies and service providers. SMI members have joined together to drive operational efficiencies, and implement process improvement across the healthcare supply chain. 

SMI was formed to provide a venue where collaborative teams work together to address industry issues and implement best practices, shaping the future of the healthcare supply chain value stream. SMI acts as a change agent for healthcare, and introduces non-healthcare related best practices and technologies to the healthcare supply chain. SMI provides critical mass representing key industry stakeholders and decision makers within the healthcare supply chain. Through collaboration, tools and techniques are developed and shared that members are able to take back to their organizations and customize to meet their unique needs. SMI is dedicated to improving the supply chain and to that end, all findings, improvements, processes, and established best practices are shared with the entire healthcare marketplace. 

SMI Staff: Thomas Hughes is Executive Director of SMI. Tom is responsible for the overall operations of the organization, moderation of bi-annual Forums, and oversight of industry initiatives. Teri Gallagher serves as Administrative Director for SMI. She is responsible for the ongoing operations of the organization including functions relating to membership, financials, coordination of Forums, ongoing communications and office administration. Dennis Orthman is Initiative Project Manager for SMI, responsible for the ongoing support and coordination of SMI member-led initiatives, including research, analysis, and coordination of team activities. 

Visit SMI’s web site at smisupplychain.com for more information.