In an effort to help healthcare facilities improve operational efficiencies and meet strict compliance regulations, MSDSonline has announced it has signed an agreement with Irving, Texas-based Novation, the supply company of VHA Inc. and University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). Through the agreement, MSDSonline will make available its electronic-based Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) services and solutions to VHA and UHC members at discounted prices. Novation is a leading supply chain management company in healthcare, managing more than $17 billion in annual purchases for more than 2,300 VHA and UHC members.
The agreement, effective October 15, includes MSDSonline's core Internet service MSDSadvantage, as well as its BinderView and Compliance Services offerings. Each of the three services is aimed at creating process efficiencies, while lowering the cost of complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard, and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requirements for patient safety.
According to Bill Woodward, Novation Product Manager, "the services offered by MSDSonline will enable VHA and UHC members to lower the cost of managing their compliance programs while promoting a safer working environment for both healthcare providers and their patients alike."
"We're making the process of accessing and managing these compliance-critical documents as simple as possible," said Greg Buchholz, president of MSDSonline. "By leveraging the efficiencies of today's Internet technologies, we can offer our MSDSadvantage service at an affordable price. Now any healthcare related company, regardless of its size or technological capabilities, can have an easy and efficient MSDS compliance system at its fingertips," said Buchholz.
MSDSadvantage is an entry-level subscription-based service that provides Internet access to comprehensive MSDS content from a Network of leading chemical, pharmaceutical and lab-equipment suppliers. Through the browser-based MSDSadvantage software, members can search the MSDSonline Network and download MSDSs to their Desktop PC. Tools are available to manage, organize and print MSDSs. The MSDSadvantage service also provides a request tool for users to obtain MSDS documents currently not available on the MSDSonline Network.
BinderView is an easy-to-use Internet/Intranet search page that delivers view-only access to a member's electronic library of MSDSs. BinderView bolts on seamlessly to the MSDSadvantage software, enabling an administrator to build an electronic library of MSDSs and then provide immediate, facility-wide access to that library via the Internet or facility Intranet.
For members that manage paper-based MSDS libraries, MSDSonline offers a host of services aimed at converting documents into electronic format and building custom electronic-based MSDS management and deployment solutions.
