PHX Reporter

PHOENIX (Aug. 8, 2024) – Banner Health has been nationally recognized for supporting supply chain diversity as part of its social responsibility initiatives. Premier, Inc., a leading healthcare improvement and technology company that unites an alliance of more than 4,350 U.S. hospitals and health systems and approximately 300,000 other providers and organizations, presented the 2024 Supplier Diversity Award for Members to Banner Health.

The Supplier Diversity Award for Members honors health systems that have established, as a part of their social responsibility initiatives, active programs to evaluate and support minority-, women-, LGBTQ- and veteran-owned enterprises, as well as small businesses available through the Premier contract portfolio. Members are evaluated on engagement in diversity initiatives through community involvement, diversity business outreach initiatives, benchmarking and best practices sharing.

“In order to serve our communities best, we need to ensure we partner with the most talented, innovative, experienced and cost-competitive suppliers,” said Doug Bowen, Banner Health chief supply chain officer. “That philosophy helps build an inclusive economy that works for everyone and shows our commitment to the health and economic development of the communities we serve.”

The recognition is the latest in acknowledgments Banner Health has received for its development of a supplier diversity program established just in 2022. In late 2023, Banner was selected for two awards by the Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council for Banner’s commitment and contributions to supplier diversity and inclusion.

“A diverse supply chain enables our members and diverse suppliers with equitable, innovative solutions that improve health outcomes,” said Deborah Williams, senior director of supplier diversity and environmentally preferred products at Premier. “Banner Health is at the forefront of leading diversity programs that benefit the communities, businesses and people they serve, and we are delighted to recognize them.”

The Supplier Diversity Award for Members was formally presented to Banner Health on July 24 at Premier’s annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition.

About Banner Health

Banner Health is one of the largest secular nonprofit healthcare systems in the country. In addition to 33 hospitals, Banner also operates an academic medicine division—Banner – University Medicine—and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center—a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division; employed physician groups; outpatient surgery centers; urgent care locations; home care and hospice services; retail pharmacies; stand-alone imaging centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation; behavioral health services; a research division; and a nursing registry. To make healthcare easier: 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits; patients may reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations; appointments can be booked online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. For more information visit bannerhealth.com.

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