Health Industry Today articles from July 1998

Health Industry Today archives from July 1998

Columbia's vendor switch shakes up distributor community.
July 1, 1998... Columbia/HCA's big changes in late May caught nearly everyone in the industry off guard, but in hindsight weren't a real surprise because the huge hospital chain has been known to make similar headline-grabbing moves. Columbia/HCA, which is...

Prospects bright in market for device-based prostate treatments.
July 1, 1998... As millions of baby boomer men enter their 50s, the market for non-surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is poised for explosive growth. BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland that causes discomfort and urination...

Mergers may signal less independence for specialty distributors.
July 1, 1998... In a move that provoked controversy among colleagues and competitors alike, four specialty medical products distributors announced plans to merge, forming what they call a national multispecialty sales and marketing organization. The new company,...

Siemens' new angiography unit sees steady sales in static market.
July 1, 1998... Siemens Medical Systems Inc. believes the only foreseeable obstacle to selling its new vascular diagnostic imaging and interventional lab is the recent decline in dollars spent on high-end health care capital equipment. In a relatively static...

Media blitz focuses spotlight on Hologic's new osteoporosis testing product.
July 1, 1998... Blazing trails in the bone densitometer market, Hologic Inc. introduced in mid-March what it says is the ultrasound device to detect osteoporosis cleared by the FDA. The company describes a wide media blitz accompanying the launch as a major...

Despite probe, downsizing, Columbia/HCA purchasing appears stable.
July 1, 1998... It's been about a year since Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., the nation's largest for-profit hospital company, was shaken to its core by a massive federal investigation into Medicare billing fraud. Now, suppliers and vendors are beginning to feel...

Websites coming of age among medical device marketers.
July 1, 1998... In a relatively quick span of just a few years, the Internet has become an integral marketing tool for the medical device industry, taking a place alongside standbys such as brochures, trade shows, direct mail and newsletters. Because of its...

Cure for compliance ills requires management, marketing savvy.
July 1, 1998... Purchasing groups increasingly regulate the flow of medical products to end-users. The health care industry's current challenge is ensuring that these groups actually improve throughput in today's supply chain. Properly designed and administered...

Regrouping for long haul, COHR/Purchase Connection in stability phase.
July 1, 1998... For a company eager to hear some good news, some good news came in early June. After months of grinding uncertainty, COHR Inc., the Chatsworth, Calif.-based company and its large group purchasing organization Purchase Connection likely won't be...

Prospects bright in market for device-based prostate treatments
July 1, 1998... By Ellen Beck As millions of baby boomer men enter their 50s, the market for non-surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is poised for explosive growth. BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland that causes discomfort and...

Columbia's vendor switch shakes up distributor community
July 1, 1998... By Curt Werner Columbia/HCA's big changes in late May caught nearly everyone in the industry off guard, but in hindsight weren't a real surprise because the huge hospital chain has been known to make similar headline-grabbing moves....

industry news: Mergers may signal less independence for specialty distributors
July 1, 1998... In a move that provoked controversy among colleagues and competitors alike, four specialty medical products distributors announced plans to merge, forming what they call a national multispecialty sales and marketing organization. The new company,...

product strategies: Siemens' new angiography unit sees steady sales in static market
July 1, 1998... Siemens Medical Systems Inc. believes the only foreseeable obstacle to selling its new vascular diagnostic imaging and interventional lab is the recent decline in dollars spent on high-end health care capital equipment. In a relatively static...

Datascope takes early low-key approach in marketing new balloon pump
July 1, 1998... Datascope Corp. is convinced that its new balloon catheter product, the Profile 8 Fr. (Fr., for French, refers to 0.105 inches), will strengthen the company's competitive edge in the balloon pump market. Montvale, N.J.-based Datascope, which says...

Media blitz focuses spotlight on Hologic's new osteoporosis testing product
July 1, 1998... Blazing trails in the bone densitometer market, Hologic Inc. introduced in mid-March what it says is the ultrasound device to detect osteoporosis cleared by the FDA. The company describes a wide media blitz accompanying the launch as a major...

contract notes
July 1, 1998... Tri-anim Health Services Inc., Sylmar, Calif., signed a five-year agreement with the Orlando Regional Healthcare System that makes Tri-anim the system's sole-source supplier for respiratory, anesthesia and critical care specialty products. The...

Tenet may be next to sign McKesson G.M. deal
July 1, 1998... Going forward, the Columbia/HCA deal could bring McKesson G.M even more business in the not-too-distant future. Several long-term deals are being dangled, and more groups and chains may be more willing than ever to follow the recent trend and...

vendors on columbia/hca
July 1, 1998... Despite probe, downsizing, Columbia/HCA purchasing appears stable It's been about a year since Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., the nation's largest for-profit hospital company, was shaken to its core by a massive federal investigation into...

Websites coming of age among medical device marketers internet marketing
July 1, 1998... By Ellen Beck In a relatively quick span of just a few years, the Internet has become an integral marketing tool for the medical device industry, taking a place alongside standbys such as brochures, trade shows, direct mail and newsletters....

Mergers underscore rising stakes in device markets
July 1, 1998... By Curt Werner A pair of stunning mergers in the medical device industry this spring revealed how far today's companies will go to acquire what is perceived as a key property, as well as the price a company and its shareholders may pay for...

Worth reading: Here are some current articles of interest to readers of Health Industry Today:
July 1, 1998... * Health Care Strategic Management: Integrated delivery networks have become owners of primary care networks, courtesy of market issues and the need (or desire) to integrate physician practices into a care continuum. Unfortunately, many...

Cure for compliance ills requires management, marketing savvy
July 1, 1998... By Synthia Laura Molina Purchasing groups increasingly regulate the flow of medical products to end-users. The health care industry's current challenge is ensuring that these groups actually improve throughput in today's supply chain. Properly...

Synthia Laura Molina, MBA, is president and CEO of Mission:
July 1, 1998... Accomplished!, a fast-growth research, education and consulting firm affiliated with The Lawson Marketing Group, Newport Beach, Calif. A widely recognized speaker, author and educator on strategic leadership, service differentiation and...

purchase connection settles in
July 1, 1998... Regrouping for long haul, COHR/Purchase Connection in stability phaseFor a company eager to hear some good news, some good news came in early June. After months of grinding uncertainty, COHR Inc., the Chatsworth, Calif.-based company and its...

Analysis:
July 1, 1998... Powered by a 585% jump in the "minor tranquilizers" portion of the prescription drugs index, the unadjusted finished goods component of the Producer Price Index rose 0.2% in May to 130.4. This index, which measures pricing at the manufacturer...

Purchasing Managers' Index (over 50% indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding)
July 1, 1998... May '98: 51.4% April '98: 52.9% May '97: 57.1% Production Index (over 50%, over time, is generally consistent with growth) May '98: 54.1% April '98: 53.4% May '97: 57.0% ...

Producer Price Index increases 0.2% in May Medical Care Commodities Index rises 0.6%
July 1, 1998... May '98 % change % change Category unadjusted from from previous previous index...

manufacturer mergers
July 1, 1998... Health Industry Today provides Job Mart listings free of charge to HIT subscribers, provided those subscribers assume full responsibility for handling their own letters of inquiry. Please send notices of executive, manufacturer, representative...

Position wanted:
July 1, 1998... Seeking position as corporate accounts director for health care manufacturer; consultant for health care consulting firm; or marketing/sales/contracting director for provider. Advanced degree. Fifteen years sales and marketing experience with...

Johnson & Johnson:
July 1, 1998... Ronald G. Gelbman was named worldwide chairman of the Health Systems and Diagnostics Group for this New Brunswick, N.J.-based medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturer. Gelbman, an executive committee member who has been with J&J since 1972,...

Allegiance Healthcare Corp.:
July 1, 1998... Janet Conneely was promoted to corporate vice president for the Custom Products and Procedure Based Delivery Systems(tm) service of this McGaw Park, Ill.-based provider of health care products and services. Conneely, who joined the company in...

Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc.:
July 1, 1998... T. Michael McLean was named vice president of the ultrasound business unit for this Tustin, Calif.-based diagnostic imaging system manufacturer. McLean joins TAMS from Johnson & Johnson Clinical Diagnostics, Rochester, N.Y., where he served as...

St. Jude Medical Inc.:
July 1, 1998... John C. Heinmiller was named vice president of corporate business development for this St. Paul, Minn.-based manufacturer of devices for the cardiovascular market. He succeeds David W. Elliot Jr., who was promoted to vice president of U.S....

Agfa Division, Bayer Corp.:
July 1, 1998... John J. DeSantis was named to the new position of MIL-PACS program director for this Ridgefield Park, N.J.-based imaging products manufacturer. In this position, DeSantis will be responsible for organizing and directing business operations in the...