A new Owens & Minor distribution center with advanced robotics and order fulfillment abilities will be supporting 25 acute care hospitals in the West Virginia University Medicine network.
In a June 2 announcement, Owens & Minor (NYSE: OMI) noted that the technology within the new 350,000 square-foot facility will blend with human expertise “to help drive greater efficiency and flexibility for WVU Medicine. Located just minutes from WVU Medicine’s flagship campus in Morgantown, its capabilities include custom surgical kitting, order fulfillment, and product distribution.”
Owens & Minor is “currently ramping up employment” to reach its goal of 100 new team members by the end of this year.
The company added that the strategy behind the new distribution center was based on the needs of its community and patients.
“Owens & Minor designed the state-of-the-art facility, operations infrastructure, and supply distribution network to meet the unique challenges of WVU Medicine, including delivering health care in communities that are widely dispersed across West Virginia’s mountainous terrain,” the company said.
“The Morgantown distribution center is more than just a logistical hub; it’s a testament to Owens & Minor’s commitment to innovating to meet the needs of partners like WVU Medicine,” said Edward A. Pesicka, the company’s president/CEO. “We appreciate the unique opportunities and challenges that come with building a health-care supply chain that can efficiently serve a health-care system with as much geographic diversity as WVU Medicine. We look forward to continuing our 10-year partnership and working alongside them to support health-care delivery in the region.”
Owens & Minor, which owns the Apria and Byram Healthcare brands, made news last week when it called off its plan to acquire Rotech Healthcare Holdings due to regulatory issues.
