DALLAS — Parkland Health & Hospital System received the 2013 UHC Supplier Diversity Leadership Award for the development and implementation of an outstanding supplier diversity program, presented at the organization’s Annual Conference 2013 awards ceremony last night in Atlanta, GA. UHC, University HealthSystem Consortium, is an alliance of the nation’s leading nonprofit academic medical centers, which are focused on delivering world-class patient care.
“Supplier diversity is an important element in the success of any organization. We are proud of Parkland’s commitment to diversity and the economic growth of their community,” said Jake Groenewold, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, UHC.
The Supplier Diversity Leadership Award is based on several criteria:
• Structure and strength of the organization’s supplier diversity program
• New programs or techniques that facilitated the growth of diverse businesses in 2012
• Utilization of diversity contracts
• Community involvement and outreach to minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses
• Senior leaders’ involvement in supplier diversity development
“Supplier diversity is a priority at Parkland Health & Hospital System,” said Indria Hollingsworth, Parkland’s Director of Supplier Diversity and Ethical Sourcing. “Parkland’s Board of Managers made inclusion of diverse suppliers a strategic priority for the organization. The Board’s vision, coupled with the guidance of the executive leadership team, created a climate of meaningful inclusion. Collaboration between qualified diverse suppliers and Parkland’s supply chain has been the linchpin for success. Inclusion makes good business sense and positively impacts Parkland’s bottom line as we strive daily to provide quality healthcare to those who depend on us.”
The UHC Supply Chain Performance Excellence Collaborative began in 2007 to help UHC Supply Chain participants better understand and define supply chain performance and to provide them with actionable information for making measurable, sustainable improvements.
