Welch Allyn and Novation announced a new three-year contract for disposable blood pressure cuffs which provide exceptional value for hospitals and are designed to aid in efforts to reduce cross contamination risks.

The new agreement features several benefits to the hospitals that Novation serves which include the more than 100,000 members and affiliates of VHA, UHC, Children’s Hospital Association and Provista.

By using NOVAPLUS, and participating in Novation’s IMPACT Standardization Programs and Pre-Commitment opportunities, hospitals have the ability to realize potentially double-digit savings over the previous blood pressure cuffs contract.

"We are excited to work with Welch Allyn to provide the members we serve with an excellent combination of quality products and value to help support patient care needs," said Brent Gee, senior director, Novation.

"Through our aggressive supply cost management, both organizations can deliver even greater value to health care organizations which are constantly challenged to drive down costs and increase quality in this new era of healthcare."

Through the agreement, effective Oct 1, 2014, Welch Allyn FlexiPort blood pressure cuffs will be added to the NOVAPLUS product portfolio and IMPACT Standardization Programs. FlexiPort cuffs provide unique standardization options for hospitals to streamline workflow, improve inventory management, and help reduce the risk of cross contamination.

The FlexiPort system enables virtually any blood pressure device to work with FlexiPort cuffs without the hassle of traditional cuff tubes and connectors.

"As the only supplier awarded a blood pressure cuff contract under the NOVAPLUS private label program, Welch Allyn views this as a way for every hospital that Novation serves to realize added value," said Sean Karla, senior global category manager at Welch Allyn.