MASSDEVICE ON CALL — A growing number of hospitals in the U.S. are working with manufacturers to train staff to take over tasks usually done by a company sales rep.
The effort is a dramatic shift in the long-standing relationship between healthcare providers and manufacturers, but hospitals hope it will lower their costs and diminish industry influence in healthcare.
California-based Loma Linda University Medical Center has worked out a 50% discount on the cost of joint replacement implants, the hospital told ModernHealthcare.com.
So-called "rep-less" sales models are taking hold at a number of major orthopedics companies, including Smith & Nephew (FTSE:SN, NYSE:SNN) and Wright Medical (NSDQ:WMGI), according to the report.
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