Washington PPE Purchasing Co-Op

About the Purchasing Co-Op

With the heightened need for PPE due to the novel coronavirus, and the cost and shortage of reliable PPE, a group of stakeholders have joined together to find a solution—a way to leverage group buying power so that organizations of all size could get the PPE they needed to keep offices and clinics open, and patients and staff safe.

Organizations on the PPE Purchasing Co-op Steering Committee

  • LeadingAge WA
  • Northwest Healthcare Response Network (NWHRN)
  • Restart – Covid-19 Response for Public Good
  • Washington State Dental Association (WSDA)
  • Washington Healthcare Forum
  • Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA)
  • Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
  • Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES)
  • Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) and SEIU
  • Washington Health Care Association
  • Washington Association for Community Health

The Washington Healthcare Forum and OneHealthPort are helping support the committee.

Since the Steering Committee met for the first time in August 2020, interested members of the group have successfully initiated multiple group purchase of PPE. 

Latest Group Order

Our latest group purchase was open for a limited time, from March 29 to April 14. It included Medium Nitrile Gloves, Large Nitrile Gloves, and BYD Level III 3 Ply Surgical Masks, along with a range of other PPE including N95 respirators, gown and disinfecting wipes – all at discounted prices. 

Participating associations included: The Washington State Dental Association (WSDA), Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), LeadingAge WA, Washington Council for Behavioral Health and Washington Health Care Association. Other associations were invited to participate as well.

Our Vendor

The Co-Op is now working with bttn (pronounced “button”) on our group orders. bttn is a wholesale medical supplier and distributor, which aims to provide a long-term solution beyond the COVID-19 crisis for improving access to medical supply products at the manufacturing price for organizations of all sizes. They offer full-service logistics, established relationships with manufacturers, a partnership with UPS, and access to nationwide warehousing.

Group Purchases to Date

Previous group purchases -- including N95 respirators, 3 Ply surgical masks, and Level 3 surgical gowns -- were made with PPE.Exchange by a number of associations including The Washington State Dental Association (WSDA), Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), LeadingAge WA, Washington Health Care Association, Washington Association for Community Health, Optometric Physicians of Washington, and other healthcare organizations. 

Interested?

Association Leaders— The Washington PPE Purchasing Co-Op may be making future group purchases if there is sufficient interest. If your healthcare association is interested in participating in future group purchases, please complete this form. Each association must designate one point person to coordinate communications to members and address any member questions or concerns. Current participating associations are listed above, but all are invited.