Acuson wins sole-source contract with Tenet

Ultrasound vendor Acuson has been awarded an exclusive contract to supply radiology and ultrasound systems to Tenet Healthcare. The agreement with BuyPower, the national group-purchasing organization for Tenet, designates Mountain View, CA-based Acuson as the sole provider of radiology and vascular ultrasound equipment to Tenet’s 113 acute-care hospitals through May of this year and permits all BuyPower members to purchase ultrasound equipment from Acuson under the same terms. BuyPower currently acts as the purchasing agent for 510 acute-care hospitals, 531 nonacute-care hospitals, and 45,000 physicians nationwide.

The deal continues the business-boosting momentum the company began with the new year: In January, Acuson completed its purchase of Ecton, a developer of a miniaturized echocardiography technology, which it purchased for approximately $17 million in shares and $4 million in cash (SCAN 1/12/00). Acuson reported 1999 revenues and net income (end-December) of $476 million and $20.6 million, respectively, compared with 1998’s $455 million and $20.8 million.