Medline Awards Spotlight the Unsung Heroes of Healthcare Logistics

NORTHFIELD, IL – March 09, 2026 – As the healthcare industry continues to navigate complex demands, medical supply giant Medline has turned the spotlight on the critical backbone of its operations: its distribution network. The company recently announced the winners of its 2025 Distribution Center of the Year and Safety, Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) Awards, recognizing the top-performing facilities that form the logistical core of America's healthcare system.

The annual awards, a tradition spanning over two decades, honor the teams whose precision, dedication, and commitment to safety ensure that hospitals, clinics, and care facilities receive essential supplies without delay. This year's announcement underscores the immense human effort behind Medline's claim of providing next-day delivery to 95% of its U.S. customers.

"Medline's ability to provide next-day delivery to 95% of our U.S. customers is attributable to the dedication of our team members, who consistently strive to improve healthcare operations," said Sean Halligan, executive vice president of supply chain at Medline. "These awards recognize our teams for their commitment to safety, diligent work, and ongoing efforts to meet the needs of healthcare providers across the nation."

The Metrics of Excellence

Winning a Medline award is no small feat. Facilities are not judged on speed alone, but on a comprehensive scorecard that reflects a holistic approach to supply chain management. The Distribution Center of the Year award is determined by objective criteria across five key pillars: safety, service, quality, cost, and people. This multifaceted evaluation ensures that winning centers excel not only in efficiency but also in maintaining high-quality standards, managing costs effectively, and fostering a positive and productive workforce.

The SAFE Award, meanwhile, places a laser focus on employee well-being. While it considers a variety of metrics, the number of recordable safety incidents is the most influential factor. This emphasis aligns with a growing industry understanding that a safe work environment is not just a regulatory requirement but a cornerstone of operational excellence and employee morale.

The 2025 award recipients represent a cross-section of Medline's 45-center U.S. network, with winners categorized into four tiers based on sales volume:

2025 Distribution Center of the Year Award Recipients:
* Tier 1: Rialto, California
* Tier 2: Southaven, Mississippi
* Tier 3: Richmond, Virginia
* Tier 4: Medley, Florida

2025 SAFE Award Recipients:
* Tier 1: Katy, Texas
* Tier 2: Mebane, North Carolina
* Tier 3: Richmond, Virginia
* Tier 4: Lincolnton, North Carolina

A Rare Double Distinction in Richmond

Among this year's honorees, Medline's distribution center in Richmond, Virginia, achieved a rare and coveted "double distinction," securing both the Distribution Center of the Year and the SAFE Award for its tier. This dual victory is a powerful testament to the facility's ability to seamlessly integrate top-tier operational performance with an unwavering commitment to workplace safety.

Leadership at the Richmond facility attributes this success not to a single program or initiative, but to a deeply embedded cultural mindset. "This award means a lot to us because it reflects the choices our team makes every day which includes looking out for each other, speaking up, and doing the right thing even when no one is watching," said John Lemons, senior director of operations for the center. "Safety here isn't just a program; it's part of who we are."

This philosophy of shared accountability and proactive care creates an environment where efficiency and safety are not competing priorities but two sides of the same coin. Lemons added, "I'm incredibly proud of this team for creating a culture where everyone is accountable, respected, and committed to making sure we all go home safe. This recognition belongs to everyone in the building."

The impact of this culture is felt directly by the employees on the floor. Nick Throckmorton, an inventory control lead at the Richmond facility, shared how this environment affects his daily work. "Working in inventory means I'm constantly moving throughout the distribution center every day," Throckmorton said. "Being able to do that without worrying about my personal safety is something I truly appreciate and never take for granted." This ground-level perspective illustrates how a strong safety culture translates into tangible confidence and security for the workforce.

Powering the National Healthcare Engine

The performance of individual centers like Richmond contributes to the resilience of Medline's entire supply chain. While Medline positions itself as the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions, it operates within a highly competitive landscape alongside industry giants such as McKesson, Cencora, and Cardinal Health. In this demanding market, operational excellence and reliability are key differentiators. Medline's network of 45 distribution centers and more than 45,000 global employees works in concert to deliver a vast portfolio of products to nearly every point of care.

The awards serve as an internal benchmark and a motivator, reinforcing the standards required to keep this complex engine running smoothly. Industry analysis consistently shows that structured employee recognition programs can significantly boost engagement, reduce turnover, and improve safety outcomes. By publicly celebrating its top performers, Medline reinforces the value it places on the people who execute its mission critical work.

"Medline team members who work at these facilities take pride in knowing they are providing the highest-quality consistent, reliable and safe service to the company's healthcare customers," Halligan noted. This sense of pride and purpose is essential in a field where the consequences of logistical failures can be severe. The consistent and timely delivery of everything from surgical gloves to advanced medical equipment is fundamental to patient care and operational stability for healthcare providers across the country.

As these award-winning teams celebrate their achievements, their work continues. Every day, they manage complex inventories, coordinate fleets of trucks, and ensure that each package is handled with the quality and care required. In an industry where every second and every product counts, the recognition of these facilities highlights a fundamental truth: the health of the nation relies on the safety and dedication of the people who keep its most critical supplies moving.