With technology as new as electric vehicle (EV) charging, sometimes healthcare organizations can be unsure of where to start. There are dozens of different EV charging companies to consider, tons of new vocabulary to learn, and all kinds of different aspects to think about to ensure you are getting the best deal possible with your EV charging purchases.
This is where group purchasing organizations (GPOs) come in. A GPO can be incredibly beneficial to healthcare companies that recognize the need for EV charging but may not have the time to stay up-to-date with the latest automotive technology. GPOs can help busy healthcare facilities managers procure vetted technology at negotiated rates. Here’s what you need to know about Vizient and Blink.
How GPOs Help Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare GPOs, such as Vizient and Provista, help companies in the healthcare industry save time and money by providing access to pre-vetted, pre-negotiated contracts for EV charging solutions. They streamline the EV charging procurement process, reducing the administrative burden of finding reliable and affordable EV charging solutions.
Vizient- focuses on acute care
Provista- focuses on non-acute care, business, and hospitality
By using the services of a GPO, healthcare companies can avoid the lengthy, drawn-out bidding processes they would normally undertake if they were doing it on their own. Since the GPOs have vetted the EV charging providers, they also help ensure healthcare companies are in compliance with all applicable purchasing standards.
Blink Charging is a Vizient Awarded Supplier
Because Blink Charging is a Vizient Awarded Supplier, both Vizient and Provista members can take advantage of expedited EV charging infrastructure purchases under Vizient Contract #SV4060.
Purchasing with Vizient’s Contract #SV4060 allows members to access pre-negotiated pricing for commercial EV chargers and flexible Blink business models.
Now it’s even easier for healthcare organizations to get Blink charging stations!
Benefits of EV Charging for Healthcare
Thanks to Blink and Vizient, EV charging infrastructure is now more affordable for healthcare facilities, including academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health delivery networks, and non-acute healthcare providers within the Vizient or Provista member networks.
Generate Revenue with EV Charging
If you collect fees for using your EV charging stations, they can become another revenue source for your healthcare organization. Blink charging stations are connected to the Blink Network, which means they will appear on popular EV charging locator services, including Plugshare, Google Maps, and the Blink Charging Mobile App.
There are two main ways that EV charging can boost your bottom line:
By installing EV charging as an amenity, you can attract new patients who need to charge their EVs while visiting a doctor.
By installing networked EV charging in your parking, and setting a pricing policy, you can generate additional parking revenue..
With Blink's Series 7 and Series 8 charging stations, parking managers can create different groups and pricing based on user profiles. For example, you can create a group for free employee charging and an hourly or energy-based fee for public users.
Using the Blink Network, you can also set different pricing throughout the day. By charging higher prices at peak hours, you can encourage drivers to charge overnight or on weekends, when utility rates are lower.
EV Fleets Save on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Does your healthcare facility have a fleet of ambulances, paratransit, or other commercial vehicles? Electrifying your fleet of ambulances and other vehicles can help your organization save money on fuel and maintenance costs.
Fuel Savings
In general, electricity is cheaper than gasoline and diesel, which fluctuate based on global demand.
An RMI analysis conducted in February 2025 considered fleet fuel prices for fossil fuel vehicles versus electric vehicles. As analysts found, "electric vehicles are more economical for fleets across light- and medium-duty applications than equivalent fossil fuel vehicles."
| Fossil Fuel Price | Fossil Fuel Vehicle Cost/Mile | EV Cost/Mile (without tax credits) | EV Cost/Mile (with tax credits) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.50/gallon | $0.85/mile | $0.69/mile | $0.59/mile |
| $2.75/gallon | $0.88/mile | $0.69/mile | $0.59/mile |
| $3.00/gallon | $0.90/mile | $0.69/mile | $0.59/mile |
| $3.25/gallon | $0.93/mile | $0.69/mile | $0.59/mile |
| $3.50/gallon | $0.95/mile | $0.69/mile | $0.59/mile |
* EV cost per mile includes cost of charging infrastructure
As demonstrated above, even when gas prices rise, electricity remains steady.
RMI concluded, "Even without tax credits, the TCO for electric paratransit vehicles is lower than equivalent fossil fuel vehicles across the range of fuel prices modeled."
Secondly, electric vehicles offer further opportunities for fuel savings. With a fleet management system like Blink, fleet managers can schedule charging overnight or during other off-peak times, thereby saving on fueling costs.
Maintenance Savings
Without an internal combustion engine, fully electric vehicles have fewer moving parts that can break down. An EV fleet can also save on annual maintenance, as you forego costly items like oil changes.
How to Get Started with EV Charging for Healthcare
Here are a few (simplified) steps to adding EV charging to your healthcare facility.
Consider your project goals. Every facility is unique, and so is your project. A doctor’s office may only need to charge employee and patient EVs, but a hospital may also need to charge ambulances.
Conduct a site assessment. Blink can help with your EV charging site assessment. Depending on your current electrical infrastructure and preferred charging stations, you may need to upgrade your electrical panels or even add a new transformer for DC fast chargers. Your upgrade costs may impact the number or type of charging stations installed at your site.
Select a business model. Blink offers multiple business models to suit any budget, including purchase and leasing options for Level 2 and DC fast charging stations.
Select your stations. Level 2 chargers are best suited for facilities where drivers will park for an hour or more, while DC fast chargers (DCFC) are ideal for fleets that require a full charge in under an hour. Is your parking lot open to the public? Consider the Blink Series 7 ISO L2 charging station for private charging or the Blink Series 8 ISO L2 charging station for patient parking.
Take advantage of your GPO. Using Vizient’s Contract #SV4060, your healthcare organization has access to pre-negotiated pricing for Blink’s commercial EV charging stations.
From planning to installation to managing and maintaining your charging stations, Blink is here to help.
Conclusion
Group purchasing organizations like Vizient can be a beneficial tool for busy healthcare facility managers. Now it’s easier to buy EV charging stations without lengthy procurement processes. Ready to get started? Contact Blink Charging today.