Welch Allyn: Overview
Welch Allyn is a global manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment and a leading provider of healthcare solutions ("Overview," n.d.). The company has a long history on innovative solutions for healthcare provider and patients at large. Welch Allyn has since continued to cater for medical practice needs by rolling out numerous patents including a classic, flagship invention of first direct-illuminating, hand-held ophthalmoscope in 2015 ("Overview"). If anything, Welch Allyn contributes to healthcare system by offering clinical and care solutions for practices, hospitals, clinics, community health centers and medical schools ("Overview"). Welch Allyn represents, or is part of, medical device industry. By catering for medical community needs, Welch Allyn, as well as partner subcontractors and distributors, helps leverage performance:
"At Welch Allyn, we focus on bringing sustainable practices to the frontline healthcare professional. We aim to help improve infection control, reduce medical errors and inefficiencies, and focus on primary healthcare to reduce the need to send patients to acute care facilities—we call this High-Performance Healthcare." ("Overview")
Stakeholder Perspective
Welch Allyn represents an increasingly significant stakeholder in healthcare system. By offering healthcare equipment and solutions, Welch Allyn is part of an industry, i.e. medical device industry, now becoming increasingly significant. Given how healthcare is projected to grow substantially in next decades for demographic (mainly retiring U.S. baby boomers) and innovation (accelerating pace of registered patents supported by advances in healthcare informatics) reasons, Welch Allyn is well positioned to contribute more to healthcare system. This contribution is projected to be particularly more significant as digital, wearable devices and integrated, portable devices connected (wirelessly) to broader hospital and clinic systems continue to be adopted by healthcare providers, practitioners and, not least, senior patients. Currently, Welch Allyn offers products in categories of physical assessment, vital signs monitoring, diagnostic cardiopulmonary, software and services and thermometry in addition to connectivity solutions offered by a portfolio of diagnostic devices ("Overview"). Interestingly, Welch Allyn, as a representative of medical healthcare industry, is projected to actively redefine healthcare provision in next decades. Specifically, by offering more personalized, portable and increasingly portable diagnostic devices, Welch Allyn is apt to contribute to healthcare system by replacing conventional, physician (i.e. human) diagnostic efforts.
Partnerships
As a medical diagnostic equipment and healthcare solutions company, Welch Allyn has a broad network of partner distributors and customers. These distributors are located in different geographies world over in Welch Allyn's four main regional areas: North America; Asia and Pacific Rim; Europe, Middle East & Africa; and Latin America. For current purposes, one product category is selected, i.e. ophthalmic products.
In U.S., Welch Allyn has 19 Authorized Distributors for ophthalmic products ("Authorized Ophthalmic Distributors," n.d.). If anything, distribution is critical for Welch Allyn. By having a broad network of Authorized Distributors of ophthalmic products in areas of ophthalmic practice, particularly in New Jersey ("Authorized Ophthalmic Distributors"), Welch Allyn is apt to market ophthalmic products more effectively. Technical innovations coupled by a proper marketing and distribution channels are apt to enhance a company's market positioning. For Welch Allyn, a company of broad geographical spread, distributors are critical in order to focus corporate resources more on R&D. Notably, Welch Allyn appears to select partner distributors carefully. For example, Bayou Ophthalmic Instruments, Inc. is an established distributor of a long history in ophthalmic industry and operates, primarily, in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas (http://www.bayouophthalmic.com/).
Most Senior Leader
Steve Meyer is President & CEO of Welch Allyn ("Executive Team," n.d.). Meyer holds a bachelor's of science in biology from Alma College and an MBA from University of Rochester ("Executive Team"). Having joined Welch Allyn in 1981 as a sales representative, Meyer has served in different executive functions including: international sales and marketing, product development and general management ("Executive Team"). Meyer's most recent executive position before becoming President & CEO of Welch Allyn has been chief global business officer ("Executive Team").
References
Authorized Ophthalmic Distributors. (n.d.). Welch Allyn. Retrieved from http://www.welchallyn.com/en/products/care-settings/OtherCareSettings/ophthalmic-distributors.html
Executive Team. (n.d.). Welch Allyn. Retrieved from http://intl.welchallyn.com/about/governance/executive-team.htm
Overview. (n.d.) Welch Allyn. Retrieved from http://www.welchallyn.com/en/about-us.html
