8-koi Secures New Vendor Agreements for Medical Supplies

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After starting with 8-koi in May, Healthcare Program Manager Krista Dupell has since successfully secured two new prime vendor relationships with InSource and AndaMEDS. With access to dedicated account representatives and nearby distribution centers in Jacksonville and South Florida, 8-koi anticipates greater efficiency and cost-savings when provisioning supplies for their Healthcare Division customers.

“In order to follow through on 8-koi’s promise to do business with a ‘human touch,’ I pursued a relationship with these companies for medical supplies and some medications because they operate with the same values,” said Krista. “These agreements greatly enhance our customer service when working with government and institutional health care clinics and providers so we can offer a larger catalog and deliver with a faster response.”

During the COVID-19 public health crisis in 2020, 8-koi expanded its Healthcare Division to fill purchase orders for scarce and critical medical supplies to organizations in need during the pandemic. The woman-owned small business based in Melbourne provided medical supplies, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and pharmaceuticals to include N95/KN95/3-ply/custom masks, Tyvex Suits, Nitrile gloves, shoe covers, and surface disinfectants to support client COVID-19 Alternative Care Sites across the US.

8-koi’s rapid response to RFQs and awarded government contracts has helped to secure its position as the primary supplier on multiple efforts. As a subsidiary of Henry Schein, world-leader in medical business, clinical, technology, and supply chain solutions, InSource offers more than 300,000 products. AndaMEDS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TEVA Pharmaceuticals, the global leader in generic medicine, and provides niche distribution service with next-day delivery on medical supplies and generic pharmaceuticals. 8-koi is also a licensed McKesson reseller and can provide products for sterile environments and cleanroom facilities.

“The evolution of our Healthcare Division has been on a fast track since the pandemic,” says 8-koi Founder and President Inga Young. “Now, with Krista’s initiative to secure priority vendor agreements like these with InSource and AndaMEDS, we can more firmly establish ourselves in the marketplace and continue to develop our capabilities for both new and existing customers.”

In addition to supplying Federal Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs), state and local governments, Indian Health Services, and schools, 8-koi has been working to generate new business with other commercial supply houses, concierge healthcare providers and local medical facilities. Organizations interested in ordering medical supplies from 8-koi can contact Krista Dupell at 321.802.6768 or healthcare@8-koi.com.

8-koi Earns ISO 9001 Certification for Medical Management Services

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On July 4th, 8-koi received ISO 9001:2015 Certification for its Technical Services Division. The scope for the Quality Management System (QMS) encompasses the “provision of medical management services by 8-koi at the Melbourne, Florida location” to include processes for Human Resource and Personnel Credentialing. 8-koi began preparations to certify in the fall of 2022. The initial certificate is valid for a period of three years until July 3, 2026. 

“Our Technical Services Division has been steadily growing to serve our federal customers over the years and this was the logical next step to ensure that our operations were consistent and competitive for our next stage of growth,” said 8-koi COO Dean Rosenquist. “The investment in ISO for a small business is significant, and we anticipate seeing returns in the way of more satisfied customers, management, and employees which results in greater cost-savings, overall.” 

The woman-owned small business currently supports healthcare-related programs at Patrick Space Force Base, Fort Detrick, and Walter Reed National Medical Center among others. Twenty employees are currently working within the division across the United States. 8-koi capabilities and technical support includes medical simulation and training, medical administration, professional and ancillary medical staffing, and medical records, coding, and credentialing support.  

“Our people are the key to our success on these contracts with our government customers,” says 8-koi Founder and President Inga Young. “With a predictable and tested workflow at Headquarters to make hiring and credentialing more streamlined and efficient, we can scale recruiting and onboarding to meet surge demands when we win larger and more complex contracts.” 

By following the ISO 9001 Standard, businesses of all sizes can formalize key processes and develop a Quality Manual that outlines procedures to continually improve their processes within the QMS. According to ASQ.org, “ISO 9001 is based on the plan-do-check-act methodology and provides a process-oriented approach to documenting and reviewing the structure, responsibilities, and procedures required to achieve effective quality management in an organization.” 

Last summer, 8-koi’s Technical Services Division expanded their presence with eight new employees at Walter Reed with a competitively bid and won Defense Health Agency (DHA) Emergency Dispatch Services contract. Since winning a contract with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide counseling and case management support to refugees in 2020, 8-koi has onboarded and managed hundreds of direct care personnel. Under contract with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since 2018, 8-koi’s Quality Assurance Specialist has supported over 400 clinics across the US and overseas to train and retrain clinic staff in proper procedure of Fitness Test administration.  

In addition to provisioning services for administrative, training, and direct care activities at Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs), the 8-koi Technical Services Division also offers medical supplies like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and products for sterile environments and cleanroom facilities. The 8-koi Construction Division, along with 8-koi subsidiary Cape Design Engineering, provides MIL-STD services for design-build and renovation of hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and advanced training centers such as Naval Air Station Jacksonville and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.  

The ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System requires both internal and third-party audits to maintain certification. There are over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001, according to ISO.org. 

Contact us to schedule a meeting and learn more about our Healthcare Division.

8-koi Welcomes Krista Dupell, RN, BSN, MBA as Program Manager, Technical Services Division

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Krista Dupell is a Registered Nurse with over two decades of experience in direct care and healthcare administration. She joins 8-koi as Program Manager to lead the growth of the Technical Services Division.

Prior to joining 8-koi, Krista worked as a nurse directly at the bedside in a variety of specialties before accepting nonclinical roles. In her position as a daytime lead medical review nurse working for an occupational health company, Krista’s department provided medical determinations for contractors deploying overseas to austere environments to over 15 locations in support of Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of State (DoS) contracts. She was later promoted to be the program manager of the department and grew it from four contracts to eleven contracts and expanded lines of business with existing clients. In developing skills and discovering a new interest in the business side of healthcare, Krista was compelled to return to school in pursuit of her MBA in Healthcare Management at Saint Leo University.

“She’s a rare find with a unique education,” says COO Dean Rosenquist. “We’re confident in Krista’s industry expertise and initiative to help take our Technical Services division to the next level.”

Krista’s personal life closely aligns with her profession as she is married to an Orlando-based first responder and two of her four children are pursuing active-duty military careers.

“Not only do I love the business side of this division,” said Krista, “but I love the opportunity to work here because of the amazing culture. Every employee has a voice and is empowered to be involved in company growth.”

Please help us welcome Krista to the Team and be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn to learn more about her work.