TLC diversifies into healthcare supplies

TLC Healthcare has added another arm to its growing portfolio.

Victorian aged care provider TLC Healthcare has added another arm to its growing portfolio of residential aged care, primary care and workforce training businesses by launching TLC Health Supplies.  

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed a shortage of critical supplies such as personal protective equipment and rapid antigen tests. This shortage caused a dramatic price hike of these and other important items. Both proved to be major issues for Australia’s aged care providers, including TLC Healthcare, which operates 11 aged care homes in Melbourne and Geelong.

Lou Pascuzzi

The new arm was set up to remedy this, TLC Healthcare CEO Lou Pascuzzi said in a statement. “If the last three years have taught us anything, it’s that we need to be self-reliant, which extends to self-supply and warehousing of healthcare consumables like PPE and RATs and other critical items that our aged care homes can order on demand.”

The organisaiton has identified and secured some of the most critical health products required by the aged care sector to operate effectively, he said. “Not only does this ensure our business continuity, but we’ve also strategically insulated ourselves from the pandemic issues of supply shortages and price rises,” said Mr Pascuzzi.

The supply business was built from the ground up and established in seven months. During that time, TLC Healthcare has invested in state-of-the-art warehousing, pick-and-pack automation robotic technology and a fleet of distribution vans. It has also employed a team of people to work in warehousing and distribution.

“We’re not interested in relying on an unpredictable market for our critical healthcare consumables,” said Mr Pascuzzi. “TLC Health Supplies provides a solution not only for our homes, but the homes of other aged care providers as well.”

TLC Healthcare expects to expand its warehouse and extend its supply network as demand for its healthcare products increases.

In addition to its new supplies arm, TLC Healthcare also operates 10 medical centres, which are collocated with the provider’s aged care homes, and a registered training organisation. “We continue to concentrically diversify our business to serve our needs and those of other aged care operators,” said Mr Pascuzzi.

Main image: TLC’s new healthcare supplies warehouse and vans

Tags: covid, Lou Pascuzzi, TLC Healthcare,

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