Cook Medical supplies (catheters, sheaths, etc.) are used in vascular surgery to treat diseased arteries and veins. Vascular surgery is a surgical subspecialty in which diseases of the vascular system, or arteries, veins and lymphatic circulation, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) Cook Medical disposable supplies have to do with direct patient treatment and care. Without access to these specific supplies the Hospital would not be able to offer vascular surgery that in turn would drive patients else where and result in a loss of revenue to the Hospital.