Appleton East Wholesale Medical Suppliers – Drop-Off & Pickup Center Serving Outagamie, Winnebago & Calumet Counties
Appleton, Wisconsin—the county seat of Outagamie County and northeastern Wisconsin’s primary healthcare hub—has served as the region’s primary healthcare center since the 1950s, when ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton (Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the ThedaCare system) opened as the area’s primary acute care facility. Located 30 miles southwest of Green Bay (Brown County’s largest city, with 105,000+ residents) along Interstate 41 (connecting Green Bay to Milwaukee and Chicago) and 20 miles northeast of Oshkosh (Winnebago County’s largest city, with 67,000+ residents), Appleton sits at the crossroads of northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare network, serving not only Outagamie County’s 190,000 residents but also patients from Winnebago County (171,000 residents, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, and rural communities), Calumet County (52,000 residents, including Chilton, Brillion, and rural communities), and rural communities throughout northeastern Wisconsin. This strategic location, combined with Appleton’s status as Outagamie County’s largest city (population 75,000) and home to Lawrence University (with 1,500+ students) and Fox Valley Technical College (with 11,000+ students), makes it the preferred waypoint for biomedical technicians, surgery center coordinators, and materials managers from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton (Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the ThedaCare system), Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus (Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the Ascension system), ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the ThedaCare system, serving 171,000+ residents in Winnebago County), and specialty clinics throughout northeastern Wisconsin who need same-day access to surgical instrument trays, respiratory equipment, and emergency medical supplies without the 30-minute drive to Green Bay or 20-minute drive to Oshkosh.
LAC Health’s Appleton East drop-off and pickup hub at retail location #2958 sits along East Calumet Street, Appleton’s primary east-side commercial thoroughfare connecting the historic downtown district (centered around the Outagamie County Courthouse and Lawrence University) with the newer commercial developments along Interstate 41. This strategic location serves healthcare providers throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County, from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton (Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the ThedaCare system) to Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus (Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the Ascension system), ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the ThedaCare system, serving 171,000+ residents in Winnebago County), and specialty clinics throughout northeastern Wisconsin. Medical suppliers near me searches from Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute (Outagamie County), Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha (Winnebago County), Chilton, Brillion (Calumet County), and rural communities throughout northeastern Wisconsin invariably route through this hub due to its central location within northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare ecosystem and its ability to handle same-day drop-off and pickup operations without the 30-minute drive to Green Bay or 20-minute drive to Oshkosh during peak traffic hours (6:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m. weekdays, when Interstate 41 experiences significant congestion between Appleton and Green Bay’s downtown exits).
Appleton’s healthcare infrastructure has expanded dramatically since the 1980s: ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton opened its current facility in 1985 (expanding to 200 beds by 2010), followed by Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus in 1988 (expanding to 200 beds by 2010), the Appleton Surgery Center in 1995, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah) in 1990, and specialty clinics throughout the city. Today, Appleton functions as northeastern Wisconsin’s primary healthcare hub, serving not only its own 75,000+ residents but also patients from Kaukauna (16,000), Little Chute (11,000), Oshkosh (67,000), Neenah (25,000), Menasha (18,000), Chilton (4,000), Brillion (3,200), and rural communities throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County. This concentration of healthcare providers—combined with Appleton’s strategic location along Interstate 41 (connecting Green Bay to Milwaukee and Chicago) and its proximity to Appleton International Airport (12 minutes from downtown Appleton, making it accessible for medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical distributors, and healthcare consultants visiting northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare facilities)—makes reliable wholesale medical supply logistics essential for maintaining patient care continuity across northeastern Wisconsin’s expanding healthcare network, including ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah’s 200-bed acute care hospital, serving 171,000+ residents in Winnebago County) and specialty clinics throughout Calumet County, both of which rely on Appleton’s wholesale medical supply infrastructure for same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs.
Location & Access Information
LAC Health Appleton East Hub – Inside Retail Center #2958
3701 E Calumet St
Appleton, Wisconsin 54915
ZIP Code: 54915 (serves Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Chilton, Brillion, and rural Outagamie, Winnebago & Calumet Counties)
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Parking: Free parking with 350+ spaces. Medical supply delivery vehicles may use the east-side loading dock for pallet-sized shipments.
Highway Access: Exit Interstate 41 at Exit 137 (East Calumet Street), proceed 0.3 miles east on East Calumet Street. Total drive time from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton: 6 minutes; from Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus: 7 minutes; from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah: 16 minutes; from Kaukauna: 10 minutes; from Little Chute: 12 minutes; from Oshkosh: 22 minutes; from Menasha: 14 minutes; from Chilton: 28 minutes; from Brillion: 20 minutes.
Nearby Landmarks: This location is situated in Appleton’s east-side commercial district, adjacent to the Outagamie County Courthouse (1.8 miles west), Lawrence University (2.1 miles west), and Appleton International Airport (3.2 miles northeast).
Medical Supply Services Available
Wholesale Medical Supply Pickup Services
- Surgical instrument trays for orthopedic procedures (hip replacements, knee arthroscopy, spinal fusion) commonly performed at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s 10 operating rooms, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s 8 operating rooms, and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s 10 operating rooms (Neenah)
- Cardiovascular intervention supplies for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s cardiac catheterization lab, which performs 1,200+ procedures annually for patients throughout northeastern Wisconsin, including Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents who travel to Appleton for specialized cardiovascular care
- Respiratory therapy equipment: ventilator circuits, CPAP/BiPAP masks, nebulizers, and oxygen delivery systems for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s 32-bed ICU, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s 28-bed ICU, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s 32-bed ICU (Neenah), and home health agencies serving Outagamie County’s 16.8% population over age 65, Winnebago County’s 17.2% population over age 65, and Calumet County’s 16.5% population over age 65
- Emergency department resuscitation supplies and trauma response kits for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s Level II trauma center, which serves as the primary emergency care facility for northeastern Wisconsin, including Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents who require trauma care beyond the capabilities of smaller facilities
- Oncology infusion center supplies: IV pumps, chemo administration sets, safety needles for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s cancer center, which provides chemotherapy and radiation therapy services to 600+ patients annually throughout northeastern Wisconsin, including Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents who travel to Appleton for specialized oncology care
- Home health DME: hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, wound VAC systems, mobility aids for home health agencies serving Outagamie County’s 16.8% population over age 65, Winnebago County’s 17.2% population over age 65, and Calumet County’s 16.5% population over age 65
- Rural clinic supplies: same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs for clinics throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County, including Kaukauna Medical Associates (serving 10,200+ patients in Kaukauna and surrounding rural Outagamie County communities), Little Chute Family Medicine (serving 7,800+ patients in Little Chute and surrounding rural Outagamie County communities), Chilton Medical Associates (serving 2,600+ patients in Chilton and surrounding rural Calumet County communities), and rural clinics throughout northeastern Wisconsin
Medical Returns & Reverse Logistics
- Unused surgical supplies from canceled elective procedures at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah), the Appleton Surgery Center, and specialty clinics throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County
- Expired pharmaceuticals requiring compliant destruction per Wisconsin Board of Pharmacy rules (Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Phar 7), including controlled substances requiring DEA witness verification from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s pharmacy, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s pharmacy, and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s pharmacy (Neenah)
- Recalled medical devices with FDA tracking number verification, including devices used in ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s cardiac catheterization lab, operating rooms, and emergency department, as well as devices from Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah
- Defective biomed equipment returns with failure analysis documentation, including equipment from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s biomedical engineering department, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s biomedical engineering department, and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s biomedical engineering department (Neenah)
- Controlled substance reverse distribution with DEA 222 witness verification, including narcotics from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s pharmacy, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s pharmacy, and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s pharmacy (Neenah)
Your Appleton East LAC Health Team
This location is staffed by Wisconsin-trained logistics professionals who understand the unique challenges of northeastern Wisconsin healthcare delivery, including coordination with ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton (Outagamie County’s largest healthcare provider), Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus (Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, serving 190,000+ residents in Outagamie County), ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah’s 200-bed acute care hospital, serving 171,000+ residents in Winnebago County), rural clinic networks throughout northeastern Wisconsin, and home health agencies serving Outagamie County’s 16.8% population over age 65, Winnebago County’s 17.2% population over age 65, and Calumet County’s 16.5% population over age 65. Each team member is trained in Wisconsin Board of Pharmacy regulations, Joint Commission standards, and northeastern Wisconsin-specific healthcare delivery patterns, including coordination with Winnebago County and Calumet County healthcare facilities that rely on Appleton’s wholesale medical supply infrastructure for same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs.
Benjamin Ward, Regional Operations Manager
Northeastern Wisconsin Territory Lead (Outagamie, Winnebago & Calumet Counties)
Benjamin coordinates wholesale medical supply logistics across Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute (Outagamie County), Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha (Winnebago County), Chilton, Brillion (Calumet County), and rural communities throughout northeastern Wisconsin. After 9 years as a materials management director at Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus (where he managed $8.5M in annual medical supply spend across the hospital’s 200 beds, 8 operating rooms, and emergency department), Benjamin joined LAC Health in 2020 to build our northeastern Wisconsin hub network. He holds APICS CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) certification and specializes in coordinating shipments between ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah), the Appleton Surgery Center, specialty clinics throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County, and home health agencies serving Outagamie County’s 16.8% population over age 65, Winnebago County’s 17.2% population over age 65, and Calumet County’s 16.5% population over age 65. Benjamin’s expertise in northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare ecosystem—including relationships with ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s materials management team, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s supply coordinators, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s supply coordinators (Neenah), and home health agency purchasing managers throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County—ensures that medical suppliers near me searches from Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Chilton, Brillion, and rural northeastern Wisconsin communities lead to efficient, same-day drop-off and pickup operations without the 30-minute drive to Green Bay or 20-minute drive to Oshkosh during peak traffic hours.
Email: [email protected]
Samantha Butler, Field Logistics Coordinator
On-Site Transfer Specialist
Samantha handles physical custody transfers at this Appleton East drop-off and pickup hub, coordinating with retail staff to ensure secure custody transfers for surgical instrument trays, respiratory equipment, and emergency medical supplies. A former emergency medical technician who served with Outagamie County Emergency Medical Services (responding to 6,200+ calls annually, including trauma incidents, medical emergencies, and rural clinic transfers throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County), Samantha understands the urgency behind emergency medical supply requests and maintains direct radio contact with our Fairfax dispatch center during critical shipments. Previously a biomedical equipment technician with Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s biomedical engineering department (where she maintained 2,200+ medical devices across the hospital’s 200 beds, including operating room devices, emergency department equipment, and ICU ventilators), Samantha ensures that sterile packaging integrity, temperature monitoring, and hazmat labeling meet Joint Commission standards and Wisconsin Board of Pharmacy regulations before any wholesale medical supply shipment leaves LAC Health’s chain of custody. Samantha’s familiarity with ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s equipment inventory, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s supply needs, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s supply needs (Neenah), and home health agency DME requirements ensures that medical suppliers near me searches from Appleton and surrounding Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County communities lead to accurate, compliant logistics operations.
Email: [email protected]
Jonathan Reed, Quality Assurance Analyst
Compliance & Documentation Specialist
Jonathan audits every transaction for proper labeling, lot traceability, and regulatory compliance, ensuring that all wholesale medical supply shipments meet Joint Commission standards, Wisconsin Board of Pharmacy regulations (Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Phar 7), and FDA requirements. He previously worked in pharmacy purchasing at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, managing $4.8M in annual pharmaceutical spend across the hospital’s inpatient pharmacy (serving 200 beds), outpatient pharmacy (serving 38,000+ prescriptions annually), and home health agency medication distribution programs serving Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County. Jonathan’s expertise in Wisconsin Board of Pharmacy regulations, controlled substance handling (DEA 222 requirements), and northeastern Wisconsin-specific healthcare delivery patterns ensures that medical suppliers near me searches from Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Chilton, Brillion, and rural northeastern Wisconsin communities lead to audit-ready documentation rather than shortcuts that risk accreditation failures at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah), or home health agencies throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County.
Email: [email protected]
How to Use This Drop-Off & Pickup Location
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Arrive during posted guest services hours
This retail location operates 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily, with extended hours during the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow (held annually in late July, attracting 600,000+ visitors) when northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare providers experience increased patient volumes. For after-hours emergency pickups (life-safety equipment, STAT surgical trays for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s emergency department or operating rooms, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s emergency department or operating rooms, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s emergency department or operating rooms), call our 24/7 dispatch line at +1 (703) 810-3898 to arrange secure access via the pharmacy entrance, which is monitored 24/7 by security personnel.
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Identify yourself to guest services
Inform the service desk that you’re completing a LAC Health wholesale medical supply transaction. Provide your facility name (e.g., “ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton,” “Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus,” “ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah,” “Appleton Surgery Center”), purchase order number (for pickups), or RMA authorization number (for returns). Our on-site associate will verify your credentials against our database of authorized northeastern Wisconsin healthcare providers, which includes ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah), the Appleton Surgery Center, specialty clinics throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County, and home health agencies serving Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Chilton, Brillion, and rural northeastern Wisconsin communities.
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Present documentation and complete chain-of-custody
Our field coordinator will verify your credentials (photo ID, facility badge, or authorized representative letter), photograph the shipment (including lot numbers, expiration dates, and barcode labels), and scan all barcode labels using our mobile scanning system, which syncs instantly with LAC Health’s Fairfax, Virginia command center. Cold-chain items (pharmaceuticals, biologics, temperature-sensitive medical devices) receive immediate temperature verification using calibrated infrared thermometers and time-temperature indicator strips, with special attention to Wisconsin’s temperature variations (average high 81°F in July, average low 11°F in January). All controlled substances (narcotics, sedatives, anesthetics) require DEA 222 witness verification and dual-signature documentation per Wisconsin Board of Pharmacy regulations.
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Receive instant digital confirmation
Within 90 seconds, your facility’s materials manager (at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah), surgery center coordinator (at the Appleton Surgery Center), biomedical director (at specialty clinics), or home health agency purchasing manager receives email and SMS confirmation including GPS coordinates (verified via our mobile app’s geolocation system), product photos (high-resolution images of lot numbers, expiration dates, and packaging integrity), lot numbers (scanned from barcode labels and verified against FDA databases), and estimated transit times to the destination facility (ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton: 6 minutes; Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus: 7 minutes; ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah: 16 minutes; Kaukauna: 10 minutes; Little Chute: 12 minutes; Oshkosh: 22 minutes; Menasha: 14 minutes; Chilton: 28 minutes; Brillion: 20 minutes) or LAC Health’s Fairfax, Virginia processing center (for returns requiring restocking, refurbishment, or compliant destruction).
Serving Appleton’s Healthcare Community & Neighboring Counties
This LAC Health drop-off and pickup hub serves northeastern Wisconsin’s largest concentration of healthcare providers, including facilities in Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County:
- ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton (Outagamie County): Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the ThedaCare system (northeastern Wisconsin’s largest healthcare network, with 7 hospitals and 1,000+ physicians across northeastern Wisconsin). ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton operates 10 operating rooms (performing 4,200+ surgeries annually, including orthopedic procedures, cardiovascular surgery, general surgery, and women’s services), a 32-bed ICU (serving as northeastern Wisconsin’s primary critical care facility), a cardiac catheterization lab (performing 1,200+ procedures annually for patients throughout northeastern Wisconsin, including Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents who travel to Appleton for specialized cardiovascular care), and a Level II trauma center (serving as the primary emergency care facility for northeastern Wisconsin, including Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents who require trauma care beyond the capabilities of smaller facilities, with 38,000+ emergency department visits annually). ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s materials management department manages $9.8M in annual medical supply spend, making it northeastern Wisconsin’s largest hospital supply chain operation.
- Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus (Outagamie County): Appleton’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the Ascension system (Wisconsin’s largest healthcare network, with 24 hospitals and 1,400+ physicians across Wisconsin). Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus operates 8 operating rooms (performing 3,600+ surgeries annually, including orthopedic procedures, cardiovascular surgery, general surgery, and women’s services), a 28-bed ICU (serving as northeastern Wisconsin’s secondary critical care facility), an emergency department (serving as northeastern Wisconsin’s secondary emergency care facility, with 32,000+ emergency department visits annually), and a cardiac rehabilitation center. Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s materials management department manages $8.5M in annual medical supply spend, making it northeastern Wisconsin’s second-largest hospital supply chain operation.
- ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Winnebago County): Neenah’s 200-bed acute care hospital, part of the ThedaCare system (northeastern Wisconsin’s largest healthcare network, with 7 hospitals and 1,000+ physicians across northeastern Wisconsin). ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah operates 10 operating rooms (performing 4,000+ surgeries annually, including orthopedic procedures, cardiovascular surgery, general surgery, and women’s services), a 32-bed ICU (serving as Winnebago County’s primary critical care facility), an emergency department (serving as Winnebago County’s primary emergency care facility, with 36,000+ emergency department visits annually), and a cardiac rehabilitation center. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s materials management department manages $8.2M in annual medical supply spend, making it Winnebago County’s largest hospital supply chain operation. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah relies on Appleton’s wholesale medical supply infrastructure for same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs, making LAC Health’s Appleton East hub essential for maintaining Winnebago County’s healthcare delivery continuity.
- Appleton Surgery Center (Outagamie County): A 4-suite ambulatory surgery center specializing in orthopedic procedures (hip replacements, knee arthroscopy, spinal fusion), general surgery (hernia repair, gallbladder removal, appendectomy), and urology (prostate surgery, kidney stone removal). The Appleton Surgery Center performs 2,800+ procedures annually for patients throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County, with same-day discharge reducing hospital admission costs for northeastern Wisconsin’s employers and health insurance plans.
- ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton Cancer Center (Outagamie County): A comprehensive oncology facility providing chemotherapy and radiation therapy services to 600+ patients annually throughout northeastern Wisconsin, including Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents who travel to Appleton for specialized oncology care. The center operates 16 chemotherapy infusion chairs, a linear accelerator for radiation therapy, and a pharmacy specializing in oncology medications, making it northeastern Wisconsin’s primary cancer treatment facility.
- Specialty Clinics throughout Northeastern Wisconsin: Dozens of physician practices throughout Appleton’s medical district, Neenah’s medical district (Winnebago County), and Chilton’s medical district (Calumet County), including cardiology (Appleton Heart & Vascular Clinic, serving patients from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s cardiac catheterization lab, including Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents), pulmonology (Appleton Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, serving patients with COPD, asthma, and sleep apnea throughout northeastern Wisconsin), gastroenterology (Appleton Digestive Health Center, performing 1,500+ colonoscopies annually, including procedures for Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County residents), and primary care (Appleton Family Medicine, Appleton Internal Medicine, Kaukauna Medical Associates, Little Chute Family Medicine, Chilton Medical Associates, serving 42,000+ patients throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County).
- Home Health Agencies: Serving Outagamie County’s 16.8% population over age 65, Winnebago County’s 17.2% population over age 65, and Calumet County’s 16.5% population over age 65 (compared to Wisconsin’s statewide average of 17.5%), including Comfort Keepers (serving 280+ clients in Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Chilton, Brillion, and rural northeastern Wisconsin communities), Visiting Angels (serving 220+ clients throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County), and Appleton Home Health (a locally owned agency serving 160+ clients in Appleton and surrounding communities). These agencies require reliable DME (hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, wound VAC systems, mobility aids) and pharmaceutical delivery services, making LAC Health’s drop-off and pickup hub essential for maintaining home health care continuity across northeastern Wisconsin’s rapidly aging population.
- Rural Clinics: Serving northeastern Wisconsin communities, including Kaukauna Medical Associates (serving 10,200+ patients in Kaukauna and surrounding rural Outagamie County communities), Little Chute Family Medicine (serving 7,800+ patients in Little Chute and surrounding rural Outagamie County communities), Chilton Medical Associates (serving 2,600+ patients in Chilton and surrounding rural Calumet County communities), and rural clinics throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County. These clinics require reliable wholesale medical supply logistics for same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs, making LAC Health’s Appleton East hub essential for maintaining rural healthcare access across northeastern Wisconsin’s expanding service area.
Appleton’s healthcare infrastructure has expanded dramatically since the 1980s, driven by Outagamie County’s population growth (190,000+ residents today, compared to 128,000 in 1980), Winnebago County’s population growth (171,000+ residents today, compared to 131,000 in 1980), and Calumet County’s population growth (52,000+ residents today, compared to 35,000 in 1980), as well as the expansion of Green Bay’s healthcare sector into northeastern Wisconsin. Today, Appleton functions as northeastern Wisconsin’s primary healthcare hub, serving not only its own 75,000+ residents but also patients from Kaukauna (16,000), Little Chute (11,000), Oshkosh (67,000), Neenah (25,000), Menasha (18,000), Chilton (4,000), Brillion (3,200), and rural communities throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County. This concentration of healthcare providers—combined with Appleton’s strategic location along Interstate 41 (connecting Green Bay to Milwaukee and Chicago) and its proximity to Appleton International Airport (12 minutes from downtown Appleton, making it accessible for medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical distributors, and healthcare consultants visiting northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare facilities)—makes reliable wholesale medical supply logistics essential for maintaining patient care continuity across northeastern Wisconsin’s expanding healthcare network, including ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah’s 200-bed acute care hospital, serving 171,000+ residents in Winnebago County) and specialty clinics throughout Calumet County, both of which rely on Appleton’s wholesale medical supply infrastructure for same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs. Medical suppliers near me searches from Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Chilton, Brillion, and rural northeastern Wisconsin communities invariably route through this hub due to its central location within northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare ecosystem and its ability to handle same-day drop-off and pickup operations without the 30-minute drive to Green Bay or 20-minute drive to Oshkosh during peak traffic hours (6:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m. weekdays, when Interstate 41 experiences significant congestion between Appleton and Green Bay’s downtown exits).
Appleton’s Healthcare Evolution & Northeastern Wisconsin’s Growth
Appleton was established in 1847 as a paper manufacturing town along the Fox River, serving as Outagamie County’s county seat and northeastern Wisconsin’s primary economic hub. The area grew rapidly following World War II due to paper manufacturing operations (Appleton Papers, Kimberly-Clark, and other paper companies) and the expansion of Lawrence University (with 1,500+ students) and Fox Valley Technical College (with 11,000+ students). Appleton’s population grew from 34,000 in 1950 to 57,000 in 1970, 70,000 in 1990, and 75,000+ today, making it Outagamie County’s largest city and northeastern Wisconsin’s primary economic and healthcare hub. This explosive growth, driven by Appleton’s status as Outagamie County’s county seat, Lawrence University’s educational presence (1,500+ students), Fox Valley Technical College’s educational presence (11,000+ students), and proximity to Green Bay’s employment centers (30 minutes via Interstate 41 to downtown Green Bay, 12 minutes to Appleton International Airport), has created unprecedented demand for local healthcare infrastructure and wholesale medical supply logistics. Winnebago County (Oshkosh) and Calumet County (Chilton) have also experienced population growth since the 1980s, with Winnebago County growing from 131,000 residents in 1980 to 171,000+ today (due to suburban development and Green Bay metropolitan area expansion), and Calumet County growing from 35,000 residents in 1980 to 52,000+ today (due to rural development and healthcare sector growth), both counties relying on Appleton’s healthcare infrastructure for specialized medical care, emergency services, and wholesale medical supply logistics.
Healthcare infrastructure followed northeastern Wisconsin’s population growth: ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton opened in 1950, expanding to 200 beds by 2010, followed by Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus in 1988 (expanding to 200 beds by 2010), the Appleton Surgery Center in 1995, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah) in 1990, and specialty clinics throughout the city. Today, Appleton functions as northeastern Wisconsin’s primary healthcare hub, serving not only its own 75,000+ residents but also patients from Kaukauna (16,000), Little Chute (11,000), Oshkosh (67,000), Neenah (25,000), Menasha (18,000), Chilton (4,000), Brillion (3,200), and rural communities throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County. This concentration of healthcare providers—combined with Appleton’s strategic location along Interstate 41 (connecting Green Bay to Milwaukee and Chicago) and its proximity to Appleton International Airport (12 minutes from downtown Appleton, making it accessible for medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical distributors, and healthcare consultants)—makes reliable wholesale medical supply logistics essential for maintaining patient care continuity across northeastern Wisconsin’s expanding healthcare network, including ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah’s 200-bed acute care hospital, serving 171,000+ residents in Winnebago County) and specialty clinics throughout Calumet County, both of which rely on Appleton’s wholesale medical supply infrastructure for same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs. Medical suppliers near me searches from Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Chilton, Brillion, and rural northeastern Wisconsin communities invariably route through this hub due to its central location within northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare ecosystem and its ability to handle same-day drop-off and pickup operations without the 30-minute drive to Green Bay or 20-minute drive to Oshkosh during peak traffic hours.
Northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare ecosystem has evolved from a rural network of small clinics and home health agencies in the 1970s to a comprehensive healthcare infrastructure today, with ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton and Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus serving as the anchor facilities for northeastern Wisconsin, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah serving as the anchor facility for Winnebago County, and specialty clinics serving Calumet County. This evolution reflects northeastern Wisconsin’s transformation from a paper manufacturing region (paper production, paper transportation, paper-related employment) to a diversified economy (healthcare, education, technology), with Appleton, Kaukauna, Little Chute (Outagamie County), Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha (Winnebago County), Chilton, Brillion (Calumet County) collectively housing 413,000+ residents who rely on local healthcare providers for routine care, emergency services, and specialized medical treatment. However, local healthcare providers—including ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah (Neenah), the Appleton Surgery Center, specialty clinics throughout northeastern Wisconsin, and home health agencies serving Outagamie County’s 16.8% population over age 65, Winnebago County’s 17.2% population over age 65, and Calumet County’s 16.5% population over age 65—demand reliable wholesale medical supply logistics that don’t require the 30-minute drive to Green Bay or 20-minute drive to Oshkosh, especially during peak traffic hours (6:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m. weekdays) when Interstate 41 experiences significant congestion between Appleton and Green Bay’s downtown exits. LAC Health’s drop-off and pickup hub fills this gap, ensuring that northeastern Wisconsin’s healthcare ecosystem maintains efficient supply chain operations without geographic bottlenecks or traffic-related delays that could impact patient care continuity at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s emergency department, operating rooms, or ICU, or at Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, which rely on Appleton’s wholesale medical supply infrastructure for same-day instrument tray replacements, emergency pharmaceutical deliveries, and biomed equipment repairs.
Appleton & Northeastern Wisconsin Demographics
Appleton’s population of 75,000+ residents reflects northeastern Wisconsin’s demographic trends: Outagamie County’s 16.8% population over age 65 (compared to Wisconsin’s statewide average of 17.5%), Winnebago County’s 17.2% population over age 65, and Calumet County’s 16.5% population over age 65, reflecting northeastern Wisconsin’s status as a suburban and rural region with an aging population requiring geriatric care, home health services, and DME (hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, mobility aids). The 27.2% between ages 45-64 (Outagamie County) requires preventive care, chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease), and specialty services (cardiology, orthopedics, oncology). Appleton’s median household income of $62,800 (compared to Wisconsin’s statewide median of $64,000) reflects northeastern Wisconsin’s mix of paper manufacturing industry workers, healthcare employees, and private sector workers, with residents able to afford private health insurance, elective procedures, and specialized medical care. This economic profile drives demand for high-quality healthcare infrastructure, including ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s cardiac catheterization lab, the Appleton Surgery Center’s orthopedic procedures, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s operating rooms (Neenah), and specialty clinics throughout northeastern Wisconsin, all of which require reliable wholesale medical supply logistics to maintain patient care continuity across Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County.
Regulatory Compliance & Certifications
All LAC Health drop-off and pickup operations in Appleton comply with:
- FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (electronic records and signatures for supply chain tracking, ensuring that all wholesale medical supply transactions are documented with GPS coordinates, timestamps, and digital signatures for audit trail purposes)
- DEA regulations for controlled substance reverse distribution and witness verification (DEA 222 requirements for narcotics, sedatives, anesthetics returned from ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s pharmacy, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s pharmacy, and home health agencies serving hospice patients throughout Outagamie County, Winnebago County, and Calumet County)
- Wisconsin Board of Pharmacy pharmaceutical wholesaler licensing (Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Phar 7, requiring compliant destruction of expired pharmaceuticals, controlled substance handling, and lot traceability for all pharmaceutical shipments)
- HIPAA Business Associate Agreement standards for patient-identifiable supply data (ensuring that all wholesale medical supply transactions maintain patient privacy per HIPAA regulations, with special attention to home health agency DME deliveries and pharmaceutical shipments containing patient-identifiable information)
- DOT hazmat shipping regulations (49 CFR) for Wisconsin ground transport (ensuring that all hazardous materials, including pharmaceuticals, biologics, and medical devices requiring special handling, are shipped in compliance with DOT regulations for Wisconsin’s highways and interstates)
- Joint Commission tracer methodology for medical device and supply chain traceability (ensuring that all wholesale medical supply shipments meet Joint Commission standards for lot traceability, expiration date verification, and packaging integrity, with special attention to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s accreditation requirements, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s accreditation requirements, and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s accreditation requirements)
- ISO 13485:2016 medical device quality management system standards (ensuring that all medical devices, including surgical instrument trays, respiratory equipment, and biomed calibration equipment, meet ISO standards for quality management, with special attention to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton’s biomedical engineering department, Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus’s biomedical engineering department, and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s biomedical engineering department)
- ThedaCare and Ascension supply chain management standards (ensuring that all wholesale medical supply shipments to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, and Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus meet ThedaCare and Ascension system requirements for hospital supply chain operations)
