How US Foods Achieved Significant Healthcare Savings and Immediate ROI with Carrum Health
Predictable care, real savings, and high satisfaction across a national workforce
When US Foods faced runaway costs in joint and spine surgeries, they knew it was time to rethink their approach. With over 20,000 associates and significant cost variation across 70+ sites, the food service leader partnered with Carrum Health to launch a national Centers of Excellence (COE) program that delivered better quality, lower costs, and a seamless rollout.
This case study highlights:
- Why US Foods chose Carrum over other COE vendors
- How they launched the program in just six weeks
- Measurable cost savings and surgery avoidance
- Associate satisfaction metrics that far exceeded expectations
About US foods
- Headquartered in Rosemont, IL
- 20,000+ associates nationwide
- Carrum Health partner since 2018
US Foods is a top foodservice distributor that prioritizes employee health and operational excellence, even across a large, distributed workforce.
Challenge: Rising surgery costs and inconsistent care
By 2018, US foods saw up to a cost difference in hip and knee replacements among their members across the country—without any correlation to better health outcomes.
Their benefits team was tasked with:
- Reducing unnecessary surgeries
- Eliminating overpayment
- Improving outcomes and employee experience
They needed a solution that offered high-value care and predictable pricing—fast
Solution: A nationwide COE program delivered with speed and scale
Carrum Health offered a plug-and-play platform to quickly address US foods’ needs, delivering:
- Bundled pricing across joint, spine, bariatric, and cardiac surgeries
- Access to the top 10% of surgeons nationwide
- Strong care warranties to reduce readmissions and complications
- Full-service implementation in just six weeks
- Concierge-level support and digital access tailored to a diverse workforce
“With Carrum, we got an easy plug-and-play platform, the ability to quickly launch a quality program across the United States, plus more oversight, lower costs and the best experience for associates that we can possibly get.”
— Sue Letang, Senior Manager, Health & Welfare plans, US Foods
US Foods teamed up with Carrum Health to tackle rising surgical costs and inconsistent care across its national workforce. The case study reveals how a fast, scalable COE program delivered predictable pricing, top-tier surgical outcomes, and standout satisfaction—proving real value for both the business and its associates.