Medline Industries: Company Profile & Background Check FAQs

Medline Industries traces its roots to 1910, when A.L. Mills established the Northwestern Garment Factory in Chicago, producing garments for the meatpacking industry. By 1912, the business had pivoted to healthcare, manufacturing surgical gowns and nurses' uniforms. In 1966, A.L.'s grandsons Jim and Jon Mills left Cenco (which had acquired the family business) and founded Medline Industries. The company is headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, and has grown into a major force in the healthcare supply industry, manufacturing and distributing a wide range of products including surgical supplies, exam gloves, wound care products, personal protective equipment, and related medical supplies.

The company serves a broad customer base that includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and physician offices throughout the United States. Medline operates distribution centers and manufacturing facilities across the country, supporting a large workforce that spans manufacturing, distribution, sales, and corporate functions.

In 2021, a private equity consortium consisting of Blackstone, Carlyle, and Hellman and Friedman acquired a majority stake in Medline in a transaction that valued the company at approximately $34 billion. The Mills family retained a significant ownership interest following the transaction, and the deal marked one of the largest leveraged buyouts in the healthcare sector. In December 2025, Medline completed an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MDLN, raising approximately $6.26 billion in what was the largest IPO of 2025. The PE consortium and the Mills family retain significant stakes following the listing.

Company culture and employee programs:

Medline operates across a range of functions including manufacturing, logistics, sales, and corporate administration, offering roles at various levels of experience and seniority. The company has positions available in distribution centers and manufacturing plants as well as office-based and remote roles.

Company benefits and programs vary by role and location. Prospective employees are encouraged to review current job postings on the Medline Industries careers page for details specific to the positions they are applying for.

Yes. Medline Industries conducts background checks on job applicants as part of its hiring process. Pre-employment screening is standard in healthcare supply and distribution, given that employees may work in or around sensitive healthcare environments, handle regulated products, or operate in roles requiring a verified employment history. The scope and components of screening may vary depending on the role, location, and applicable state or local regulations.

Background check timelines vary depending on the type of screening conducted, the candidate's history, and the responsiveness of third-party sources such as courts or prior employers. Many background checks are completed within a few business days, though some may take longer. For a detailed breakdown of factors that affect turnaround times, see How Long Does a Background Check Take.

A standard employment background check can include a range of screening components. Common elements of a background check may include:

The specific components included in a Medline Industries background check will depend on the position being filled and applicable legal requirements in the hiring jurisdiction.

The look-back period for a background check depends on the type of record being searched and the laws that apply in the state or locality where the position is located. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumer reporting agencies generally cannot report most negative information that is more than seven years old. However, this restriction does not apply to positions with annual salaries above a certain threshold, and criminal convictions may be reportable regardless of when they occurred in some states.

Ban-the-box laws in certain states and cities also affect when and how criminal history can be considered in the hiring process. Candidates are encouraged to review the laws applicable in their state or locality.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies collect and use information in background check reports. Under the FCRA, employers must obtain written consent from a candidate before running a background check. If an employer intends to take an adverse action based on the results of a background check, they are required to provide the candidate with a copy of the report and a summary of their rights before the action is finalized. This gives candidates the opportunity to review the report and dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also provides guidance on how employers should evaluate background check results to avoid discriminatory hiring practices. For more detail on both frameworks, see An Introduction to the FCRA and EEOC.

Candidates who want to review their own background before applying for a position at Medline Industries or another employer can order a personal background check through Checkr. Reviewing your report in advance gives you the opportunity to identify any inaccuracies and address them before an employer sees them. Visit Checkr Personal Background Checks to get started, or create a Checkr Profile to share your verified background with prospective employers.

If Medline Industries is using Checkr to process your background check, you can monitor the status of your report through the Checkr Candidate Portal at candidate.checkr.com. The portal allows you to view the progress of your screening, review completed reports, and submit disputes if you believe any information is inaccurate. Additional support resources are available through the Checkr Help Center.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.