Mundelein, Ill. Medline Industries will distribute Energizer batteries to home health agencies, hospitals, nursing homes and physicians' offices under an agreement forged with Eveready Battery Co., St. Louis,

Medline will distribute the batteries through its 20 distribution centers.

The one-year agreement includes distribution of the zinc air 8.4-volt battery used in health care devices such as telemetry equipment, officials said.

"I am quite confident that Energizer's partnership with Medline is the starting point to our becoming the battery of choice for the health care industry," said Evan Nunn, Energizer group vice president.

Meanwhile, Medline has also reached an agreement with PlanetRx.com, an online pharmacy, to market products on its Web site. Consumers will be able to purchase everything from wheelchairs and incontinence products to diabetic and ostomy supplies. The agreement marks Medline's first foray into the consumer market, officials said.