Stephanie Martin, RN, is Regent Surgical Health's vice president of operations and clinical services. She recently penned a list of five ways to successfully manage supply chain and inventory.
1. Manage inventory based on usage
Healthcare providers should avoid ordering just to fill capacity or hoarding supplies, Ms. Martin said. When employees pocket items such as sutures, they could be carrying as much as $100 worth of supplies.
2. Give supply chain leaders flexibility
As ASCs deal with slim operating margins, entrusting supply chain leaders to evaluate cost-saving opportunities can help the center reach its overarching goals.
3. Analyze clinical processes
Unnecessary costs within clinical processes might become standardized over time. ASC leaders should seek out and evaluate these inefficiencies to potentially save thousands of dollars.
4. Regularly review items in packs
Behind physician preference items, packs might be the highest spend product for ASCs. With this in mind, Ms. Martin suggests reviewing packs every one to two years.
5. Ensure strategic alignment
Engaging all stakeholders is crucial to effective supply chain and inventory management. ASC leaders should also appoint a "supply chain champion" who can motivate and guide staff to achieve goals, Ms. Martin said.