Supply chain executives working in the ambulatory and outpatient space shared key pieces of advice with Healthcare Purchasing News.
Here are a few of their tips.
1. Ben Winfield, vice president of non-acute and national accounts, Intalere:
"Software, through even a basic materials management information system, can provide benchmarks and goals for organizations to use to reduce extreme variability in pricing in both commodities and implants." Materials management information system data can also assist in aggregation, tier optimization, purchase orders, formulary purchasing and contract compliance purchasing, Mr. Winfield said.
2. Jeff Lawrence, vice president of business development, Inventory Optimization Solutions:
"Getting purchase order approval before submitting to suppliers is critical to saving money, and while conceptually this makes sense, it doesn't always get prioritized. Shifting approval to the front end of the purchasing process can drive significant reductions in orders for products that aren't needed."
3. John Cunningham, DSc, chief client officer, Lumere:
"An EMR should be tailored specifically to the unique needs of an ASC, without features and functions that are not relevant to the facility. With the growing types of procedures that ASCs are licensed to perform, the need to document and retain electronic records for patients is ever more important. For example, in the future, when ASCs are performing primary arthroplasty procedures on Medicare covered lives, the longer-term retention of implant records will be required."
4. Michael DeLuca, executive vice president of operations, Prodigo Solutions:
"Use inventory/PAR management where needed. Do not let it be a decision for company business. It likely is overkill in most non-acute care settings."
5. Scott Jackson, general manager of healthcare services, Henry Schein:
"Utilize your smartphones to automate the ordering process with highly efficient barcode and RFID ordering, as this can cut ordering time in half."