1. Never buy impulsively. When ordering supplies, an ASC must stay tough and focused on what may be the best deal for the surgery center as a whole and not just for individual physicians. Ms. Howell compares prices between several companies before settling on a final purchase.
“There was a company that offered $18 per unit for a Bovi pen after I was offered $25 per unit [by a previous company],” she says. “But I could get [the deal] if I buy a minimum of 1,000 units. I went with a third company because there was no minimum or maximum purchase required, and I actually ended up with a better price than either company. You never want to lock yourself into a minimum or maximum purchase requirement. Everything we purchase has a thought behind it. I want top-of-the-line supplies and won’t settle for less, so I’m going to shop around.”
2. Look into packs for better pricing and materials. ASCs have the ability to order packs that include most supplies a physician would need to conduct a procedure, such as a shoulder pack for shoulder procedures. Ms. Howell emphasizes the importance of making sure everything within the pack has a purpose and can be purchased at a reasonable price.
“Packs are a huge part of cost and material management,” she says. “A few companies have packs done for you, which is unacceptable to me. I only go to companies that can build the pack for me because it gives me leverage and flexibility.”
3. Seek insight from physicians. By coming together and sharing insights, physicians at Greenspring Surgery Center help Ms. Howell in sifting out what materials and supplies are most necessary, cutting costs and avoiding waste.
“We used to eight folded towels and three U-drapes in our shoulder packs, and [all the partner physicians] were looking at each other and asking why we have those in the pack,” Ms. Howell says. “Both were foolish items, and we actually reduced the pack in half and in so doing reduced the price of the pack by 40%.”
