Two men shaking hands in a warehouse.

Supply Chain Fundamentals: Introduction to Procurement and Product Value Analysis

Free for Members and Non-Members
Continuing Education: 0.5 CECs

Procurement is one of the main functions of the health care supply chain and includes contracting for the acquisition of goods, equipment and services in an organization. It is crucial that you are knowledgeable in the steps involved in selecting, sourcing, negotiating, contracting, and ordering supplies, equipment and services.

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Overview

Procurement plays a vital role in the health care supply chain, ensuring the timely acquisition of goods, equipment and services critical to organizational operations. It involves key processes such as selecting vendors, sourcing products, negotiating contracts and managing purchase orders. A strong understanding of these steps helps streamline resource management, control costs and maintain efficient operations to support quality patient care.

Learning Objectives

  • List the key responsibilities of a purchasing department.
  • Describe what a purchase order is and define 3 different types.
  • Identify several special considerations in the purchasing process.