Knowledge Center

Sustainability and procurement are terms that may often be at odds, but as keepers of the health and wellness of our patients and communities, we must lead the charge toward more sustainable practices. By Laura Kowalczyk, vice president of supply chain & support services, UAB Medicine

Value-based health care and population health are two of the most common terms used in health care today, and yet still confusing for many. Let’s explore each one and how they are elevating the role of the supply chain and the importance of sustainability. By Karen Conway, vice president, healthcare value, GHX

Custom Procedure Trays (CPTs) create efficiencies in hospital work flow and inventory management. By Joseph A. Jackson, managing director, Strategic Healthcare Services LLC   

Having conversations with clinicians can be difficult, Howard Mann, a 30 year supply chain professional, discusses how to prepare for physician conversations regarding vendor consolidations to reduce the number of suppliers for product or product categories.

  Price: Member: $79.00 | Non-Member: $99.00 Continuing Education Credits (CECs): 1 hour Order eLearning Course    

Allen Archer, director of supply chain management, Houston Hospitals, Inc., explains the basics of writing a contract including best practices and key tips.

Allen Archer, director of supply chain management, Houston Hospitals, Inc., describes five key terms and conditions that will assist you in writing a contract.

Utilizing the right platform will not only enable simple purchasing of on-demand parts, accessories and services online, but it will also integrate with asset management and ERP systems.

Savvy supply chain leaders must go beyond medical product pricing to achieve the next level of savings for their organizations

The shift to bundled payments in health care continues to push the supply chain to a more central position in the overall operations and capabilities of progressive health systems.

How often have you heard that supply chain is involved in patient care from the moment the patient walks in the door to discharge? Well, now that concept has gone a step further, and we need to think out of the box and as a patient ourselves. Download Article

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HealthTrust recently created the Physician Advisors Program, which is narrowing the chasm between those who purchase products and those who use them. The program solicits physicians’ input on clinical evidence reviews in product categories that have a significant impact on patient care, specifically physician preference items (PPI). Download Article

This Awareness Brief provides a quick reference to the Draft Guidance for UDI Convenience Kits, released by the FDA in January 2016. The draft guidance defines the term “convenience kit” for purposes of compliance with UDI labeling and data submission requirements only.

Background: In many locations across the country, cold weather or desert climates create dry environmental conditions.  In order to achieve the higher levels of humidity required by regulatory agencies, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers have to add humidity into the building air, an activity that is expensive and creates its own unique set of challenges.

A well-conceived strategic sourcing program starts with an analysis of the total spend or operating expenses of the organization utilizing an “ABC” analysis and category/spend segmentation matrix. This analysis allows for the prioritization of the “sourceable” or “manageable” spend as distinct from other expenses such as taxes, depreciation and interest for which different strategies should be effectively applied.

Purchasing in healthcare is largely based on a hierarchical management style. In an experimental case started in 2004, at Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia, this standard was altered. The introduction of a team concept combined with lean manufacturing practices to this traditional purchasing setting was unique. The results of this radical change over the past eight years have been exceptional. The paper describes the steps taken to change the culture, the actions taken to implement lean tools, and the wins achieved by the team.

This paper examines the journey that an organization travels to arrive at an outsource decision and the challenges that it should be alert to post contract. The Literature Review section provides a context for the recommendations offered in the case study illustration. The recommendations deliberately focus on providing proper governance and oversight during the operational phase after the contract has been awarded and is up and running.

The purpose of this paper is to share lessons learned and successes in contract management. Five years ago, Contract Management consisted of signing a few Letters of Commitment through our Group Purchasing Organization and trying to keep track of them in a three ring notebook.

Dale L. Locklair, FAHRMM, CMRP Vice President of Procurement and Construction McLeod Health Florence, SC