I want to thank all those healthcare executives who took the time to read through and vote on the dozen submissions we received for this year’s Search for Supply Chain Excellence in Healthcare Awards. Like you, we were quite impressed by the variety and quality of the nominated projects. There may be a long way to go to achieve the kind of cost savings and quality improvement that is possible in the supply chain arena, but these nominations show that some organizations have a strong head start on that journey.
Similarly, the five finalists you supported are truly indicative of the range of innovation going on across the country. I hope that healthcare policy experts—especially those looking at how to control costs—read these submissions and understand that forward-looking supply chain departments hold the promise of reducing costs and improving quality of care. I think this is a missed opportunity in the reform proposals I have seen.
If those folks did read these submissions, here is what they would find:
- Huntsville Hospital saved millions with a vendor partnership to replace aging medical beds. The novel deal also involves other benefits, including help with a patient fall reduction campaign. Read Huntsville’s full submission.
- Johns Hopkins uses electronic bidding on all supply contracts to overcome inertia in contracting. Like many large organizations, the staff there fell into the rut of simply renegotiating contracts with the same vendors, not having the weeks of effort needed to the contracting departments. After a test, Johns Hopkins now uses e-bidding for much of its supply spend. This is a good system for everyone, as vendors can bid without time-consuming site visits and find out if they got the job in a matter of hours. Read the submission.
- St. Anthony’s Medical Center moved from a materials management mindset to a true supply chain approach. Its account of that transformation should be required reading for any organization mired in the old ways of doing business. Read the full submission.
- ROi, the Sisters of Mercy Health System’s supply chain arm, built a custom procedure tray manufacturing facility from scratch. It decided to go the whole way, becoming an FDA-approved facility. With the use of procedure packs rising exponentially, the Sisters of Mercy project seems particularly prescient. Read the full submission.
- Finally, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center tested e-sourcing in its catering operation, saving 400% on costs. It sees this cutting-edge initiative as a model for future contracting. Read the entire submission.
Attendees at the Spring IDN Summit and Expo in Orlando next month will be able to hear presentations from the finalists prior to voting for the The Search for Supply Chain Excellence in Healthcare Awards. We think it will be an inspiring time for anyone looking for models for improving their supply chain operations.
We look forward to that, and to seeing everyone there.
