What do health care organizations look for in procurement services?

No matter which country a medical organization conducts business in, it likely has to contend with stringent health care regulations. Therefore, many look for procurement services possessing several characteristics that are conducive to company goals and needs. 

Mitigating logistical risk 

Between pharmaceuticals and delicate equipment, enterprises operating in the medical industry require experts who can provide them with thorough oversight of the distribution process. Last year, at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Memorial Hermann Healthcare Director of Financial Operations Daron Whisman described what he looks for in a strategic sourcing partner, according to SupplyChainBrain. 

Whisman noted that regulations have obligated Memorial Hermann - which consists of 12 hospitals, seven cancer centers, three heart and vascular facilities and 27 sports medicine institutes, among others - to ensure that its materials can be properly transported. 

A personal touch 

Whisman acknowledged that one of the most important aspects of the procurement process was having specialists and partners communicate with Memorial Hermann's physicians. As the organization operates in the United States (Houston, to be exact) the Affordable Care Act mandates that the organization commits to providing patients with quality-focused care. 

"We were very cognizant of risk-mitigation issues, but also what the physicians wanted as a tool," said Whisman, as quoted by the source. "So we took those parameters and asked them, what do you want as a strategic partner, two or three years down the road, to make sure you have the right tools to perform at a high-quality level?"

Finding a market research analyst that understands the demand incited by health care regulations and consumer expectations is key to procuring necessary goods. 

A trustworthy partner 

In regard to leveling with hospital physicians, many supplier relationship experts had to get in touch with Memorial Hermann's patient base. In this respect, the health organization's partners were handling particularly sensitive information.

Exercising responsible, considerate use of this intelligence is imperative to the success of the entity. Knowing which treatments are essential is important for procurement officers to know, but the manner in which the information is regarded must be respectful of patient confidentiality. 

Knowing what's legal

Although a revolutionary device invented by Turkish scientists may serve as a feasible liver substitute, that doesn't mean hospitals in another country have the authority to employ it. Manufacturing.net acknowledged that Jon Sacker, of Moore, Oklahoma, was saved by doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after they implanted a Hemolung - which hasn't been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although the mechanism saved the patient's life, the hospital may now be subject to litigation.

Share To:

Strategic Sourceror

Post A Comment:

0 comments so far,add yours