Freida Toler, administrator at Amarillo (Texas) Endoscopy Center, shares three processes the surgery center follows to cut down on supply costs.
1. Count inventory weekly. Amarillo uses a specific protocol that allows the center to only order and have on hand enough supplies to last through one week. By setting the goal of counting inventory every month, the facility can then make a reasoned judgment of what items are needed for the next week.
"We counted how many patients we have per month and came up with numbers for each item we need on a weekly basis," Ms. Toler says. "So each week, for example, we need to have eight bags of gauze sponges. If we're down by two bags, we order six to meet the quota of eight bags. It's based on case volume so that we don't keep a stock of any certain item for a long time and let it expire."
2. Cross-examine different vendors for new supplies. When evaluating new supplies, Ms. Toler says the surgery center makes a goal to evaluate as many different options as possible before settling on a final purchase. Ordering from multiple vendors, instead of just one, may be a way to reduce costs if different vendors are able to offer better prices.
"We don't order disposable items, such as snares and forceps, from just one company. We cross-evaluate the costs and quality of as many companies as possible," she says. "Working with a GPO works when we're ordering IV supplies, start kits and catheters because you can't beat their prices. But there are other things, like chemical disinfectants, we'll order directly from the manufacturer instead of through a vendor."
3. Keep staff aware of supply costs. Staff members at Amarillo have their own set of responsibilities that help keep them aware of the costs of supplies. Ms. Toler says staff members in each department of the facility are responsible for turning in supply orders for their department each week. On the supply orders, staff members can see the required quota needed for each item and the cost of each item.
"That supply order is updated frequently, and we also talk about supply costs in our monthly staff meetings," she says. "Through doing these things, they know they shouldn't open sterile supplies that aren't going to be used during a GI procedures; they shouldn't be using a half bottle of lubricant before a colonoscopy when they only need a tablespoon and so on. They learn that things do cost money, and the more we save the better off the facility is."
Learn more about Amarillo Endoscopy Center.
1. Count inventory weekly. Amarillo uses a specific protocol that allows the center to only order and have on hand enough supplies to last through one week. By setting the goal of counting inventory every month, the facility can then make a reasoned judgment of what items are needed for the next week.
"We counted how many patients we have per month and came up with numbers for each item we need on a weekly basis," Ms. Toler says. "So each week, for example, we need to have eight bags of gauze sponges. If we're down by two bags, we order six to meet the quota of eight bags. It's based on case volume so that we don't keep a stock of any certain item for a long time and let it expire."
2. Cross-examine different vendors for new supplies. When evaluating new supplies, Ms. Toler says the surgery center makes a goal to evaluate as many different options as possible before settling on a final purchase. Ordering from multiple vendors, instead of just one, may be a way to reduce costs if different vendors are able to offer better prices.
"We don't order disposable items, such as snares and forceps, from just one company. We cross-evaluate the costs and quality of as many companies as possible," she says. "Working with a GPO works when we're ordering IV supplies, start kits and catheters because you can't beat their prices. But there are other things, like chemical disinfectants, we'll order directly from the manufacturer instead of through a vendor."
3. Keep staff aware of supply costs. Staff members at Amarillo have their own set of responsibilities that help keep them aware of the costs of supplies. Ms. Toler says staff members in each department of the facility are responsible for turning in supply orders for their department each week. On the supply orders, staff members can see the required quota needed for each item and the cost of each item.
"That supply order is updated frequently, and we also talk about supply costs in our monthly staff meetings," she says. "Through doing these things, they know they shouldn't open sterile supplies that aren't going to be used during a GI procedures; they shouldn't be using a half bottle of lubricant before a colonoscopy when they only need a tablespoon and so on. They learn that things do cost money, and the more we save the better off the facility is."
Learn more about Amarillo Endoscopy Center.