Becker's ASC Review asked healthcare supply chain leaders to share tips for the ASC and outpatient settings.
If you're interested in sharing an ASC supply chain management tip to be featured, please email astewart@beckershealthcare.com.
One size does not fit all. ASC supply chain management requires a tailored approach, according to Navigant Consulting director Rob Austin and consultant Joe Pesek. "A common mistake health systems make, particularly as they emphasize centralization of core nonclinical business functions, is they try to run the supply chain for their ASCs as if the centers are just another acute care facility," Mr. Austin and Mr. Pesek said in a joint email.
Cut weight to save shipment costs. ASC managers can reduce expenses by controlling the transportation of supplies and equipment, according to FreightCenter's Terese Kerrigan, director of marketing communications. Supply chains can save as much as $100 on the cost of each shipment by reducing the weight of a shipment by 50 lbs., she said.
Take an outcomes-based approach. Asking physicians to use products that align with their desired outcomes is more effective than convincing them to use new products just because they're less expensive, according to Quorum Purchasing Advantage Vice President Tony Bramer. Mr. Bramer said ASC supply chain leaders should also look at the top 25 percent of costliest inventory items and evaluate whether purchasing in a low measure would deliver better long-term results.
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3 Ways a Clinical Assessment Can Benefit Your ASC