Because ASCs are often physician-owned, they're particularly susceptible to physician influence over the business' buying habits, according to Z5 Inventory CEO Carl Natenstedt.
Mr. Natenstedt shared the following supply chain tip with Becker's ASC Review:
"It's easier for a single person who has been sold on a particular brand or model to force the entire ASC to switch its standard, which, of course, exposes them to excess and obsolete products. The more than $700 billion of medical product that goes to waste every year isn't limited to hospitals. But most ASCs won't pay attention to that or even know it, because the supply chain is seen as an ancillary priority. It's the second half of an already-overworked employee's job, instead of the focus of someone with a fair amount of expertise. No one's looking at how much impact this has on the bottom line."
Interested in submitting a supply chain tip to Becker's ASC Review? Please email Rachel Popa at rpopa@beckershealthcare.com.