ASC supply chain management requires a tailored approach, according to Navigant Consulting director Rob Austin and consultant Joe Pesek.
Mr. Austin and Mr. Pesek shared the following tip with Becker's ASC Review.
"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 ambulatory surgery centers as if the centers are just another acute care facility. This does not work for a number of reasons.
First, the types of products and suppliers used in an ASC are quite different than the supply base for an acute care facility.
Second, both the average order size and the frequency of orders are dramatically different between an ASC and a hospital for most types of supplies. In fact, ASCs use entirely different medical surgical distributors than hospitals.
Third, the systems for ordering and tracking inventory are often different and unlinked between the two types of facilities. This is not to say that there are no synergies for health systems that deploy true, center-led supply chain organizations, but we caution against a 'one size fits all' approach for healthcare supply chains that serve multiple types of facilities."
If you would like to share a supply chain management tip to be featured, please email Angie Stewart at astewart@beckershealthcare.com.