Did you know......?
The Supply Chain Department at many hospitals are evolving into some of the most efficient and innovative users of computers in any industry.
Remote user entry into the MM information system is now being used by many if not most major hospitals by almost every clinical and support department. Users, with access to electronic catalogs and requisitions, are able to directly enter purchase and storeroom requisitions that are approved and validated to budgets, contracts and product standards using software algorithms and transmitted to vendors’ computers; or a Logistics Distribution Center; or an advanced e-portal - such as GHX; often within minutes. The transaction is tracked through electronic confirmations, advance ship notices, online instant feedback, received electronically and automatically matched to an electronic invoice in Accounts Payable.
End users are able to inquire online to look up prices, dates items were ordered, received, the PO number assigned to a requisition, etc. Errors and problems are corrected before they actually affect the business cycle. Each year millions of lines of data entry as well as millions of telephone calls have been eliminated, while same day processing rates of supply requisitions for many organizations exceeds 99%.
Catalogs and contracts reside on websites that can be downloaded, validated, and loaded into resident systems with zero errors in seconds - a process that used to take weeks of man-hours with far more than zero errors.
Advanced architectures move beyond traditional ordering cycles and instead alert suppliers and others of the need for product prior to actual use. Often through means as simple as transmitting surgery schedules in advance, or mirroring requisitions to pre-selected suppliers. Trusted collaborative partners have access to data such as preference cards and are alerted to product needs prior to actual consumption. This facilitates minimizing inventory levels through the entire supply chain by drastically reducing lead times from usage to receipt of replacement stock, while minimizing errors in reorders. Maintaining good information in preference cards (front end) assures higher end results in a cascade of processes.This, coupled with hand held terminals, use of internet ordering for items like office supplies and forms, and clinical staffs that are not afraid of the technology, is helping America’s healthcare supply chains gain status as true world class users of information systems: building the modern end-to-end architecture.
Advanced architectures move beyond traditional ordering cycles and instead alert suppliers and others of the need for product prior to actual use. Often through means as simple as transmitting surgery schedules in advance, or mirroring requisitions to pre-selected suppliers. Trusted collaborative partners have access to data such as preference cards and are alerted to product needs prior to actual consumption. This facilitates minimizing inventory levels through the entire supply chain by drastically reducing lead times from usage to receipt of replacement stock, while minimizing errors in reorders. Maintaining good information in preference cards (front end) assures higher end results in a cascade of processes.This, coupled with hand held terminals, use of internet ordering for items like office supplies and forms, and clinical staffs that are not afraid of the technology, is helping America’s healthcare supply chains gain status as true world class users of information systems: building the modern end-to-end architecture.
Today we should salute our many internal and external customers who have embraced these new technologies and are making this quiet revolution possible.
Unfortunately, we still have to handle the actual stuff manually - haven't figured out how to automate that part, yet. PS - You ain't seen nothing yet. Many minds are busy behind the scene raising the bar.
Tomorrow: “World Class Service”
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