Supply Chain

The hospital supply chain is but one operational area where efficiency reigns supreme. Health organizations need to keep the processes of ordering and delivering supplies as lean and as visible as possible. Supply chain management can often consume up to 35 percent of a hospital's operating budget, said Vi Shaffer of Gartner. Many vendors offering supply chain management solutions for healthcare claim to integrate and streamline the process to increase efficiency.

RELATED STORIES:
Report: Healthcare supply prices rising
Inflationary prices challenge hospital supply chain

 
The outlook for the global pharmaceutical industry will remain stable over the next 12 to 18 months with the expectation that the sector will return to earnings growth in 2013, according to Moody's Investor Service.
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Post date: April 30, 2013
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University Hospitals, a healthcare system in northeast Ohio, has joined up with three smaller health systems in the state to create a new purchasing collaborative to save money on supplies and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery.
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Post date: April 19, 2013
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When it comes to implementing environmentally-sound practices in healthcare, there is philosophy and there is reality. Philosophically, proponents believe that recycling, reusing and reducing emissions are the right things to do. In reality, implementing environmentally-friendly practices can be expensive, difficult and subject to pushback.
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Post date: April 15, 2013
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As millions of folks across the country are hitting the gym to trim up for summer, hospitals are also looking to trim fat from their budgets as well. Tightening up can be as simple as controlling capital spending, according to John McCarthy, general manager of asset management, GE Healthcare. Here, McCarthy outlines ways in which hospital executives can curb their capital spending, while still being productive and efficient.
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Post date: April 11, 2013
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As the investigation into a fatal outbreak of fungal meningitis continues, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration proposed Friday that the agency gain new authority to regulate pharmacy compounding, including charging fees to fund an expanded safety framework.
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Post date: March 25, 2013
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Cancer drug shortages are forcing treatment changes and delays that for some patients have led to worse outcomes, more therapy-related complications and higher costs, according to a national survey of health professionals published Thursday.
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Post date: March 22, 2013
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A new user fee is bringing in the money to help speed up generic drug applications the Food and Drug Administration commissioner told attendees of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association's (GPhA) annual meeting last week.
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Post date: February 25, 2013
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Hospitals need to be lean and mean when dealing with supply chain. It's all about efficiency. John Biggers, senior vice president of group purchasing for Premier healthcare alliance, knows all about the trials and tribulations of successful supply chain management. He shared with Healthcare Finance News five avoidable supply chain snafus that can cost hospitals money.
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Post date: February 22, 2013
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The overall rise in medication costs is slower than in previous years as more generic drugs have become available, according to an industry report.
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Post date: February 18, 2013
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Medicare patients can anticipate paying considerably less for their diabetes and other products starting in July when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expands its competitive bidding for durable medical equipment (DME) and mail-order program but the DME industry continues to point out problems with the program.
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Post date: February 18, 2013
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Keeping shelves stocked and enough supplies in their place is one of the most important aspects of managing any hospital department efficiently and safely. Monica Goetz, clinical nursing manager at Great Baltimore Medical Center, shares five key ways that electronic supply management can improve patient safety, create efficiencies and save money.
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Post date: February 7, 2013
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The Cleveland Clinic and VHA have formed a joint venture that the companies say will transform the traditional group purchasing approach.
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Post date: February 7, 2013
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With the rising costs of health care and changes brought by reform, health care organizations must find ways to reduce costs. Though the health care supply chain has evolved rapidly over the last 15 years from the traditional “order fulfillment operation” into a “strategic analytics operation,” there’s still a significant opportunity for organizations to reduce costs by gaining more insight into their supply chain.
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Post date: August 17, 2012
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Mobile asset management in the hospital is a great example of an unsexy but high-impact topic. In this interview, John McCarthy, GE Healthcare’s GM of Asset Management Professional Services, answers my questions.
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Post date: June 11, 2012
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Currently, independent physicians often choose high-cost, implantable medical devices for their patients. Hospitals, however, pay the bill, insulating physicians from the costs of their choices.
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Post date: March 7, 2012
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Pfizer received a flurry of attention toward the end of November as its blockbuster statin Lipitor came to the end of its patent protection.
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Post date: December 21, 2011
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services has postponed a Dec. 6 conference call on the Fiscal Year 2013 Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program.
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Post date: November 30, 2011
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How can you make sure that the inventory ordered for provider encounters (DME, hearing aids, CPAP machines, ER trays, etc) are being accounted for on the patient’s bill? If you are not reconciling inventory with patient accounting, you are losing potential revenue.
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Post date: November 1, 2011
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The drug shortage problem at numerous hospitals across the country is the worst that many in healthcare have experienced in recent years.
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Post date: October 4, 2011
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An important report released recently explains that group purchasing is not only a smart business move, it is a powerful tool when it comes to driving down healthcare costs for hospitals.
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Post date: September 19, 2011
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The globalization of healthcare has provided opportunities for many organizations to rapidly develop their products and to expand their network of customers. But with this globalization, we also need to realize there are also a number of important economic and public health concerns.
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Post date: April 19, 2011
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On November 8, CMS is hosting a provider education call on the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.
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Post date: November 1, 2010
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When it comes to healthcare and changing an industry in ways that will benefit this country, it is important to look at organizations that are setting standards and raising the bar.
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Post date: July 20, 2010
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In accordance with what Mike and Ed have previously pointed out on healthcare alliances, I, too, am utterly dismayed at the allegations of nefarious goings-on within these organizations.
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Post date: September 9, 2009
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