AHRMM Advocates Supply Chain Standards

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CHICAGO, July 18, 2006 — The Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) Board of Directors recently declared its support of the use of supply chain standards in all transactions between trading partners. Specifically recommended was the Global Location Number (GLN) that identifies each trading partner, the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC®) that classifies all products, and the use of a Product Data Utility (PDU) to accurately identify each product used in business.

"AHRMM selected these standards because they provide for a global solution and touch every product in the world, not just in the medical surgical field,” noted Robert Perry, President of AHRMM. “Inefficiencies in the supply chain cost the industry billions of dollars each year. We need to adopt the standards that govern our trades and bring even more value to our patients, hospitals, and partners."

Various standards have existed and been in place for years, but they have not been used in transactions between trading partners. AHRMM advocates for every manufacturer, distributor, provider, and Materials Management Information System (MMIS) vendor to prepare their company and trading partners to adopt these standards.

For more information, please visit www.ahrmm.org, the Coalition for Healthcare eStandards (CHeS) at www.CHeStandards.org, or GS1 US at www.GS1US.org.

About AHRMM
The Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management is the leading national association for executives in the healthcare resource and materials management profession. A personal membership group of the American Hospital Association, AHRMM serves more than 3,700 active members. Founded in 1962, AHRMM prepares its members to contribute to the field and advance the profession through networking, education, recognition, and advocacy. For more information, please visit www.ahrmm.org.