News/Issues

AHRMM Executive Director Named to GS1 Healthcare US Leadership Team

CHICAGO, June 6, 2008 — Deborah Sprindzunas, executive director of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM), has been named to the GS1 Healthcare US Leadership Team – a group of 16 officials who are focused on implementing supply chain data standards into the U.S. healthcare system.

GS1 Healthcare US is a new organization that focuses on driving the adoption and implementation of GS1 standards in the healthcare field to improve patient safety and supply chain efficiency. It brings together members from all segments of the healthcare field to address the issues that most impact healthcare in the U.S.

The GS1 Healthcare US Leadership Team includes 14 voting members with two members each representing a different part of the healthcare supply chain: acute care providers, alternate site care providers, distributors, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, group purchasing organizations and retail pharmacy. In addition, there are a maximum of two non-voting members from healthcare associations, healthcare education, government, and /or solution providers and two representatives from GS1 Healthcare US.

“Leadership Team members are engaged in the GS1 Standards movement in healthcare and play a crucial role in the implementation of the developed global standards and best practices within their organizations,” said AHRMM President Mary Ann Michalski. “As the executive director of AHRMM, Debbie is well suited to represent providers in this important initiative which will affect the entire healthcare supply chain.”

As noted by Sprindzunas, “Being part of the Leadership Team will keep AHRMM in the forefront of leading GS1 Standards implementation efforts and communicating best practices with the AHRMM membership.”

The Leadership Team works with the general GS1 Healthcare US members to: develop and drive the overall GS1 Healthcare US strategy and work plan; manage public relations, membership, and policy; and ensure supply chain stakeholder balance in the GS1 Healthcare US membership. The Leadership Team and Workgroups provide input into the GS1 Healthcare US position in response to regulatory, customer and local standards initiatives; represent the GS1 Healthcare US to external healthcare related groups and organizations; ensure participation in GS1 Healthcare standards development; and represent the views and work outputs of the GS1 Healthcare US to the GS1 US Board of Governors, GS1 US Senior Executive Team, and GS1 Healthcare. In addition, the team creates workgroups and appoints workgroup leaders to respond to or drive specific initiatives and represent GS1 Healthcare US by attending conferences and workgroup meetings as necessary.

For more information on the healthcare standards movement, please visit AHRMM’s standards web site at www.standards.ahrmm.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 professional membership group of the American Hospital Association, AHRMM serves more than 4,000 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, visit www.ahrmm.org.