Knowledge Center

If you’re just starting to discuss elective procedures, supply chain must continuously communicate and develop relationships with key players to maintain the importance of supply chain input in their minds.

As providers begin to pivot from this pandemic back to a standard model of care, now is the time for product and service suppliers to begin engagement. Below are 5 leading practices suppliers can use to engage their provider customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. The right time to engage is now 2. Show understanding compassion, empathy and patience 3 & 4. Offer short- and long-term plans 5. Overall, listen. Supply chain will let you know what they need and when

The Hospital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Planning Tool is designed to help hospitals determine approximate PPE needs based on special pathogen category and a number of facility specific variables.

A collection of links to websites on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including FDA's Emergency Use Authorizations, CDC's resources, testing supplies information, personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines and lists of approved products.

AHRMM offers definitions and guidance on health care masks, including mask types and efficacies, fit testing guidelines, distributor information and certified equipment information.

The Unique Device Identifier (UDI) is comprised of 2 segments: UDI-DI (device identifier) – which identifies the make and model of the device PI (production identifier) – which includes lot, serial number and expiration date At a minimum, your Item Master should include:

Their goals and objectives are tied directly to the organization’s overall goals Within successful supply chains there is no question as to how their goals and objectives support the organization’s overall goals. Each one can be tied directly to an organizational goal and they look beyond the traditional cost savings role to highlight supply chain’s contributions to improving patient safety and outcomes.

Sustainability is now on the list of factors that many health care supply chain professionals consider when making purchasing decisions. This has led to a shift towards environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP). Supply chain can show great leadership by directing efforts to promote and achieve sustainability goals…here are just a few.

Much of health care supply chain is now working to connect with clinicians to reduce of unnecessary variations and waste to achieve CQO and the Triple Aim. When working to build a relationship with clinicians, your success factor will improve when you come to the conversation with an understanding of their personalities and needs. Below are six areas to consider before you engage them.

Clinical integration starts with physician champions. Supply chain executives can’t be experts in all areas, and successful clinical discussions tend to occur when physician leaders are the ones initiating those meetings with their physician peers. The physician leader should be able to challenge their colleagues to answer the question, “how does this really benefit the patient?” and “does it benefit beyond just improving a process? In addition, as part of the contract negotiations team, a physician can push back on the supplier to ask clinical questions about the product or device.

Embark on a learning and educational effort to understand the challenges and opportunities to purchase “more sustainable” electronics. EPEAT is the eco-label managed by the Green Electronics Council. Understanding EPEAT criteria is a good way to get an overview on the many complex and important issues around the purchase, management and disposal of electronics. When you purchase electronics that meet EPEAT criteria, you are addressing energy efficiency options, toxicity, durability and recyclability considerations.

Learn about the challenges and benefits of purchasing flame-retardant-free (FR-free) furniture and fabrics in the health care supply chain. The health effects of flame retardant chemicals include carcinogenicity, endocrine and reproductive effects, and neurological and developmental disorders. Download Quick Guide

Understand the issues that frame the imperative to engage in the process of purchasing sustainable products and services in the health care supply chain. Whether your organizational culture dictates that you’ll have more success if you start from the bottom-up, or top-down, you must have at least a basic level of organizational readiness and the right systems in place to make success sustainable. Download Quick Guide

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are an increasing concern to health care professionals. Your health care institution can contribute to the solution of reducing antibiotic overuse by buying meat raised without the routine use of non-therapeutic antibiotics. Download Quick Guide

AHRMM has compiled a list of health care organizations utilizing the UDI or planning to implement UDI adoption within the next 12 months. Download the UDI Adoption Reference List and connect with other health care leaders to discuss the UDI adoption initiatives and obtain advice from colleagues who are further along the adoption curve. 

This AHRMM tool has two practical supply chain evaluation templates featured in the Customer Service in Health Care Supply Chain: Certificate Course, released in January 2019. About the Tool:

During times of disaster, hospitals play an integral role as the community safety net, providing essential medical care that must be available often times within a moment’s notice. Strategic planning and ongoing training are necessary to identifying, dispatching and mobilizing critical material and human resources. The health care supply chain professional is a vital component of any hospital emergency response team and the hospital incident command center.

This AHRMM tool covers how health care supply chain professionals should prepare for disasters, with the input from various disciplines. The tool includes supply consumption adjustment calculations and several preparedness plans such as The Joint Commission Emergency Operations Plan ®, the Hospital Incident Commend System (HICS) and the 10 Elements for a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

Free professional strengths finder grid template. This tool is mentioned in the AHRMM webcast, Taking Your Great Team to New Performance Levels. 

As health care organizations evolve, their strategies to include population health, the total cost, episode and subsequently value of care provided will be determined by patient outcomes. And this means finding the right balance between Cost, Quality and Outcomes is no longer a nice-to-have sentiment; it will be critical to sustaining one's viability across clinical, financial and operational domains.