AHRMM Leading Practice Statement on Supply Chain Integration

AHRMM Issues & Legislative Committee issued the following Statement on the Leading Practice on Supply Chain Integration approved by AHRMM Board of Directors:

Supply Chain Services Integration with High Cost Clinical Services Departments

Non-labor cost management continues to be a key strategy for most healthcare organizations. Recent research conducted by AHRMM Issues & Legislative Committee indicates that most healthcare organizations have not yet reached a stage of fully integrating Supply Chain Services in the supply and inventory management organizational structures of high cost clinical services departments such as Surgical Services, Cardiology Services, and Interventional/Invasive Imaging Services.

The data in the AHRMM white paper “Supply Chain Services Integration in High Supply Cost Clinical Services Business Units” indicates that organizations experience improved cost management, patient safety, and quality when Supply Chain Services is fully integrated with high cost clinical services departments. Fully integrated means that Supply Chain Services is fully integrated in supply fulfillment, inventory management, contracting, product recall management, item file-to-charge master integration, consigned goods management, bone and tissue tracking, receipt of goods, etc. In this model of integration Supply Chain Services professionals perform the functions listed above within the clinical services unit, and supply chain professionals report to the Supply Chain Services leader or his or her designee(s).

As a Leading Practice, the AHRMM Board of Directors adopts that Supply Chain Services be fully integrated into high cost clinical services departments.