The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
August 9, 2012
By Matthew Pehrson
As healthcare providers, we work diligently to reduce unnecessary costs in the wake of ongoing funding cuts and the growing movement toward reimbursements based on quality. And it’s proving to be a real learning experience.
However, leaders are uncovering opportunities to reduce expenses without undermining care quality – and they continue to find opportunities they didn’t know existed.
We’re also seeing that in order to simultaneously improve care consistency and quality while driving out unnecessary costs, both supply chain and clinical processes have to be integrated.
…A focus on value analysis
Successful clinically integrated supply chains include value analysis, that is, a process and methodology for selecting the highest valued supplies and services – including physician preference items – to be used in fulfilling our patient care mission. They adopt the most effective methods to acquire all medical and non-medical supplies, equipment and services. And they work with clinicians – by providing tools and data sets – to reduce resources consumed in providing services.
Presbyterian’s value analysis process has the full support of executive leadership. An ongoing – not ad hoc – structure, including seven value analysis teams, currently exists, with oversight from a steering committee led by physicians, senior leaders and executives. The process is service line – not supply chain – driven, with a constant focus on clinical outcomes and value…